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OUR TEAM
GET TO KNOW US
CLINICians
Allie Mackay
BA (Psychology) (Child and Family), BSocSci (Psychology), (Hons), Assoc MAPS
Allie is a Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Allie personalises her treatment to meet the unique needs of each individual. She is passionate about empowering and equipping people to achieve their treatment goals with a special interest in helping people of all ages manage Stress and Anxiety so that they can get on with living a rich, full life.
Treatment modalities include
CBT - Cognitive behavioural therapy (with Relaxation and Mindfulness)
Biofeedback - Heart rate variability, skin conductance and breathing
MBSR - Mindfulness based Stress Reduction
MBSC - Mindfulness based Self Compassion
ACT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (a practical, Mindful, values based) approach, which fits well with people of all types of anxiety disorders and is suitable for those for whom a spiritual faith is a central value in their life.
EMDR - Allie has completed advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing. EMDR is a gold standard trauma treatment, useful for resolving many types of anxiety, phobia, health/ hospital related trauma, treatment of trauma in first responders and for those who have longstanding childhood origin trauma. She undertakes regular supervision and training in this area. She is currently training towards certification in Schema Therapy.
Background
When she worked in the community health sector, Allie was trained by World Vision to facilitate Kids Hope, a school and community based mentoring program for children at social and emotional risk.
She was the facilitator for and ran the Support after Suicide group in Sutherland Shire. Allie ran groups for Childhood Anxiety in the community assisting children with diagnosed anxiety disorders to live more satisfying, independent lives.
Allie worked in a Neurology practice in Kogarah NSW for many years running a Biofeedback clinic. She enjoyed providing psychological strategies for patients who experienced anxiety and stress in the context of neurological conditions or somatising disorders (such as gastro-intestinal disorders, IBS, migraine and tension headache, muscle twitches). Cognitive therapy with Relaxation and Mindfulness has the strongest evidence base for treatment and this was borne out by her research and clinical experience.
Alexis Hudson
BSocSci (Psychology),(PostGrad Dip, Psych), Assoc MAPS
Alexis is a Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Alexis first began working as an intern-psychologist in 2004, practicing as a fully Registered Psychologist from 2006.
Alexis has previously worked within an educational setting where she was able to work with and provide solutions for young people presenting with challenges such as Interpersonal Stress, Anxiety, Behavioural issues, Drug & Alcohol dependance, School problems, Social and Interpersonal difficulties, confidence & self-esteem.
She has experience in assisting adults with diagnosed mental health disorders such as Anxiety, Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder to live more independent lives.
As a private practitioner, Alexis has a special interest in helping people manage stress and anxiety as well helping clients build confidence and assertiveness.
Alexis enjoys helping clients with sleep difficulties (delayed onset, waking during the night or waking early). She is equipped to provide families with support and evidence based strategies to manage parenting and family conflict.
Alexis takes a client-centred approach, applying a therapeutic framework of evidence- based interventions such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), solution and strengths- based approaches, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness.
Alexis enjoys working with young people and adults from a diverse range of social and cultural backgrounds, and personalises her treatment to meet the unique needs of each individual. She is passionate about empowering and equipping people to achieve their treatment goals.
Liam nicholls
BSc (Psychology), Post Grad Dip (Psychology), Diploma of Psychological Practice
Liam is a Psychologist who has been dedicated to helping others for his whole professional life. When working with people, he aims to do his best to effectively support and help empower them, to think flexibly, be resilient, find their values and strengths and grow through challenges.
Liam completed his Undergraduate Degree in Psychology at the University of Wollongong and attained registration through the Diploma of Psychological Practice at the College Of Professional Psychology in Sydney. Liam has experience as a Psychologist in a variety of roles including private practice, case management and working in schools. He believes that everyone has a life to be valued, celebrated and can have meaning and purpose. He thrives on helping people see, believe and find this within themselves.
A wise colleague once shared that, "every problem has a soft spot… our job is to help them find a way forward and carry their burdens, to enable them overcome whatever they are experiencing in their life". This has become the philosophy that underpins his work.
Liam primarily works within the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) frameworks. In sessions with clients, he listens first, with authentic interest, compassion and without judgement. Then, works collaboratively, to decide with the client on the most appropriate and helpful way to perceive and approach the presenting problem.
Athena Cranston
BA (Psychology) (Hons), Diploma of Psychological Practice, Assoc MAPS
Athena is a Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA). She has over 8 years’ experience working in the mental health sector in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Athena is a warm and compassionate psychologist who provides a safe and supportive space for her clients. She has a genuine curiosity in peoples’ stories and the struggles they are facing; and is passionate about supporting people to improve their quality of life and reach their goals.
Athena has experience working with both adults and adolescents across a variety of different settings, including community mental health teams, non-for-profit organisations, and headspace. She has worked with individuals presenting with a range of concerns, including anxiety, stress, depression, adjustment issues, interpersonal difficulties, eating disorders, emotion dysregulation, personality disorders and complex trauma. She has experience providing individual therapy and group-based therapy, including delivering groups for adolescents experiencing academic stress and DBT skills groups for adults.
Athena uses a client-centred approach, tailoring therapy to suit the individual needs of the person. She utilises evidence-based interventions such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Mindfulness.
Tyla Stroebel
BA Psychology / Criminology (UNISA), BA Psych Hons (UNISA) PgDip ABA (Cardiff), MSc Behaviour (Cardiff)
Tyla is a driven and passionate Psychologist and Behaviour Specialist with over 15 years’ experience. Originally from South Africa, she enjoys working with clients from all different cultures and prides herself on being able to build incredible rapport with the families she assists. She holds degrees in counselling, criminology and psychology and completed her Masters degree in Behaviour, before qualifying as a professional in the field of psychology.
Tyla specialises in psychometric and diagnostic assessments (neuro, cognitive, behavioural, developmental, academic), has extensive experience and training in the field of ADHD, Autism, developmental disorders and behaviours. She further has a keen interest in ADHD and Autism, specifically in young girls.
Tyla holds further certifications in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Neuropsychology, Play Therapy and Positive Behavioural Support. She is currently a Senior Clinician and the Clinical Manager at the Mind & Behaviour Clinic in Bankstown, as well as the Director of the Clinical Assessment Unit at Kids Health Space Pediatric Clinic in Oran Park.
Tyla has experience supervising Masters and Honours psychology students, designing and running training and workshops and lecturing for the Australian College of Applied Psychology.
In her spare time, Tyla drinks coffee, spends time at the beach and attempts to keep her two young daughters out of trouble.
Alyssa Carroll
B. Psych (Hons), Assoc AAPi
Alyssa is an AHPRA Registered Provisional Psychologist and a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi).
Alyssa uses a client-centered approach to ensure individualised treatment based on a range of evidence based therapies. Alyssa has worked with clients' concerns such as anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, sleep disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and relationships. Alyssa works closely with adolescents and young adults struggling with exams and study requirements as a founder of the Study With Confidence program.
Alyssa previously worked in workers compensation and critical incident response and is passionate about working with first responders, trauma and sleep. Alyssa completed her research thesis on depression and sleep disorders across the lifespan. Alyssa works with sleep disorders in shift-workers, adolescents and adults such as delayed sleep phase disorder, circadian rhythm sleep disorder and insomnia.
Alyssa is trained in advanced eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). Alyssa has trained in evidenced based therapies such as Advanced and Trauma Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) including branches of exposure and response prevention for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, sleep restriction/stimulus control therapy Sleep Disorders, and trauma focused CBT for trauma. Alyssa enjoys working with relationship difficulties has completed Level 1 and Level 2 certification training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys painting, drinking coffee, spending time with family and playing with her German Shepherd dog.
Jess lau
B.Psychology/ B.Commerce (UNSW) MSc Psychology (UEL)
Jess is an AHPRA registered Provisional Psychologist.
She is passionate about empowering clients to realise their full potential and give them practical skills to live a rich and fulfilling life. Jess has a genuine curiosity in people situations and hopes to build a warm therapeutic relationship to make sessions safe, engaging and practical.
Jess completed a Psychology and Commerce degree at UNSW before beginning a successful global career in large corporations. Despite a successful corporate career she realised that her passion really lies in psychology. She returned to complete her Masters in Psychology in the UK at UEL.
Jess has specific interest and training in Anxiety and Depression, Burn-out and Stress including workplace and school, Womens Health and ADHD support for both adults and children. Jess uses evidence- based interventions such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Kaoru Sato
B. Psych (Hons), M. Couns & PsychTh, Grad. Dip Couns&PsychoTh, M.Phil (USyd)
Kaoru is an AHPRA Registered Provisional Psychologist and a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). She is also a Clinical Member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
Kaoru speaks both English and Japanese.
Kaoru has 13-year experience as a psychotherapist/counsellor. During this period, she has been working as a school counsellor (Sydney Japanese International School) and a Victims Services counsellor. In her private practice, she has worked with adults, children, adolescents, couples and families. She has experience working with individuals who have a range of concerns including depression, anxiety, stress, grief and loss, adjustment disorder, interpersonal difficulties and trauma-related symptoms.
Kaoru is passionate about empowering clients through person-centred and evidence-based interventions. To meet her clients’ individual needs, she also uses an eclectic range of approaches based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Focusing, Sandplay, Bowen Family Systems Therapy, Schema Therapy, Imago Relationships theory and Gottman Couples Therapy. Having completed Level One of Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) training, she will be completing the Advanced qualification for EMDR in March 2023, and will be working towards her accreditation with the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA).
As a provisional psychologist, Kaoru has worked with children, adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders (verbal/non-verbal), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) under NDIS.
Kaoru is married and is a mother of a 27-year-old son. She believes her experiences of being born in Japan, and moving to Singapore and then to Australia as a teenager has helped her to connect with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. She believes her two decades of intensive training in counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, as well as her own experiences of motherhood has enriched her practice in assisting clients to achieve a meaningful and value-driven life.
In her spare time, Kaoru enjoys drinking matcha soy latte, going to the movies and walking her Pug x Jack Russell dog.
Rachael
Rachael is our Practice Manager here at Allie Mackay Psychology Practice.
Rachael has over 28 years experience managing various practices.
Rachael likes to make others people's lives easier by taking care of administration.
In her spare time, Rachael enjoys playing with her pet pug and enjoying chocolate!
Maria
Maria is a receptionist here at Allie Mackay Psychology.
Maria is currently completing her undergraduate honours degree in psychology at Monash University. Maria has completed a certificate in Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) Therapy as a Junior Therapist.
Maria has previously worked with children on the autism spectrum in helping them and their families to adapt to the child’s needs. Although she has experience with ABA therapy, she prefers to take on a more positive behavioural support approach. For example, working with the child’s stimulation needs and teaching them how to manage them. However, she is taking a step back to focus on her studies.
Maria is a bit of a bookworm in her spare time. She also enjoys drawing on digital platforms and painting with watercolours. However, if she isn’t reading or painting, she’ll be in the kitchen baking.