Who Are We?
Alex Johnson - Administrative AssistantAlex is our receptionist here at Blossomtree. She organises appointments, takes care of payments and rebates and will do her best to answer any questions you have for her.
Alex tries her best to make the waiting room a fun place and encourages everyone to draw some pictures, read a book or even challenge kids to a game of UNO if she’s not too busy. When she isn’t at work, Alex loves to play in music groups around Ballarat. |
Michelle Taylor - Clinical Psychologist
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Jess Sewell - Clinical Psychologist
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Karen Fairhurst - Psychologist
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Karen is a registered Counselling Psychologist, who is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society, a Fellow of the College of Counselling Psychologists, and a registered provider of Medicare Services.
Prior to becoming a psychologist, Karen’s vocational experience began with qualifications in teaching which saw her working in both Primary and Special Education settings. Following the birth of her children, Karen completed her 4thyear in psychology, whilst working in the TAFE sector training Child Care and Community Services workers. Karen then developed a strength-based inclusion service with Mental Health Services to provide pathways to recovery, through community education, to individuals with complex mental health issues. Karen then made the decision to bring her vocational experiences with children, education and mental health together in the completion of a Master of Psychology (Counselling) at Swinburne University, at this time working for the Victorian Mental Health Carer’s Network. After graduating, Karen worked initially as a researcher for Anglicare and then moved into private practice. In her work with children and adolescents, Karen is passionate about understanding the way in which children build a model of their experiences, and in the continuing development of our understanding, as adults, of the differences between the fully developed adult mind and the formative mind of the child. In private practice to date, Karen has had extensive experience working with children and adolescents who have experienced anxiety, post traumatic stress, grief, depression, illness, ASD, ADHD, disorders of conduct and emotion, and disorders of social functioning. Karen’s practice brings together evidence-based research with respect to the neurological basis of behaviour, the formation of a sense of identity and attachment, and the influence of the system of relationships which the child experiences, through their interactions with family, peers, and community. Karen works in a trauma informed framework to understand and address the interaction between difficult, frightening and overwhelming lived experiences and the child’s internal experiences of thoughts, emotions and feelings of safety. Within this framework, Karen utilizes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, Narrative Therapy, Play Therapy, and Art Therapy. Karen is skilled in, and utilizes, a range of child assessment and observational tools. Karen believes in establishing inclusive, collaborative, and trusting relationships with both the child, and those involved in, and concerned about, their care: using her understanding of families and relationships to build inclusive, child focussed therapeutic interventions. Karen is a member of the Australian Psychological Society, and a registered provider with Medicare. |
Cheyenne Johns - Psychologist
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Sheree Cartledge - Clinical Psychologist
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