Who Are We?
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Alex Johnson - Administrative Assistant 

Alex 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
Michelle is not currently taking on new clients

Michelle (Chelle) Taylor is a registered Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years experience working in government departments and community service organisations in remote rural and regional centres in Western Australia and Victoria.  Chelle specialises in the provision of therapy to infants, children, adolescents and families who have experienced disruption in the development of attachment in primary care relationship and/or developmental trauma such as abuse and neglect.  

Chelle is committed to providing family inclusive, client centred services to her clients.  Working with the child in the context of their family or care relationships is an essential approach for Chelle in her work with children and adolescents. Years of working with involuntary clients has given Chelle a real skill in engaging children and young people reluctant to participate in “therapy”.  Child clients and their families have often commended Chelle on her ability to put clients at ease, establish safe therapeutic space for children to address difficult issues and to support and manage these competently.

The ChildTrauma Academy acknowledges that Chelle has completed Neurosequential Model of Therapeutic NMT Training Certification through the Phase II level. Chelle’s practice and interventions are informed by her expertise in neurodevelopment and children. During 2012 and 2013 Chelle, together with Dr Bruce Perry of the ChildTrauma Academy and Annette Jackson Take Two Directory at Berry Street, co facilitated the Australasian NMT Case Based Training Series an online training program in NMT.  Between 2010 and 2014 Chelle led Berry Street’s Take Two program in its certification and implementation of NMT.

In 2013 Chelle was awarded a Creswick Foundation Fellowship, which enabled her to travel to the United States and Canada during 2014 and explore neurodevelopmentally informed interventions to treat trauma and attachment disruption in infants, children and adolescents. Chelle kept a blog during her time overseas and is yet to complete this so more blogs are to follow. Chelle’s blog can be found here https://mycreswickfellowshiptour.wordpress.com/ and the report Chelle tabled to the Creswick Foundation can be downloaded from https://www.childhoodinstitute.org.au/resources/not-isolation-importance-relationships-and-healing-childhood-trauma 
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If you have trouble downloading Chelle's paper and would like a copy, please email hello@blossomtreepsychology.com.au and we can email it to you.

Chelle is a trained Narrative Therapist and also uses Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Play Therapy, Family Therapy, Mindfulness, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, and Solution Focussed Therapy in her work. 

Chelle is also an accredited facilitator of the Tuning into Kids Emotion Coaching group therapy based program and the Holyoake Drumbeat Program for social and emotional development in children.

Chelle is a member of the Australian Psychological Society, and a registered provider with Medicare.

Jess Sewell - Clinical Psychologist
Jess is not currently taking on new clients

Jess is a registered Clinical Psychologist who has completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Jess has previously been working with infants, children, adolescents, and their families within the child protection system for over six years. Through her previous role as the Therapeutic Specialist within a community service organisation Jess has developed expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of a large range of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and a comprehensive understanding of complex trauma, attachment and behavioural problems for children of all ages.

Jess is passionate and committed to providing a space where children, parents and families can feel safe, listened to, and supported to work together towards mutually agreed goals. Working from a child-focussed and strengths based perspective with children and their families, Jess helps children to recognise their strengths and develop their skills, while supporting their family to understand their child’s needs and support them.

Jess has strong skills in engaging children and adolescents who may be hesitant to seek help or speak to a “therapist”. She strongly believes in the importance of providing a personally tailored approach and ensuring that a trusting, supportive and honest relationship is formed between herself and those she works with.

Jess draws on evidence-based interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Play Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Family therapy in her work, and works from an attachment and trauma informed perspective.

Jess also has significant experience and expertise in training, educating and supporting parents and carers, as well as teachers and other staff who care for, and work with, children who have complex needs. 

Jess is a member of the Australian Psychological Society, and a registered provider with Medicare.

Prue Allan - Psychologist
Prue is not currently taking on new clients

Prue is a registered Psychologist who has completed a Masters in Clinical Psychology and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society. Prue has always had a keen interest in learning tools that improve people’s wellbeing and quality of life. Before becoming a psychologist, Prue taught mindfulness techniques, mediation, relaxation and yoga to children, adolescents and adults for over 16 years.
 
Over the last two and a half years, Prue has provided psychological treatment and conducted psychological, cognitive, academic and behavioural assessments for children and adolecents within school and community based settings. Prue values working collaboratively with children, adolescents and their families on a range of issues including depression and anxiety, parenting, trauma, attachment, emotional distress, behavioural regulation and coping and adjustment difficulties.
 
With a calm and practical approach, Prue strives to create a relaxed, supportive environment for children and their caregivers, enabling them to feel comfortable to explore thoughts and emotions in relation to challenges they may be facing. Prue’s authentic, down to earth and gentle nature enables her to connect and relate well to children, and helps her establish a good rapport with those she works with.  Prue tunes in to the needs of the client and their families making them feel heard, respected and validated.  

Prue understands the importance of working together with kids, their families (or care givers) in order to determine which therapeutic approaches may fit their personality, culture, values, goals and strengths. Her treatment approach encompasses creative and developmentally appropriate strategies to foster healthy brain development, emotional connection and self-worth. She aims to promote psychological and emotional understanding and provide tools for families and children to develop life skills, promote healthy and adaptive living behaviours and fulfil emotional and practical needs.
Prue draws on a range of evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness and strength focused therapies.

 Prue is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and a registered provider with Medicare.

Rachael Silverman - Social Worker
Rachael is not currently taking on new clients

​Rachael is a registered AASW Social Worker and holds a Bachelor of Social Welfare and Masters of Social Work from Federation University. She is a passionate and dedicated Social Worker who strongly believes in the importance of authentic relationships; and brings an accepting and empathetic approach to all the people she works with. Rachael has a strong focus on attachment and seeks to understand each persons’ individual journey through their life to best offer support and empowerment to them.
 
Over the last 9 years, Rachael has worked with children, young people and families who have experienced complex relational trauma and many of whom are within the Child Protection system. Rachael is highly skilled at working with children who have experienced trauma and attachment disruptions, along with their parents/caregivers to build a strong foundation of understanding and therapeutic responses to behavioural and emotional concerns.
 
Rachael has spent a significant period working with young people residing in Out of Home Care (Foster care and kinship care) and those living in Permanent and Adoptive families. This work has given Rachael a strong understanding of the impact for children growing up in non-biological homes, and the unique challenges faced by non-biological parents. She also has an extensive background in supporting individuals and families who have complex needs; and aims to understand and make sense of their experiences and relationships, and build on their unique values and strengths. 

Rachael utilises a variety of interventions including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), play therapy, life story work, dyadic work and somatic approaches in her work with children, young people and adults. Rachael has significant experience in providing training and education and is also an experienced Circle of Security Parent (COS-P) facilitator.

Karen Fairhurst - Psychologist
Karen is not currently taking on new clients
​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.  

Cheyenne Johns - Psychologist
Cheyenne is not currently taking on new clients

Cheyenne is a registered Psychologist (soon to be clinical psychologist) with a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Federation University and is a member of the Australian Psychology Society. Cheyenne has a great deal of experience working with children, adolescents and their families within the child protection system. Before becoming a registered psychologist, Cheyenne spent four years working with young people in out of home care. Cheyenne also conducts cognitive and academic assessments upon request.
 
Cheyenne understands the importance of creating an environment where young people and their caregivers can feel safe and has experience helping children and carers to develop safe, constructive environments to foster growth and development. She has skills in engaging young people who perhaps don’t really want to engage in “therapy”. Cheyenne uses a client-centred approach that focuses on meeting the child or adolescent where they are at and focuses on taking the time to understand what is going on for the child individually, and in the wider context of their family and social environment.
 
Cheyenne has experience working with children and adolescents who have experienced attachment disruption, anxiety, depression, grief, complex trauma, emotional and behavioural difficulties and adjustment issue. Cheyenne takes a P.A.C.E approach to working with her clients focussing on being Playful, Accepting, Curious and Empathetic and strongly believes that “kids do well if they can”.  She is committed to helping children and their families build the skills they need to improve their overall health and wellbeing.
 
Cheyenne utilises evidence-based interventions including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Play Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing and works from a trauma informed perspective. Cheyenne is committed to continual professional development and developing skills in new evidenced-based approaches. 
 
Cheyenne is a member of the Australian Psychology Society, and a registered provider with Medicare.
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Denver and Cally's Healthcare is proudly sponsored by the Ballarat Veterinary Practice
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Cally's current certification

Denver & Cally - Therapy Dogs

Denver is a 4-year-old chocolate Labrador.  Denver has been at the clinic since he was 8 weeks old, and together with Chelle, is trained to an Advanced Level of Animal Assisted Therapy and Canine Interventions with Lead the Way Psychology and Animal Assisted Therapy and Alpha Canine Professionals.  Denver is due for re-certification of his Advanced Animal Assisted Therapy certification and this will happen in 2020.  
 
Denver loves people, (children especially!) and can be very excitable and he can sometimes forget that he's at work.  You can tell when Denver is excited because he wags his whole body!  Denver has his favourite spot on the couch and is likely to curl up alongside you and go to sleep while you pat him, sometimes even with his head in your lap. 

Cally is a 3-year-old black Labrador. She didn't have the best start to life, and people didn't treat her very nicely. In fact, like lots of the kids Chelle sees, Cally was in Foster Care, but in 2017 Chelle adopted her and brought love back into her life. Chelle and Cally have worked really hard on learning to trust each other and work together. Cally's favourite things are; pats, playing with her brother Denver, pats, toys and pats. Did we mention she loves pats? Cally became a Certified Therapy Dog in September 2019 after 2 long years of training.  

Denver and Cally come to work with Chelle most days and when she is at work, they are always in Chelle's office.  Sometimes they will come into reception to say hello on their way outside for a break or coming back inside from a break.  Denver and Cally have a big crate in the office so they have somewhere to go and have a rest but also somewhere safe to be if you don't want them to be part of your appointment or if you might be scared of them. 

If you don't want Denver or Cally to be a part of your sessions with Chelle, be sure to let her know, or get your Mum and Dad to tell them, and they will make sure Denver or Cally are safely in their crate. 
 
You can keep track of Denver and Cally's adventures on their social media pages below!