APS College of Counselling Psychologists

Committee Information


 

The following members of the National College Committee have been elected by the members of the College of Counselling psychologists. Please feel free to contact the College Committee members with any queries or suggestions about the activities and events which they organise for members of this College.

Chair

Dr Roger Cook
I have been a member of the National Executive for over 15 years and before that I was Chair of the Victorian Section of our College. I am now Chair of the National Executive of the College. I am also a Director and Deputy Chair of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council . (APAC). My professional interests, apart the advocacy of Counselling Psychology, are families and their functioning, men and men's issues, infertility and its treatment, counselling processes. My personal interests are: my wife and our family of four sons, their partners and seven grandchildren, swimming, golf and reading.

Deputy Chair & Acting Secretary

Mrs Samantha Hill
Samantha is based in Perth, Western Australia. Samantha completed her Masters Degree at Curtin University. Samantha has also completed training in the UK and Ireland. Samantha has experience working in a variety of settings including child protection, community mental health, women’s health and family services, and education settings. Samantha began working in private practice in 2019 and works across the lifespan with individuals and families. Samantha is a Board Approved Supervisor and is working towards her accreditation as an EMDR Consultant. Samantha has a special interest in working with complex trauma and attachment difficulties.

Secretary

Position vacant

Treasurer

Ms Lidia Genovese
Phone: 08 61611893
Lidia Genovese
B.A. Grad. Dip. M. Psych
Endorsed Counselling, Educational/Developmental and Clinical Psychologist
Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society
Fellow of the College of Counselling Psychologists.

Lidia is the Principal Psychologist at Changing Tracks Psychology. She has been practicing for over 45 and has a wide range of experience from, teaching primary school children, being a school psychologist, teaching GPs Focused Psychological Strategies, to being the psychology advisor to the Department of Veteran Affairs. She now works part-time and is mainly engaged in teaching medical students, training psychology graduates to become Registered Psychologist, mentoring other psychologists, conducting professional development for health professionals and educators. She does not take new clients but continues to support clients whom she treated in the past. Lidia has been on the Counselling College committee since 1990 taking various roles and responsibilities.

Committee Member - Communications & CPD

Ms Denise Abreu
I am the CEO and Principal Psychologist of Haven Psychology Centre in Brisbane. I am also a member of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH). I work predominantly in the fields of complex mental health, trauma and sexology. I am also a Psych Board supervisor and offer training and supervising via face to face and online platforms for professionals and the community when working alongside the LGBTIQAP+ community.

Committee Member - Rural and Remote Rep

Ms Julie Waller

Committee Member - Early Career Rep

Ms Angela Gale
Angela Gale is a Counselling Psychologist and is working in private practice. She works with individuals, couples, and groups using evidenced-based therapeutic techniques with a gentle, collaborative, and respectful approach. She sees people who have a number of concerns, such as, relationship difficulties, PTSD, trauma and abuse (physical, sexual, domestic, institutional), anxiety, depression, and identity development. Angela has been a part of the APS CCOUN since 2015.

Committee Member - Strategy & CPD

Ms Karen Fairhurst
Phone: 0452430745
I am a Counselling Psychologist, and my practice is currently located in the regional city of Ballarat. I specialise in working with children and adolescents, with referral pathways including the TAC, NDIS, Child Protection, G. P’s, and Pediatricians. Presenting issues include anxiety, post-traumatic stress response and disorder, grief, depression, chronic health issues, ASD, ADHD, disorders of conduct and emotion, and disorders of social functioning.
I work in a collaborative, trauma informed, evidenced based framework, and my main area of interest is in the developing minds of children and the internalised, mental representations that they build in response to their lived experience.
Prior to working in private practice, I held roles in the wider Mental Health Sector that included research, and program development in co-designed and inclusive models of recovery.
When not working I paint, write, enjoy long beach walks, and spend highly valued time with friends and family.

Committee Member - Strategy

Dr Helen Kambouridis

Committee Member - Strategy

Ms Jane Anastasios
I am a counselling psychologist and family therapist with roughly 25 years' experience providing therapy, training, and supervision in schools, private practice, community agencies, and higher education. As a long standing member of the College I have valued our emphasis on understanding and researching the complex social and relational context of individuals, and how to fine-tune our skills as therapists. I am currently researching therapist decision-making processes and how this relates to involving parents when working with adolescents. My work these days is mostly focused on training, teaching, and supervision in counselling, psychology, and family therapy. I am also interested in improving ways to better support all practitioners who are working with people experiencing complex difficulties.

Committee Member - Research

Dr Sandra Stewart
Phone: 0403569535
I am an AHPRA-endorsed counselling psychologist and an academic (MPsych/PhD) with a focus on "better therapy". My academic role has involved Course Leader of the Master of Professional Psychology, teaching postgraduate counselling skills, and professional experience supervision. I also supervise research theses in counselling and psychology. I run a small private practice alongside my academic work. My therapy work is informed by trauma, attachment, and psychodynamic frameworks and I tend to work long-term with clients. I also provide secondary supervision for interns in the 5 + 1 pathway.

Early Career Rep & Secretary Assistant

Miss Eleanor Parker
Eleanor Parker is an early career representative on the National Executive Committee and a Student Representative on the WA Committee of the College of Counselling Psychologists. Eleanor completed the Master of Psychology (Counselling Psychology) at Curtin University in Jan 2020. Her research dissertation explored the lived experiences of the siblings of trans people. For 10 years, Eleanor's work has seen her providing therapeutic residential care for children. Eleanor is currently competing her Counselling Psychology Registrar Program while working in a custodial environment offering assessment, intervention, and consultation for young offenders with complex mental health disorders and trauma histories.

Chair
NSW

Rev Renwick Schmid

Chair
QLD

Ms Denise Abreu
I am the CEO and Principal Psychologist of Haven Psychology Centre in Brisbane. I am also a member of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH). I work predominantly in the fields of complex mental health, trauma and sexology. I am also a Psych Board supervisor and offer training and supervising via face to face and online platforms for professionals and the community when working alongside the LGBTIQAP+ community.

Chair
VIC

Ms Angela Gale
Angela Gale is a Counselling Psychologist and is working in private practice. She works with individuals, couples, and groups using evidenced-based therapeutic techniques with a gentle, collaborative, and respectful approach. She sees people who have a number of concerns, such as, relationship difficulties, PTSD, trauma and abuse (physical, sexual, domestic, institutional), anxiety, depression, and identity development. Angela has been a part of the APS CCOUN since 2015.

Chair
WA

Dr Catherine Bishop
Catherine is Counselling Psychologist in private practice. She holds a Masters/PhD in Counselling Psychology and has predominantly worked in tertiary and private mental health sectors for over 16 years. Between 2010 and 2020, Catherine worked part-time as a Senior Lecturer at Curtin University in the Masters of Counselling Psychology Program, and has been running a busy private practice with two colleague since 2011. Catherine holds endorsements in Counselling and Clinical Psychology and is an AHPRA-approved supervisor. Catherine has extensive experience working with moderate to severe mental health disorders and complex presentations, and has particular interests in trauma/PTSD, Personality Disorders, and Anxiety Disorders. She incorporates a range of therapeutic intinterventions with clients including Schema, EMDR and Psychodynamic approaches, with an overarching focus on the client’s experience of safe connection within self and in the therapeutic relationship.