APS College of Counselling Psychologists

Western Australian Committee Information

Below are details of the current committee and vacancies. The APS is always on the look out for members who are interested in joining a Member Group committee, to help support and promote members, the profession, and the APS. For more information about joining a Member Groups committee, click here.

Have questions? Please feel free to contact committee members via PsyCommunity direct message here or reach out to APS Member Groups via [email protected].

Chair

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.

Secretary

Ms Leanne Watson
Leanne graduated from the Masters of Counselling Psychology Program at Curtin University in 1997 and has worked in a variety of positions, including school psychology, rural mental health, the ADF, youth mental health and is now in private practice in Perth, WA. Leanne enjoys working with a wide range of clientele, with a particular interest in neurodivergence. She is a Board-approved supervisor and thoroughly enjoys the privilege of assisting clients to develop strategies to live productive, enjoyable lives.

Treasurer

Mrs Gosia Stasinski
Gosia is a Counselling Psychologist in private practice working with a diverse range of clients of all ages and cultural backgrounds. She provides evidence based responsive psychological counselling to individuals and families facing complex mental health problems such as trauma, mood and personality disorders, as well as relationship and identity issues.

Her clinical and counselling experience since 2002 has included working at educational institutions, with asylum seekers in detention, in private organisations and for the Department of Justice (Corrective Services) where she continues to specialise in psychological assessments for Court.

Gosia is an AHPRA board-approved supervisor and a lecturer at Curtin University. She is passionate about the significant role of Counselling Psychology within the mental health field, particularly its promotion of the therapeutic relationship as an agent for change.

Committee Member

Miss Jessica Fitzsimmons

Committee Member

Mr Hoda Golestani

Committee Member

Ms Lidia Genovese
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

Mr Christian Gill

Committee Member

Ms Marie-Louise Limb
Marie Limb (BSc(Hons), MPsych (Counselling) is a Counselling Psychologist in private practice working primarily with neurodivergent children, adolescents and their families. Marie grounds her work in attachment, neurodiversity-affirming, and trauma informed frameworks and incorporates various therapies depending on what fits for the client and their current reason for seeking help. Marie enjoys working with young children and adolescents for the creativity and deep emotional experiences they bring, and for the past two decades has worked with young people in a variety of settings including mental health, drug & alcohol, courts, corrections, disability, and education. A love of learning saw Marie return to university as a Sessional Academic at Curtin University. Marie is also an endorsed board-approved supervisor and provides supervision to psychologists and other allied health workers who are interested in fine-tuning their skills in working with children and adolescents.

Committee Member

Ms Gemma Barter
Gemma is a Counselling and Clinical Psychologist with experience in the Alcohol and Other Drug sector, Employee Assistance Programs, multidisciplinary pain management programs and for the past 10 years has worked in private practice with older adolescents and adults. Gemma has a particular interest in trauma, chronic pain and the mind-body connection. She draws from Schema therapy, psychodynamic and interpersonal frameworks as well as sensorimotor psychotherapy to help clients understand and develop their intra- and interpersonal relationships.

Gemma is an AHPRA board-approved supervisor and has worked as a sessional academic since 2012, teaching in various postgraduate counselling and psychology programs.