Our Team

Viviana Jancso

Clinical Psychologist (Registrar)

BA Law, MA Applied Psych, Grad Dip Counselling, BA Psych

Personal Information

Viviana is a Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in EAP, Private Practice and in a Government setting in a vocational rehabilitation capacity. She works with children, adolescents and adults with a range of mental health and behavioural issues. She is nearing the completion of a law degree and is often approached to deal with court related matters including reportable family therapy, court ordered anger management and reporting on criminal cases.

Viviana has experience working across several psychological problems including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, trauma, couples counselling, anger management, eating disorders and autism. Viviana uses evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and is trained to use EMDR for trauma and Schema Therapy for personality disorders and family of origin issues. Other therapeutic approaches are used depending upon a clients presenting issues.

Viviana is motivated to help clients achieve their therapeutic goals and progress towards positive outcomes. She has a personable, friendly and empathic and her approach to her work is motivated by a genuine desire to assist clients to make positive life changes.

Darryl Shirt

Counsellor and Teacher

Grad Dip Counselling, Adv Dip C&FT, Grad Dip Applied Science, Grad Dip Prim Teaching

Personal Information

After completing 34 years as a Primary Teacher and Librarian in a range of schools in NSW and here in WA Goldfields, Darryl commenced training as a counsellor. His transition to counselling was driven by a strong desire to make a difference especially for families experiencing a range of grief, trauma and relationship challenges. Darryl’s areas of interest span all age groups and include sexuality, relationships(individuals/couples/families), trauma, grief, anxiety and depression.

On a personal note, Darryl is a moderately keen gardener, cyclist and involved in numerous community associations in NSW and regional WA.

Frank Jacobsen

Counsellor and Director of Regional Counselling Services

Diploma of Counselling, Cert IV in Mental Health WAPHA, Cert Business Studies

Personal Information

Frank is a country boy at heart, born and bred in the WA Wheatbelt. He started facilitating programs in 2003 to help families. Frank’s areas of interest include peer support, pastoral care, FIFO counselling, critical incident response and the personal development of couples and individuals. He is a founding Director of the Family Centre in Kalgoorlie, W.A. Health Departments Mental Health Advocate for Kalgoorlie and volunteer with the Red Cross in Psychological First Aid. He has been providing peer support in the mining industry for many years, assisting mining companies by building relationships with their employees and helping develop their life skills and resilience. He facilitates toolbox talks, mental health presentations and on-site self-development workshops.

Valma Granich

Counsellor and Psychotherapist

BA, Dip Ed., CTEFLA, Dip TESL, Grad Dip (Couns.), Masters SocSc (Couns.), Adv Cert. Hyp.

Personal Information

Valma has an extensive background in counselling, education and training. She has worked as a counsellor and psychotherapist in a number of government and non-government agencies and in private practice. She embraces a range of resilience-based therapeutic approaches to promote emotional and mental well-being. A significant area of interest is the current understanding of brain plasticity and its application in therapeutic work, as are complementary modalities. Areas of special interest include relationship issues, healing the legacy of childhood trauma, abuse and neglect, grief, loss and change, work-related concerns, cross-cultural issues, depression and anxiety, process and substance dependencies, managing chronic and terminal illness and adolescent issues.

In her work with individuals, couples, families and groups, Valma aims to create a safe and respectful space that facilitates creative unfolding of each person’s strengths and resources, enhances their self-esteem and sense of purpose in life, celebrates their uniqueness and supports the process of change.

Marc de Bruin

Counsellor, Supervisor and Educator

Master of Counselling USC, Grad Dip Mindfulness, Cert IV T & E, Cert IV Small Bus Mgt, Cert Enneagram & Aus ID Personalities, Cery Life/Bus Coaching and Master at Laws (Bachelor)

Personal Information

Marc is a registered international counsellor, supervisor and educator “with a twist”. He looks at life through a different lens, with a transpersonal, even “spiritual” filter. Expect to discuss life from a bigger perspective, while still being very practical. He has a special interest in assisting clients with “simplifying life”, to increase personal & professional effectiveness, satisfaction and well-being. He is also experienced in dealing with symptoms of anxiety, depression and high stress levels.

He possess broad knowledge, experience & skills in Life and Business Coaching and Counselling. CBT, NLP, SFBT, Mindfulness and other modalities. This is led by a focused skill set in Mindfulness integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MiCBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He is also well-versed in Myers-Briggs and Keirsey Temperament profiling. Business Development skills have been developed through 10 years of practicing Commercial Law in the Netherlands.

Melinda Bailey

Counsellor, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Workplace Mediator

BA Social Science & Grad Dip Family Dispute Resolution

Personal Information

With over 20 years counselling experience working with people from a broad demographic across a wide range of life issues, Melinda credits her success as a counsellor to a wealth of varied professional and personal life experiences.

Prior to expanding into private practice Melinda worked for both government and non-government community welfare organisations in various roles including Probation Officer, Correctional Counsellor and Family & Relationship Counsellor.

In addition to tertiary qualifications in counselling and interpersonal communication skills, Melinda is a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner who loves helping separated families develop parenting and property agreements that ‘their children may never feel the need to recover from’. Melinda also provides EAP and Workplace Mediation services.

Kerri Bower

Counsellor

BA Counselling, Dip HR, Cert IV Workforce T & A

Personal Information

Kerri is a Registered Counsellor who is compassionate about working collaboratively with clients. As a counsellor, she has worked in many sectors including her 4-year current involvement with Lifeline Australia Crisis Support Team and their Community Recovery Team. She has extensive experience supporting individuals, adults, minors and adolescents to address a myriad of concerns that are common for many. These include grief and loss, anxiety, identity concerns, depression and many other unexpected life changing events. Kerri’s solid understanding of life-span development enables her to support clients as they navigate their individual life challenges.

Using a strong person-centred and strength-based approach, she aims to offer a space where a voice can be heard and witnessed, strengths identified, coping skills learned, resilience recognised and hope re-discovered. Kerri views counselling as a place where people can be listened to, a place where emotions, thoughts and behaviours can be noticed and challenged. Kerri applies the following evidence-base therapies: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Somatic Focused Therapy and Expressive Therapies depending on the clients’ needs and interests. Keerri’s aim is to connect the mind, body, emotions and self together.

Rebecca Muller

Counsellor

BA Counselling, Dip Health Science, Adv Dip Art & Design

Personal Information

Rebecca believes strongly in the power of exploring one’s internal and external landscapes and the interplay between the two. 

With a background in yoga, she currently works in mental health to support the rehabilitation of clients experiencing psychosocial challenges. Using restorative poses, breathing techniques and mindfulness, Rebecca gently encourages her clients to work within their own capacity and window of tolerance.

The inspiration to pursue counselling as a vocation arose from Rebecca’s pursuit of her personal truth and the desire to engage dynamically with the experience of life. Through deep listening and ongoing reflection, she takes a person-centred, collaborative approach to counselling, journeying alongside her client in exploring their unique world.

Sharon Mosby

Counsellor

Diploma Of Counselling, Diploma of Ministry 

Personal Information

Sharon is a responsible counsellor with experience in Pastoral Care offering emotional, social, and spiritual support.  She demonstrates caring empathetic concern for the well-being and growth of those presenting with troubles and concerns arising in context of daily interactions.  

Sharon’s counselling focus integrates a Person-Centred Therapy Approach with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Integrative Counselling Therapies, Solution Focus, Communication styles, Anger management, Anxiety and Depression, Grief therapy.

Lyn Cannon

Counsellor/Psychotherapist & Professional Supervisor

Post Grad Dip Counselling, BA Psychology

Personal Information

Lyn has over 30 years of experience in counselling roles and is available in Bunbury, Augusta and Margaret River.

Lyn has a quiet/reflective approach, gently assisting clients to gain insight and achieve their desired outcomes.

Lyn works within a person-centred approach to counselling with the relationship being the core of her work and uses a variety of Psychotherapy, Narrative Therapy, CBT, ACT and Mindfulness styles of therapy tailoring the counselling to each person’s individual needs and personality type.  She finds the most suitable modality to holistically assist clients obtain the best possible outcomes.  

Susannah Saccardo

Counsellor

Adv Dip Transpersonal Counselling, Cert IV Youthwork, Cert in Emotional Freedom Techniques and Cert in Small Business

Personal Information

Susannah has been working with youth and adults of all ages for over 12 years.  Susannah works one on one with clients dealing with depression, low self-esteem, substance abuse, addiction and becoming self-actualised and self-empowered. She uses techniques that by-pass the intellect, accessing the client’s highest wisdom. Susannah uses A.C.T, Dream analysis, E.F.T and meditative visualization.

Susannah takes a holistic approach to her work and her personal life, meditating daily with belief in the value of mindfulness, self-care, gratitude and empathy. 

Susannah is dedicated to her own personal development by continuously researching and implementing what she is learning. Susannah’s passion is being of service to others and is available for individual counselling sessions working with adults and children.

Nikki Taylor

Career Coach

Cert IV in Career Development, Mindfulness to Coaching Mastery, CDAA Profesional Member/Career Development Practitioner

Personal Information

Susannah has been working with youth and adults of all ages for over 12 years.  Susannah works one on one with clients dealing with depression, low self-esteem, substance abuse, addiction and becoming self-actualised and self-empowered. She uses techniques that by-pass the intellect, accessing the client’s highest wisdom. Susannah uses A.C.T, Dream analysis, E.F.T and meditative visualization.

Susannah takes a holistic approach to her work and her personal life, meditating daily with belief in the value of mindfulness, self-care, gratitude and empathy. 

Susannah is dedicated to her own personal development by continuously researching and implementing what she is learning. Susannah’s passion is being of service to others and is available for individual counselling sessions working with adults and children.

Richard Taylor

Career Coach

Cert IV in Career Development, CDAA Profesional Member/Career Development Practitioner

Personal Information

Richard has been working as a Certified Career Counsellor for over 5 years and holds a Cert IV in Career Development. During this time, he has worked with clients from a diverse range of working environments. Richard’s areas of special interest include career transitions, key selection criteria writing, working with clients that have been made redundant, clients that need resume and cover letter support, in fact, anything to do with your career and the transition you need to make.  

Richard makes a positive impact on his clients’ personal and professional journeys, covering all aspects of their career, working with them on a one-on-one basis. By providing valuable insights, hands-on practical knowledge, and, importantly, clarity, Richard can get tangible results for his clients. 

Richard has also created Mentor 4 Men, a Facebook group and safe place for men that is free of judgment and discrimination. In this group, men find support both for themselves and others by sharing experiences and sage advice. 

Mary Worthington

General Manager

GAICD

Personal Information

Mary is a senior executive with extensive experience in corporate and commercial business leadership within the finance industry. Her recent move to the health industry has allowed her to transfer this skill set to Lifeskills Australia where her key responsibilities are identifying and shaping new commercial opportunities, building partnerships with industry leaders, tender preparation and negotiation, delivery of industry focused mental health education and ensuring best practice in service delivery for all our clients.

Zoe Hogarth

Receptionist and Administration Assistant

Grad Dip Community Services (in progress)

Personal Information

Zoe has spent many years in the pharmacy, retail and the early childhood learning and development industries. She is currently working towards attaining a Graduate Diploma in Community Services which she intends to use to assist her in obtaining a university placement to ultimately become a Social Worker.

Between her work and study Zoe enjoys craft, is a prolific reader and loves getting outdoors with her partner and 3 young children Daisy, Jack and Charlie.