Psychology Team
Meet Emily
Educational & Developmental Psychologist
Emily Edwards is an Educational & Developmental psychologist, member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), and a board-approved supervisor. Emily is the founder and director of Peninsula Child Psychology since it was established in 2021. She has worked within the private paediatric space for the last five years, as well as in the education department since 2020. Her client base includes neurodiverse children and adolescents, specifically females with ASD and ADHD, clients with social and emotional difficulties, grief and adjustment disorders, and mood disorders. She is trained in a range of therapeutic interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and grief counselling, as well as range of parent support programs such as Tuning Into Kids (TIK). She is also trained in completing cognitive, behavioural, and neurodevelopmental assessments. Emily adopts a holistic and family-centred approach when working with her clients, and enjoys working within systems. She enjoys supporting families in understanding the processes associated with assisting their child and tailors this experience to every family she works with. Emily divides her professional time between the provision of therapeutic and assessment services for clients, and the supervision, training, and professional development of clinical staff.
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Days of work
Intervention: Monday - Tuesday
Assessment: Wednesday - Thursday
Administration/ WFH: Friday
Meet Emily W
Psychologist
Emily Williams is a general psychologist and an educational/ developmental psychology registrar, having completed a Masters of Psychology (Educational and Developmental). She has experience across a range of settings, including community services, primary and secondary schools, a university clinic, and a public hospital. Emily is passionate about supporting children, adolescents, and their families, and has particular experience providing assessment and therapeutic support for young people with neurodevelopmental conditions. Her areas of interest also include anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, sleep, behaviour, and the role of sport and exercise in mental health. Emily brings a warm, energetic presence to her work, creating a safe and supportive space where young people feel heard and understood. Her approach is evidence-based, client-centred, and grounded in a strengths-based perspective to empower individuals to reach their goals.
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Days of work
Wednesday - Thursday
Meet Jade
Psychologist
Jade Duran is a General Psychologist with a Master of Psychology (Clinical), and is currently a clinical psychology registrar. She is dedicated to supporting the emotional wellbeing of children, pre-teens, and adolescents. She is passionate about creating a safe and nurturing space where young people feel heard and empowered to express themselves. With experience working across a range of presentations including anxiety, mood difficulties, emotional regulation, social challenges, ASD, and ADHD, Jade brings a calm, collaborative presence to her sessions. She draws on a variety of evidence-based therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), play therapy, and art-based approaches to suit each child’s individual needs.
Jade works holistically with children and their families, tailoring strategies to the developmental stage and personality of each young person. She values a personalised, strength-based approach, supporting families to navigate challenges together and build lasting skills.
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Days of work
Monday, Tuesday, Friday
Meet Alex
Psychologist (Provisional)
Alexandra “Alex” Nixon is a dedicated provisional psychologist with a Master of Professional Psychology. Alex is passionate about helping families lead meaningful lives aligned with their values. She specialises in supporting children, adolescents, and families, with a strong interest in perinatal psychology, helping parents navigate pregnancy and the transition into parenthood and beyond. With a warm and compassionate approach, Alex creates a safe and calming atmosphere where clients and their families feel heard and comfortable sharing their stories. Therapy with Alex draws upon an integration of evidence-based principles, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Integrated Family System (IFS) as guided by each client's needs, goals and context. Alex takes a holistic, collaborative approach, working with clients and their families to develop personalised strategies that promote growth, resilience, and emotional well-being. Alex wholeheartedly believes the foundation of effective therapy lies in self-honesty, commitment to growth, and a genuine connection between therapist and client. Whether you're seeking support for yourself or a loved one, Alex offers a practical approach to facilitating meaningful change, with a focus on individuality, empathy, and genuine connection.​
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Days of work
Monday, Tuesday, Friday
Meet Tiana
Psychologist (Provisional)
Tiana Nikolova is a provisional psychologist with a passion for supporting children to build the foundations to improve their mental health and well-being. She has a Master of Professional Psychology and prior experience supporting children and their families within home and school based settings. Tiana has a wide-ranging experience working with neuro-diverse children offering a play-based and child-centered approach to counselling. She offers a warm and collaborative approach with a strengths-based focus to create a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for young people and their families. Tiana has experience supporting young people for a variety of presenting reasons including anxiety, depression, bereavement, emotion management and educational and behavioral concerns. She draws upon an integration of evidence-based practices and theoretical models including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as guided by the client’s goals and individual needs.
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Days of work
Wednesday - Friday
Independent Psychologists
Please see below for our independent psychologists that operate out of Peninsula Child Psychology
Meet Breanna
Psychologist (Independent)
Breanna Davis is a general psychologist with a Master of Psychology (Clinical). Breanna is currently completing a clinical psychology registrar. She has extensive experience working with neurodivergent children, adolescents, and their families, providing tailored support to meet each family's unique needs. Breanna is skilled in cognitive, behavioural, and neurodevelopmental assessments and is dedicated to delivering tailored, compassionate support that respects each client's unique needs. Her practice emphasises a collaborative and inclusive therapeutic approach, creating a safe environment where clients and their families feel heard and valued. At Peninsula Child Psychology, Breanna is available specifically for psychological assessments, including those related to cognitive, learning, and neurodevelopmental areas. Please note that Breanna’s current availability does not include ongoing counselling and intervention support.​​​
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Days of work
Assessment: Monday
Administration/ WFH: Tuesday
Meet Jodie
Psychologist (Independent)
Jodie van der Elst is a general psychologist and a clinical psychology registrar, with a passion for early nurturing of emotional wellbeing and agility. She has a Master of Psychology (Clinical) and prior experience supporting young people and their families within the community youth space, university clinic setting, and private hospital. Jodie offers client-centred therapeutic counselling and intervention to support pre-teens or youth, and their families to navigate a range of presenting challenges. With a warm and collaborative approach, she draws upon evidence-based and theoretical foundations and tailors her approach to the needs of the client and their family. These might include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, role-modelling, play, and more. Jodie also appreciates that families might benefit from support coping with life transitions, bereavement, medical diagnoses and health-related challenges.
Jodie is also trained in cognitive, educational, and clinical assessments for a range of presenting concerns, including anxiety, depression, learning difficulties, school disengagement, OCD, and ADHD. ​
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Days of work
Intervention: Thursday
Assessment: Friday
Meet Rose
Psychologist (Independent)
Rosemary Kucan is a general psychologist who has completed a Master’s degree in Educational and Developmental Psychology. She possesses extensive expertise in working with children and adolescents across a broad spectrum of presentations, including anxiety, mood difficulties, learning challenges, behavioural concerns, and emotional regulation. Her practice also encompasses supporting neurodiverse children, particularly those diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. Rosemary is skilled in assisting supporting neurodiverse children and young people to develop strategies for managing social difficulties, anxiety, burnout, and mood, while working collaboratively with schools to ensure consistent and holistic support. Her professional background spans primary schools, secondary schools and private practice, affording her a comprehensive understanding of the diverse contexts in which children and families navigate challenges. Rosemary’s therapeutic approach is warm, collaborative and pragmatic. She is committed to working in partnership with children and their families, ensuring that interventions are carefully tailored to individual needs and aligned with each child’s developmental stage. She draws on evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). With an emphasis on skill-building, she is dedicated to equipping children and young people with the tools necessary to enhance their resilience and wellbeing. In addition to her therapeutic work, Rosemary has considerable experience in administering neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and educational assessments. These assessments provide valuable insight and inform targeted recommendations to guide both families and educators. She is deeply committed to fostering a supportive and empowering environment in which children and families feel understood, respected and positioned to achieve meaningful outcomes.
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Days of work
Wednesday - Thursday
Client Support & Administration Team
Meet Liv
Client Support & Administration
Olivia Hamilton is currently completing a masters in educational and developmental psychology, and is passionate about mental health. As she pursues her dream of becoming a registered psychologist, she brings her warmth and compassion to the forefront of her role as a receptionist at our clinic. With a friendly demeanour, Liv welcomes families and clients alike, offering them the support they need throughout their visit to the clinic. Her genuine passion for mental health shines through as she strives to create a nurturing environment for all who walk through our doors.​
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Days of work
Monday
Meet Mel
Client Support & Administration
Melissa Boyd provides a warm and friendly welcome to our clinic. In her role as clinic receptionist, Melissa is there to ensure our clients feel comfortable, nurtured, and supported. Melissa is very approachable with her sunny nature and the genuine compassion and care that she shows to all.
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Days of work
Tuesday - Friday
Meet Olive
(the "other Liv")
Olive is a 7 year old Jug (Pug x Jack Russel). She enjoys eating, sleeping, and playing at the beach. Olive has a gentle, kind, and friendly demeanour, and enjoys cuddles and attention from all those around her. She brings additional comfort and support to all clients who come through the door and will be commencing her visiting dog training through the Lead the Way Institute in 2025.​
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Days of work
Appointment Only
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