Who We Are
Emma Gebrael, BSW, Grad Dip Family Therapy | Director (she/her)
Emma is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker specialising in the treatment of eating disorders in young people. Emma is also a Credentialed Eating Disorders Clinician through ANZAED (Australian and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders) and NEDC (National Eating Disorder Collaboration) which has formally recognised her qualifications, knowledge and training in providing safe and effective eating disorders treatment.
Emma completed her degree in Social Work at the University of Sydney and has dedicated the last 15 years of her career in community mental health. Emma is highly skilled and passionate about delivering the most evidence based treatments and supporting young people and their families through to recovery.
Emma specialises in providing treatment such as Family Based Treatment for Eating Disorders, Adolescent Parent Treatment, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - Enhanced for Eating Disorders (CTB-E) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for ARFID . As co-morbidities are common, such as Anxiety, Depression and Borderline Personality Disorder, Emma is also trained in other treatments i.e. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.
Emma is very passionate about working with young people experiencing body image issues and supports the HAES approach of Health at Every Size. Emma is on a mission to challenge young people’s ideas of beauty and the ‘ideal’ body shape, to wise up to social media and build body confidence.
Emma is also dedicated to supporting the wider community in the early identification and treatment of young people struggling with food and eating by offering education and supervision.
Emma is a member of the Australia Association of Social Workers (AASW) and ANZAED.
Renée Valentino, Psychologist, Masters in Music Therapy (she/her)
Renée is a psychologist with a Master's degree in music therapy. Renée has worked for over 14 years with adolescents and their families.
Renée uses Dialect Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and creative methods (exploring art and music) to support young people. Renée is passionate about helping young people believe that a future with hope and possibilities can exist for them. And to take steps toward living fulfilling and healthy lives... lives worth living.
Renée assists with a variety of mental health issues that lead to distress and dysregulation, building skills in the young person to better cope with their challenges and coaching parents to respond in ways that are supportive and nurturing of their young person.
Renée has particular experience with young people with personality vulnerabilities and working with gender and sexual diversity.
Renée approach is to helping one build on their unique personal and family based strengths.
Saria Phillips, BSW and Family Therapist (she/her)
Saria is a trained family therapist with a Master’s degree from the Bouverie centre, Latrobe University and is an accredited mental health social worker, with a Bachelor’s degree from University of Tasmania.
Saria has dedicated over 16 years to providing treatment and support to young people and their families impacted by mental illness, grief and loss, and trauma. She has extensive training and experience working therapeutically in tertiary mental health settings with a range of complex presentations.
When providing individual therapy Saria utilises a range of evidenced based therapies including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, internal family systems therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy, and incorporates creative techniques such as narrative therapy, sand tray work and visual arts. She recognises no one therapy approach works for everyone and is adept at tailoring a treatment that suits the individual.
As a family therapist Saria has a passion for working with a diverse range of families to achieve their goals, and respects that every family has their own unique strengths, challenges, and perspectives. Saria can help families navigate challenging transitions that impact on family harmony, such as managing separation, loss, changing life stages and the experience of mental or physical illness of family members.
Saria works holistically and acknowledges both the challenges being experienced, and the resilience and strengths that are also inherent in each of us. Even when those seeking support feel like they have lost confidence that change is possible, Saria approaches every therapy session with hope and a commitment to support healing and recovery
Sarah Bowman, Clinical Psychologist (she/her)
Sarah is a clinical psychologist, registered to provide services under Medicare, who is passionate about offering a safe and non-judgmental space to help clients address barriers to living a valued life. Sarah has experience working with children, youth and adults with complex needs in various settings including adult mental health hospital services, and both adult and child/adolescent community health services in QLD, NSW and Tasmania.
Sarah employs a therapeutic approach that draws on a variety of evidence-based therapies allowing her to provide clients with individual interventions unique to their experience. Her aim is to provide caring and comprehensive psychological services to young people and their families.
Sarah is also experienced in the administration and interpretation of cognitive and developmental assessments.
Meg Boman, Dietitian (she/her)
Meg (she/her) is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian who is passionate about personalised nutrition and the importance of diet in mental health. Meg prides herself on providing evidence-based practice and promotes a holistic and compassionate approach in her dietetic care.
After graduating from the Queensland University of Technology, she moved to Tasmania for a two month locum position, fell in love with the beautiful island, and is still here ten years later. Meg has worked across inpatient, community and private practice settings in Tasmania.
Over time she has developed a particular interest in the area of mental health and the treatment of eating disorders and disordered eating, weight and body image concerns, and has obtained her Credentialing as an Eating Disorder Clinician (CEDC).
Meg is a dedicated advocate of the Health at Every Size® (HAES®) movement and practices from a weight inclusive framework promoting improved health behaviours, body image and self-compassion for all regardless of size.
When not at work, Meg loves to explore Tassie, roller skate and is trying to learn Spanish.
Dr Lucy McGregor, Clinical Psychologist (she/her)
Lucy is a clinical psychologist who completed her doctoral studies at Monash University, Australia, and further studies at the Anna Freud Centre and University College London in the United Kingdom.
Lucy has extensive experience working with infants, children and their families in the community and not-for-profit mental health sector. Lucy sees children of all ages with anxiety and mood disorders, those who have lived through trauma, and parents of children experiencing behavioural challenges. Lucy is particularly passionate about perinatal mental health and working with parents and infants to nurture their relationship, recognising the importance that the first 1000 days has on lifetime health and wellbeing.
Lucy takes a strengths-based, collaborative and holistic approach to her work with families and is trained in multiple evidence-based therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Circle of Security. She tailors individualised care that combines evidence-based interventions with child-led and play-based approaches. Lucy aims to approach her work with a sense of warmth, compassion and humour.
Dr Shona Fullarton, Clinical Psychologist (she/her)
Shona is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years experience working with infants, children, adolescents, adults and families, predominately working with children and adolescents.
Shona completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2003. Shona is approved by the Psychology Board of Australia to provide supervision to registered psychologists, as well as psychologists seeking clinical endorsement. Shona enjoys supervising therapists at the beginning of their career, as well as those with a wealth of experience.
Shona has worked across community mental health services and education, developing skills across a vast range of evidence based therapies. These include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), attachment based therapies, play therapy, family therapy, Family Based Treatment (FBT) for eating disorders, and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Shona uses a variety of approaches depending on the requirement of the individual.
Shona is experienced in the administration and interpretation of cognitive and developmental assessments and has worked with schools in implementing recommendations to support the young person's ongoing education.
Shona is passionate about working with young people and families, helping them to grow their strengths and find ways to support them with their weaknesses. Shona enjoys working with different presentations and tailoring her approach to each individual. Shona is known for her nurturing, warm approach and, where possible, a bit of humour along the way.
Emma Bunzli, Psychologist (she/her)
Emma is a Psychologist who completed her Bachelor of Science(Hons) at the University of Queensland, and her Master of Professional Psychology at the University of Tasmania.
Emma works with individuals of all ages seeking support for depression, anxiety, and emotion dysregulation. Emma aims to provide a safe, client-centred, and non-judgmental therapeutic space for all. Emma uses evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing. Emma is training to work with people experiencing disordered eating and body image struggles, and applies a HAES (Health At Every Size) attitude to her counselling. She is working towards becoming a Credentialed Eating Disorders clinician.
Outside of work, Emma enjoys hiking, camping, and singing in the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Choir.
Emilie Burgess, Dietitian (she/her)
Emilie is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Accredited Sports Dietitian and Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician (CEDC). Emilie is a non-diet and trauma-informed dietitian who strives to provide an inclusive practice to all. Emilie has a particular interest in working with young people and their supports to build positive relationships with food, body and movement. In a society that sends so many mixed and messed-up messages around food, Emilie is compassionate in her approach and looks to work with clients to build confidence in pushing back. Diet culture be gone!
Emilie studied at the University of Sydney before completing a Certificate in Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics and a Diploma in Sports Nutrition (IOC). Clinically, Emilie has worked at both Sydney and Westmead Children’s Hospitals as well as in private practice. This is in addition to Performance Nutrition roles with teams from Cricket Tasmania, the Geelong Cats and Cricket NSW.
Emilie enjoys keeping active in ways that fit with the juggle of life and provide opportunities to explore our incredible natural surrounds, photo and snack stops definitely included! Emilie counts herself lucky to have lived in and experienced different cultures through food. Emilie travelled to Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and has also spent time living in both France and Italy. To pick a favourite food moment would be a challenge.
When not at work, Emilie can be found on one of the many bush trails around Hobart, spending time with family or tasting produce at local markets.
Dr Jason Westwater, Psychiatrist, Family Therapist, GP (he/him)
Dr Jason Westwater is a psychiatrist with specialism in child and adolescent psychiatry, a clinical family therapist and general practitioner.
Jason completed his post graduate psychiatry and GP training in the UK, prior to moving to Australia to undertake training in family therapy at the Bouverie Centre in Melbourne.
Jason has particular experience (20 years) working with gender and sexual diversity and has published research in this area and recenlty completed a PhD on the experiences of gender diverse young people and their family members.
Jason can offer interventions across the life span for a wide range of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, mood and eating disorders/difficulties as well as therapeutic interventions such as supportive psychotherapy, family therapy, couple therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, family based treatment for anorexia nervosa and life coaching.
Jason’s private practice Diverse Psychiatry & Therapy is a telehealth practice and offers face to face appointments in Hobart at Nurtured State Collective.
You can contact Jason on 03 6144 6462 or hello@diversepsychiatry.com.au
For more information, please visit diversepsychiatry.com.au
