Penny Marshall
Principal Clinical Psychologist Newcastle
BASc, PGDipPsych, GDipPsychotherapy, MPsych (Clin), MAPS, FCCLP
Penny is the director of Forest for the Trees Perinatal Psychology, and founded the practice in 2018. Penny is a clinical psychologist with a warm, caring and authentic style and she enjoys working collaboratively with her clients and those who support them. She is especially passionate about working with women and their families in the perinatal period, because of the great impact support can have during this important time.
Penny has experience working with individuals presenting with a wide range of emotional issues as well as serious mental health conditions. She is experienced in working with: antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety, antenatal and neonatal grief and loss, ivf support and fertility issues, relationship problems, attachment and bonding issues, obsessive compulsive disorder, body image concerns and disordered eating, workplace issues and general issues with adjustment across the lifespan.
Penny has extensive experience as a clinical psychologist across a number of settings including: private practice, hospitals, NGOs and the university sector. Penny’s interest in perinatal work was sparked when she completed some of her training at the Parent Infant Research Institute (Austin Hospital, Melbourne). Penny has completed psychodynamic training and is also trained in specialised therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy and attachment focused therapies. She is a certified facilitator of the Circle of Security Parenting Program.
Penny has completed a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology and postgraduate training in Psychotherapy. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society , a fellow of the Clinical College of Psychologists, and is registered (with clinical endorsement) with the Psychology Board of Australia. Penny is a Board Approved Supervisor of Psychology Registrars, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, and is experienced in providing individual supervision and group work.
Kaitlyn Miller
Senior Clinical Psychologist Newcastle
MPsych (clinical), BPsych, MAPS, FCCLP
Kaitlyn is a senior clinical psychologist who is passionate about supporting people through the challenges and the joys of the perinatal period. She has a warm, genuine therapeutic style and works in partnership with her clients and their support-people to bring about positive change.
Kaitlyn has been working as a psychologist in various capacities since 2011. She has experience working for the public health service in inpatient hospital settings and community health, where she treated complex mental health and substances use issues. She also has extensive experience working in private practice treating a variety of issues from depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, attachment difficulties, and grief and loss. She is experienced in supporting people who are facing infertility and the associated physical, social and emotional complexities.
Kaitlyn uses therapeutic treatments that have a known basis of evidence, including Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness techniques. With a strong focus on attachment, Kaitlyn aims to help people to feel more connected to the parent, partner, and person that they want to be. Her treatment approach is trauma-sensitive, practical and tailored to each individual.
Kaitlyn particularly enjoys working with people in the perinatal period, and being a support to women and their families during this challenging life stage. Kaitlyn is passionate about a whole-system approach to working with women and families in the perinatal period and she collaborates closely with GPs, obstetricians, midwifery practices and psychiatrists. Previously, Kaitlyn has provided specialist trauma education to midwives and early childhood nurses at one of the major Sydney hospitals. She also has an interest in psychological research and is currently developing research projects as part of her role at Forest for the Trees.
Kaitlyn has completed a Masters of Clinical Psychology, with distinction, and a Bachelor of Psychology. She is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society, a Fellow of the Clinical College of Psychologists and is registered (with clinical endorsement) with the Psychology Board of Australia. Kaitlyn is a Board Approved Supervisor of Psychology Registrars, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
Lauren Ell
Clinical Psychologist Newcastle
BPsych (Hons), MPsych (Clin)
Lauren is a clinical psychologist who has a warm and flexible approach, in which she works collaboratively with clients to achieve their goals. She has been working in the Newcastle region supporting those with emotional difficulties and mental health concerns since 2013.
Lauren has previously worked at Hunter Primary Care, where she supported clients with difficulties across the lifespan, and specifically with women and infants in the perinatal period. She finds perinatal work particularly rewarding due to seeing the significant improvements clients can make at such a challenging and rewarding time in their lives. In the context of the perinatal period, Lauren is particularly interested in supporting clients presenting with anxiety, attachment issues, difficulty adjusting to parenthood and managing traumatic experiences.
Lauren is experienced in working with adults, adolescents and children presenting with a wide range of difficulties, including: anxiety; depression; adjustment disorder; relationship issues; grief and loss; trauma, OCD and parenting difficulties. Lauren uses a range of therapeutic approaches including: compassion focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy; acceptance and commitment therapy; dialectical behavioral therapy and attachment based parenting support.
Lauren has completed a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours and a Master of Clinical Psychology, and she is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (with clinical endorsement). In addition to university study, Lauren has also completed Circle of Security training, which allows her to facilitate parenting programs in emotion coaching and attachment.
Pip Johnson
Psychologist
B Psych (Hons), M Psych (Org), M Research, M Psych (Clin)
Pip is a Psychologist and Clinical Psychology Registrar who is passionate about supporting women on their journey to becoming and being a Mum. Pip has an interest in all things “birth” and has trained as both a childbirth educator and a birth doula. These experiences give Pip insight into the complexities that can surround birth and the importance of the Mum’s emotional and mental state leading into birth. Pip has an interest in using this experience to support women who experience childbirth related anxiety or trauma.
Prior to becoming a Psychologist, Pip spent over 10 years working in the corporate sector. This experience has provided Pip with an understanding of the stressors in work environments, both as they relate to parents and more broadly. Pip understands the challenges working parents face when returning to the workplace following parental leave, and in balancing their work and family commitments.
Since moving into Clinical Psychology, Pip has worked across the lifespan and in multicultural settings. Pip has supported individuals with a range of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis, anger management, stress, and low self-esteem.
When working with clients, Pip draws from a range of evidence based therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, positive psychology, and mindfulness-based interventions. In doing this, Pip takes a non-judgemental, collaborative, and highly empathic approach to create a safe and supportive environment for her clients.
Pip has completed a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours, a Master of Organisational Psychology, a Master of Research, and a Master of Clinical Psychology. Pip has been a registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia for 10 years and is currently working towards her clinical endorsement.
Ruby Hooke
Clinical Psychologist Newcastle
BPsych (Hons), MPsych (Clin)
Ruby is a compassionate and direct Clinical Psychologist. She understands that pregnancy, birth and parenting can bring people the most happiness, as well as the most stress, anxiety, anger and sadness. She is a passionate advocate for women, parents, children and families. She hopes to not just improve people’s functioning, but help them thrive in the perinatal period.
Ruby is experienced working with moderate to severe perinatal mental health concerns, things like Depression, PTSD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis, Eating Disorders and Personality Disorders. She is particularly interested in treating OCD, eating disorders, and helping heal trauma (from childhood, adulthood or giving birth).
Ruby is skilled in a variety of Cognitive Behaviour Therapies (CBT, ACT, DBT), Schema Therapy and Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. Her work is also informed by Attachment theory, Family Systems Theory and Somatic Psychotherapy.
Ruby studied on un-ceded Awabakal land, graduating the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and a Master of Clinical Psychology (with Distinction). She is a board approved Supervisor and enjoys providing supervision to Provisional Psychologists and Clinical Psychology Registrars.
Rachel Lizdenis
Clinical Psychologist Newcastle
BPsych (Hons), MPsych (Clin)
Rachel is a warm and compassionate psychologist who has a special interest in supporting parents in their experiences of conception, pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. She uses a strengths-based approach to help her clients grow, adapt and thrive as they navigate the joys and demands of parenting. Rachel works with parents who simply need support during this period and also parents who experience mental health concerns such as postnatal depression and anxiety. Rachel has worked extensively with adolescents and adults experiencing mental health conditions including major depression, anxiety, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, substance use problems, adjustment disorders, grief and loss, and relationship issues.
Rachel is committed to working collaboratively with her clients in order to provide targeted interventions that are in line with the client’s personal goals and values. Some therapies that Rachel uses include cognitive behaviour therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, emotion focused therapy and exposure response prevention. Rachel has also received training in the treatment of perinatal anxiety and depression and incorporates attachment-based relational approaches into her work to help parents navigate the challenges of pregnancy and parenthood.
Rachel offers a warm and supportive place for her clients to work through their difficulties and develop the skills needed to move forward. Her approach is trauma-sensitive, goal focused and collaborative. She works closely with general practitioners, obstetricians and psychiatrists to allow for the best possible collaborative care.
Rachel has completed a Bachelor of Psychology with first class Honours and a Master of Clinical Psychology, and is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (with clinical endorsement).
Larissa Elliott
Psychologist
BPsych, MTeaching (School Counselling)
Larissa is a registered psychologist and teacher who is passionate about providing support to parents and their families during the perinatal period. She has a warm and friendly family-centred approach and provides a safe and nonjudgmental environment for her clients. Larissa hopes to empower her clients and their families to discover adaptive coping strategies and set realistic goals during this rewarding yet challenge stage of the lifespan. In her work with her clients Larissa uses treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), family systems therapy and attachment based therapies.
Larissa’s experience spans across general psychology settings and educational psychology settings, and through her years of experience as a school counsellor she has developed a passion for working closely with families. In more recent times, Larissa has become interested in supporting mothers, fathers and their babies in the critical early years. Aligned with this passion, Larissa has pursued specific mental health training in the treatment of perinatal anxiety and depression.
Larissa’s background of working as a school counsellor for the Department of Education in Sydney has informed her family centred approach. Larissa has worked in a wide range of schools across age ranges and with culturally and linguistically diverse school communities. She has extensive experience working with children (and their families) with behavioural issues and disabilities, including: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Mild-Severe Intellectual Disability, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Working with parents of children with disabilities and behavioural challenges continues to be one of Larissa’s interest areas.
Larissa completed a Bachelor of Psychology and a Master of Teaching (School Counselling). She is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Alyce Young
Psychologist
B Psych (Hons), M Psych (Clin)
Alyce is a Psychologist and Clinical Psychology Registrar who is known for her authentic approach to both therapy and life. She is passionate about helping people shake off the relentless expectations they often have of themselves and the way things ‘should be’ in order to follow a life in line with their own values.
Alyce has worked across a variety of public and private sectors including youth mental health, inpatient facilities and foster care. More recently she has worked in private practice and developed a passion for long term work with individuals and their family members. Alyce also lectures in the Psychology program at the University of Newcastle and supervises intern Psychologists.
Alyce has a deep knowledge about all things related to motherhood and matrescence; the all encompassing transition that a women goes through when becoming a mother. She utilises a range of evidence-based treatments, including narrative therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy. Alyce is invested in making this journey as meaningful as possible for the women she works with.
Alyce has completed a Bachelor of Psychology with honours and a Master of Clinical Psychology with Distinction.
Susanna Rossi-Leach
Practice Manager
Susanna is our wonderful Practice Manager, and she is often the first person you will reach when you contact Forest for the Trees Perinatal Psychology. Susanna will assist you with the process of starting sessions with one of our Psychologists, as well as following up on client administrative concerns throughout the treatment period.
Susanna is a highly experienced administrative assistant, and prior to working as a Practice Manager she worked as a Revenue Officer in the legal sector for over ten years. Susanna manages client appointments and queries in a friendly and helpful manner, and we also couldn’t do without her around the office making sure we’re organised and everything runs smoothly.
Susanna is in the office on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Chloe Selorio
Administration Assistant
Chloe is our friendly and organised administration assistant who often works on reception. She is involved in engaging new clients with the practice and supports our team with all of their administrative needs.
Chloe has previously worked in the hospitality and retail industries, and is experienced in customer service and support. She is also currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Chloe is in the office on Mondays and Wednesdays.