Penny Marshall
Director and Clinical Psychologist
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.
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 a variety of modalities, including: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT); acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT); dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), attachment focused therapies and Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). 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.
Ruby Hooke
Senior Clinical Psychologist
BPsych (Hons), MPsych (Clin)
Ruby is an empathetic and direct Senior Clinical Psychologist who is passionate about helping women, parents and families. Parenting and birth can bring the most intense emotions (and challenges) due to a multitude of biological and environmental changes, and Ruby believes that supporting people through this vulnerable time can help them find more confidence and joy.
Ruby is experienced working with moderate to severe perinatal mental health concerns, things like Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Depression, PTSD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis, Eating Disorders and Personality Disorders. Ruby also has experience working with those experiencing the stress and grief of infertility and bereavement. She is particularly interested in eating disorders, supporting parents find their confidence in connecting and parenting their children, and helping heal trauma (from childhood, adulthood or giving birth).
Ruby is skilled in Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT, ACT, DBT trained) and Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing 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.
Lauren Ell
Clinical Psychologist
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.
Jenny Geddes
Clinical Psychologist
BPsych (Hons), MPsych (Clin)
Jenny is a clinical psychologist, educator and researcher who is passionate about helping people improve their mental health and wellbeing. She has an honest, caring and person-centred approach, and works collaboratively with clients to build skills to navigate the transitions they experience in the perinatal period. Jenny understands the challenges that women may experience during this time, including the high expectations to be able to do it all. Jenny has a particular interest in supporting women with multiple births and understands the unique challenges that parents face having more than one baby at a time.
To navigate the big changes to self, and the existing family unit, Jenny assists women to adapt to a new normal by focusing on adopting positive coping strategies and identifying realistic approaches to parenting, without losing their own identity in the process. Jenny also understands that the key to mental health and wellbeing is being able to access to support when it is needed. Jenny is an active proponent of telehealth and e-health, and is experienced in developing online tools and resources to continue to support health and well-being outside of sessions.
In a career that spans 20 years, including educating future psychologists in the university setting, Jenny’s focus has included lifespan adjustment issues, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, grief and loss, child and adolescent mental health, and substance use issues. Building on a strong foundation of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, motivational interviewing and the application of mindfulness based stress reduction techniques, Jenny has extended her skills into acceptance and commitment therapy and compassion focused therapy.
Jenny holds a BSc (Hons. Psychology) and a Master of Clinical Psychology from the University of Newcastle and is a board approved supervisor with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Emma Goddard (she/her)
Clinical Psychologist
BA Hons (Psychology), MPsych (Clin)
Emma is a warm and engaging clinical psychologist who is passionate about supporting people navigating the path to, and through, parenthood. She is highly empathetic and is skilled in supporting those who have experienced loss in pregnancy, stillborn and neonatal death. Emma has a breadth of experience working across the lifespan, from infants to the elderly, supporting those experiencing anxiety, depression, bipolar affective disorder, adjustment & attachment difficulties, grief & chronic illness.
Emma has a particular interest in working with members of the LGBTQ+ community and recognises the unique dynamic issues experienced by rainbow families, as well as the increased risk for LGBTQ+ families in experiencing perinatal mental illness. Emma is employed concurrently as a clinical psychologist in the youth cancer service. She has a special interest in working with the long-term effects of chronic illnesses, including cancer and other illnesses that may impact on fertility.
Emma prioritises a collaborative, safe & family-centred approach to therapy. She engages a range of evidence-based, practical and supportive treatments including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) & compassion focused therapy (CFT).
Emma completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Honours) at the University of Newcastle and Master of Clinical Psychology from Macquarie University in Sydney and has full registration as a clinical psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Agency (AHPRA).
Maddy Drew
Clinical Psychologist
BPsych, MPsych (Clin), MAPS
Maddy is a clinical psychologist who has a warm and empathetic style, who understands that the perinatal period can be a time of conflicting experiences. She is passionate about her role as she understands that the mental well-being of parents has a direct impact on the social and emotional well-being of children. Maddy is a compassionate advocate for those she works alongside. She is experienced in working with women and their families in navigating: perinatal depression and anxiety, birth trauma, parental dissatisfaction, miscarriage, adjustment and attachment concerns and parenting challenges.
Maddy has extensive general psychology experience supporting people presenting with a range of difficulties, including: anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, stress, grief and loss, relationship issues and parenting difficulties. She is also experienced in working int he disability sector, supporting individuals with complex neuro-developmental, psychological and behavioural needs.
Maddy is skilled in evidence-based psychological treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and and Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy. She utilises a trauma-informed, attachment-based approach to therapy.
Maddy has completed a Bachelor of Psychology and a Masters of Clinical Psychology with distinction. She is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (clinical endorsement) and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society.
Dr Caroline Faucher
Clinical Psychology Registrar
PhD, BA, BPsych, MPsych (Clin), MAPS
Caroline is a warm and empathetic clinical psychology registrar with a passion for supporting clients through life’s transitions, particularly during the perinatal period. She provides evidence-based psychological treatments, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Her areas of interest include anxiety, depression, OCD and sleep problems. Caroline is bilingual and also offers therapy in French.
Caroline completed her postgraduate studies in Clinical Psychology at the University of Newcastle. In 2025, Caroline was awarded her PhD in Clinical Psychology. She concurrently holds a position at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) as a Post-doctoral research fellow, where she investigates the relationships between sleep, mental health and wellbeing.
Maple
Therapy Dog
Maple is a 4-year-old Golden Retriever who is a graduate of Therapy Dog Australia. He plays a wonderful role in providing support and comfort to clients in his work alongside Caroline. Maple brings a calming presence and a positive energy to our office space.
Therapy Dogs Australia have provided Maple and Caroline with skills to enhance client’s mental health through the power of the human-animal bond. Maple works concurrently with Caroline at Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), where he contributes to the field of dog-assisted therapy research.
You will find Maple in our office several Mondays per month.
Sarah Galal
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Sarah is a Clinical Nurse Specialist who is trained in caring for infants and their families. Sarah is especially passionate about assisting caregivers with sleeping, settling and attachment issues. She is experienced in supporting parents of infants as well as those with older children.
Sarah is an advocate for attachment-based parenting and bases all of her work with families around this model. The overarching theme being the unique nature of every infant, and the need to tailor all interventions and support to the individual.
Sarah is a UK trained, Registered Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor with 30 years’ experience. She has a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from Cardiff University in South Wales, UK. Following a move to Australia 14 years ago Sarah continued her professional development within Perinatal Mental Health. She worked for Hunter New England Health as a part of a Multidisciplinary team of Psychiatrists, Psychologist & social workers. She is trained and skilled in Circle of Security and Attachment Theory.
Holly Olive
Practice Manager
Holly is a vibrant, enthusiastic and empathetic administrator and manager, who is passionate about helping parents and families during the perinatal period. In her previous roles she supported many expectant and new parents as they navigated the challenges of taking an extended period away from their careers and the new dynamic of returning to work as a parent.
Holly joins us in 2025 as our new Practice Manager, having recently relocated to Newcastle after 20 years in the UK, where she was Head of Client Operations at a market-leading global executive coaching consultancy in London. Holly brings a wealth of experience with over 20 years’ experience as a client services professional to a number of organisations across various sectors.
Holly is in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Ella Hoad
Administrative Assistant
Ella is our friendly and highly organised administration assistant. She is frequently found answering our phone and is often the first person point of contact for clients of the practice. Ella’s past work experience as a pharmacy assistant, coupled with her current university studies in Dietetics, gives her a sound understanding of the health industry.
Ella is in the office on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays