Zoe is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Kamilaroi Nation and is also of Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander descent. Zoe’s therapeutic toolkit, including EMDR, somatic therapy, ego state therapy, CBT, and acceptance and commitment therapy, highlights her versatility and adaptability in addressing different concerns. Her focus on trauma resulting in PTSD, anxiety, depression, relationship breakdowns and grief, underscores her comprehensive approach to supporting individuals through a variety of life challenges.
Zoe’s commitment to psychology as a means of aiding others on their journey to self-improvement, is evident in her 10-years of counselling experience. Her work with gambling and other addictions in therapeutic settings showcases her dedication to addressing complex issues and helping individuals overcome challenges.
With a board client base ranging from children to adults, Zoe’s inclusive approach creates a welcoming therapeutic space for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Zoe is the Treasurer of the Australian Psychological Society Far North Queensland Branch - an organization that promotes the advancement of psychology. She is a compassionate and experienced psychologist who not only brings a rich culture perspective to her practice but also supports individuals on their path of healing and personal growth.
Zoe is passionate about making psychological services assessable and delivers services both in person and via telehealth.
Phoebe is our telehealth psychologist from down in sunny Victoria. She enjoys the outdoor lifestyle and traveling around this beautiful country of ours.
Phoebe specializes in working with adolescents (14+) and young adults, drawing from her experience in both public and private settings and working with diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Passionate about holistic and person-centred treatment, she helps clients navigate stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, emotional dysregulation, major life transitions, relationship and interpersonal issues. Phoebe creates a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore their experiences, recognizing that each person is unique. She offers personalized treatment plans tailored to each individual's specific needs.
Her warm and empathetic therapeutic approach encourages collaboration with clients to enhance their well-being. Utilizing evidence-based best practices, she employs a combination of therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, Mindfulness, and Relaxation Techniques.
Having previously worked with Queensland Health, Robyn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the practice with her comprehensive background in mental health. Robyn is deeply passionate about wellness and mental health, striving to foster a supportive and empowering environment for her clients.
Robyn employs a variety of evidence-based therapeutic techniques, including CBT, EMDR, ACT and Schema Therapy, to tailor her approach to range of psychological issues. Robyn has a strong passion on treating and understanding eating disorders as well as other issues including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and workplace stressors.
Robyn is deeply committed to fostering wellness in her clients, drawing on her long-standing personal interests in yoga and mindfulness to enhance her therapeutic practices. Through her empathetic and holistic approach, she aims to empower individuals on their journey toward mental well-being and resilience.
In her personal life she spends her time traveling with her family and enjoying walks in our beautiful area.
Emily comes to the team as an EMDR therapist with over 15 years of experience working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Emily works with individuals across the lifespan, from 12 years old to older age.
Emily is an accredited mental health social worker who is passionate about being inclusive in her practice. She has had the pleasure of a varied work career that has provided her an incredible wealth of knowledge that she brings to the practice. Some of these organizations include Royal Flying Doctors, Centacare, and Mookai Rosi Bi-Baya.
Emily is experienced in working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. She has worked with people who struggle with substance use, parental support, depression, anxiety, grief, and PTSD. Her therapeutic toolbox includes EMDR, CBT, behavioral interventions, exposure techniques, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing.
She has a warm, non-judgmental approach that puts people at ease and creates a safe space to explore problems and solutions.
Dr Reesa takes a Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) approach to counselling, aiming to help clients better understand themselves and enhance their overall wellbeing. PCT emphasizes clients’ health, strengths, and abilities, fostering self-expression and self-awareness in a safe/supportive environment. Each client is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion, with therapy tailored to their unique interests and needs. Clients play an active role in the therapy process.
In Australia, many children face challenges such as social and emotional difficulties, low esteem, and learning and developmental delays. The impact of these can affect children throughout their lives.
Dr Reesa incorporates art therapy techniques, within the PCT framework, providing safe and creative outlets for clients to express their thoughts and emotions. This approach is particularly valuable for young children, who may struggle to articulate their feelings verbally. Art therapy not only helps children navigate social and emotional challenges but also fosters creativity, independence, and confidence.
These techniques benefit individuals of all ages and are especially effective for children with disabilities or developmental difficulties. The therapy sessions are adaptable to meet each client’s specific interests and needs. Parents are actively involved and guided on how best to support their child.
Tristan is a telehealth Counsellor and Clinical Hypnotherapist and holds degrees in both Guidance Counselling and Education. She has 22 years' experience in the public and private education sectors and years in the counselling field. She is a warm, approachable, and non-judgmental clinician who takes great care to ensure her clients feel comfortable, supported, and empowered, while exploring their concerns and developing goals.
She practices predominantly from a combination of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Solution-Focussed frameworks. Tristan also draws from a range of somatic modalities such as Mindfulness and Art Therapy to tailor treatment plans to her clients’ preferences and needs.
Tristan's qualification as a Clinical Hypnotherapist means she can assist clients to identify the root cause of their presenting problems and to move forward.
Tristan combines her experience in a range of therapeutic modalities with her dedication to her clients. Using tailored techniques, she supports her clients to break free of their old patterns, make lasting change and unlock their true potential.
Born and raised in Cairns, Romeo has returned home after spending four years down south in Brisbane. Aside from the heat, Romeo loves the tropical lifestyle of Cairns and enjoys spending time with his family.
Romeo has completed his course in a Certificate III Health Administration from Mater Education and is currently studying a degree in Health Information Management. Romeo hopes to pursue a career in Clinical Coding to help transfer hospitals and health clinics from paper to electronic records.
Outside of work and university Romeo loves singing karaoke and playing video games. His secret talent is his amazing sushi making skills (having four years of sushi-train employment) which is a crowd favourite when spending quality time with family and friends.
Hailing from New South Wales, Tonia relocated to Cairns in 2017. Being the best move her and family made, they only wish they had made the move earlier with the stunning natural beauty and laidback lifestyle that Cairns has to offer.
Tonia has extensive years of background work in administration roles across different business sectors within Australia and New Zealand. She is excited to bring her experience and abundance of knowledge to being a part of the Shine Strong team.
Outside of work, Tonia loves going to the gym and staying healthy. In addition, she enjoys social activities with family and friends such as going out for dinners, attending the theatre & seeing shows. When at home Tonia loves spending time in the garden, tending to her variety of beautiful plants.