Our Team
Melissa Johnstone
Director, Darling St Practice and Senior Clinical Psychologist
Melissa has excelled in roles within public and private health service sectors since commencing her career as a psychologist in 2001. Melissa is well known for her commitment to excellence in best practice, which enables positive outcomes from the many concerns bringing clients to her door. Melissa’s warmth, clinical expertise, and absolute regard for each client means that clients are safely and supportively held through the therapeutic process.
Melissa is a Clinical Psychologist registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), a Member of the Australian Psychological Society and Psychology Board of Australia approved supervisor for psychologists in training. Melissa has an ongoing commitment to professional development through ongoing training and utilises a range of evidence based therapeutic modalities.
Services offered
Melissa holds special interest in supporting people in recovery from trauma and interpersonal violence. Melissa is also highly trained and experienced in focussed psychological strategies for mental illness, issues in relationships and adjustment to life changes. Melissa practices inclusive and diversity affirming care and supports clients towards achieving change specific to each person’s goal and situation.
A significant portion of Melissa's work includes providing clinical supervision to psychologists, social workers and professionals working in welfare, child protection and wellbeing fields. Melissa particularly enjoys being of service to people working therapeutically with clients and is well situated to provide support to clinicians in developing professional competency and delivery of clinical care.
Through her work in senior management in public health settings and long-term private practice Melissa’s interest extend into leadership mentoring and organisational consultancy. Proactive organisational management can ensure effective, protective, and sustainable practice. Vicarious trauma is of particular interest for Melissa, and she welcomes opportunity to support managers in maintaining the wellbeing of workforce through appropriate prevention, risk recognition and support.
Rhiannon Gaffney
Psychologist
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Rhiannon Gaffney commenced her psychology career in 2012. Rhiannon completed a Bachelor of Psychology and is registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS).
Rhiannon has an ongoing commitment to professional development through ongoing training, and utilises a range of evidence based therapeutic modalities. Her scope of experience includes working with clients across the lifespan, in particular children, young people and their families.
Rhiannon has spent most of her career in the Out-Of-Home-Care (OOHC) sector, (Residential Care, Disability Care, Foster Care) working with children, young people and their families who had experienced complex trauma and a range of mental health issues. She has also worked within a charity organisation providing therapy and support to young people​, their school and school staff. Within the private sector, Rhiannon provided therapy and support to children, young people and their families.
Services offered
Rhiannon provides focussed psychological strategies for a range of presenting issues, and accepts self-referral, GP Mental Health Care Plan and Employee Assistance Program referrals.