Our Therapy and Assessment Team

Mikaela Grant | Director & Psychotherapist

Hi - I'm Mikaela (she/her).

I am the founder and director of Care For Your Mind. I work from an interpersonal and trauma informed framework to ensure collaborative client-therapist practice.

I have experience working with clients across the developmental life span with a particular interest in trauma and abuse. Previously, I have worked in the not for profit and private sector. I have also worked in short term residential trauma treatment.

I have additional training in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) , Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Attachment focused psychotherapy and sensorimotor interventions.

I believe in the strength of the therapeutic relationship being the driver of longitudinal change.

I hold clinical registration with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

I am also a professional member of the Blue Knot Foundation.

I am not taking new clients at this time.

Helen Vickers | AMHSW & Family Therapist

Hi – I’m Helen (she/her).

I am a Social Worker and Family Therapist who specialises in helping families heal and reconnect after relational trauma.

My sessions are filled with warmth, humour and authenticity. I take a non-judgmental and collaborative approach to create a safe therapeutic space.

Over the last 15 years, I have worked in the not-for-profit sector supporting children and their families who have experienced trauma, grief and disconnection. I have a strong interest in intergenerational trauma and supporting people to process their experiences and move on with compassion and hope for themselves and others.

I work with children and adults, both individually and as a family or couple. I have a Masters in Clinical Family Therapy and a Graduate Certificate in Developmental Trauma. I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

I hold registration with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Michelle Long | Social Worker & Art Therapist

Hi - I'm Michelle (she/her).

I’m an art therapist and social worker. My area of interest is in the space of trauma, using art making and other expressive outlets, including movement, music and creative writing to support recovery.

I have experience working with individuals and groups across the developmental life span. My clinical approach is influenced by feminist theory, client-centered approaches, and strength-based frameworks.

I have an interest in childhood and lifespan development, attachment, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ issues, diverse experiences of disability, and abuse/trauma care and recovery.

I provide counselling and the delivery of focussed psychosocial and psychological interventions to children, young people, their families and adults. This includes individual counselling, dyad (parent/child) counselling and therapeutic group work.

I believe that you are the expert in your healing journey. But we can always use someone to walk beside us, at least some of the way.

I hold registration with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Vanessa Beswick | Psychologist

Hi - I'm Vanessa (she/ her).

I am a psychologist who works with individuals and families across the lifespan. I have extensive experience in disability, complex trauma, family services, out of home care and forensic disability settings.

I am passionate about supporting self determination and true inclusivity, ensuring every person can get access to quality therapeutic services that meet their needs.

I have supported the development of trauma informed training within youth residential settings, and presented at both national and international conferences regarding trauma informed practice in supporting survivors of family violence, as well as being involved in a project across the family violence sector to enhance collaborative practice across the North Central Victorian Region.

I am driven to see an end to family violence, and to see a community where all of its citizens feel safe, connected and seen. I am experienced in cognitive assessment, behaviour assessment, and across many forms of intervention. I also work extensively with neurodiverse individuals and their families, and can complete Autism and ADHD assessments.

I hold general registration with the Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA).

Kayla Parry | Psychologist

Hi - I'm Kayla (she/her).

A dedicated psychologist committed to providing a safe, warm, and inviting environment. I am passionate about fostering strong therapeutic relationships to help clients achieve their individual needs and enhance their overall mental well-being.

I have experience working across the developmental lifespan within the private sector, addressing a wide range of presentations, including, but not limited to, trauma, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, OCD, and life transitions. My approach is client-centred, adapting various therapeutic modalities to meet the unique needs of each individual.

My passions extend to using comprehensive assessments to help clients understand how they individually think, learn, feel, and behave. This includes cognitive and developmental assessments, as well as ADHD and adult autism assessments.

I hold a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and I am a registered member of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Psychologists Board of Australia.

Lucy Townsend | Intake and Client Support Practitioner

Hi - I’m Lucy (she/her).

I am the Intake & Client Support Practitioner at Care For Your Mind. After finishing my double degree last year in Psychology and Criminology I am continuing to develop my skills by completing intake and client support work.

I am your first point of contact and I am here to help with any questions to make the therapeutic process the best it can be. I will conduct the initial intake sessions to ensure that you are placed with the therapist who is the best fit for you.

Steph Jackson | Intake and Client Support Practitioner

Hi - I’m Steph (she/her).

I am a registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist, currently completing my Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

I have a passion for person centered counselling, rooted in empathy, authenticity, delicate attention and care. I aim to gently hold and support clients, attentively tending to a co-created space of safety through empathic listening and attunement. It is an honour for me to journey alongside others and I love offering a warm, non-judgmental presence for clients to just be as they are with no pressure or expectations.

I am one of the friendly voices you will hear on the phone when you make an initial enquiry with us.

Anna Robb | Art Therapist Student

Hi - I'm Anna (she/her).

I am an Art Therapist student. I have worked as an educator and as a therapeutic art facilitator for over 20 years, working in varied community, clinical and educational settings.

My love of working as an art teacher and community worker led me to doing my Masters of Art Therapy at La Trobe University.

My work is trauma informed and person centred. This means I work in ways to find out what is important to you and the range of skills and knowledge you have in tackling problems. I collaborate with people, using art materials and processes, to build upon this experience and what you hold precious in your life.

I work with a range of approaches including body focussed and trauma informed practices. I have completed a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts, Graduate Diploma in Education and a Certificate in Sensorimotor Art Therapy.

Ted | Occasional Office Dog

Hi - I’m Ted I occasionally come into the office with Helen. I take my job of giving unconditional positive regard very seriously and receiving pats (or giant bear cuddles!). Like us all, I am a work in progress and learning about boundaries, emotional regulation and making good life choices (eating sensory toys is not a good choice Ted!). But I am teenager and still working out my place in the world. You’ll be able to tell that I am in building because there will be a trail of white fluff from the front door all the way to Helen’s room at the back. I am still learning how to be a Therapy dog, so I only comes in for clients who love big goofball dogs. For those who don’t, I hang out in the kitchen.