Meet the Team at Benchmark Psychology
Here you can read all about the team at Benchmark Psychology, which includes decades of experience and clinical specialisation, many areas of expertise and effective modes of practice.
Dr Aaron Frost
Director
Clinical Psychologist
Provider Number: 2818133A
Clinical supervision
Consultancy
Career mentoring
Trauma
Sexual dysfunction
Behavioural problems in children
Personality disorders
Early psychosis
Aaron is a Clinical Psychologist and Director of Benchmark Psychology. He has worked in both research and clinical settings, where he has developed expertise in a range of different presenting problems. Aaron is also a STAP accredited supervisor and has been a supervisor for both Griffith and the University of Queensland.
Dr Rebecca Frost
Director
Clinical Psychologist
Provider Number: 4842583H
Couples therapy
Parenting Support
Personality disorders
Sexual Dysfunction
Anxiety in adults and children
Child behaviour issues
Pre and post-natal concerns
Giftedness in children
Rebecca has experience helping individuals and families with a range of problems. She believes in supporting strong relationships of all types, including couples as well as parents and their children. Rebecca has recently completed her PhD, researching the distress couples experience as a result of sexual desire problems and has an interest in helping people with a variety of sexual dysfunctions and disorders.
Dr Vanessa Spiller
Team Leader
Clinical Psychologist
Provider Number: 4064178X
Anxiety in adults and adolescents
Trauma
Adjustment and life transitions
Grief and Loss
Parenting Support (for neuro-atypical young people)
FASD including education and consultancy
Clients who identify as LGBTQIA+
Supervision including group/team supervision
Working as a clinical psychologist for over 20 years Vanessa is a feedback informed therapist (FIT) who believes that therapy should be designed and adjusted to fit the client’s individual needs and personal preferences. Vanessa is experienced in working with adults and adolescents using an integration of various evidence-based approaches including CBT, ACT, and Solution-focused therapy. Vanessa is particularly passionate about working with parents of neuro-atypical young people such as those with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and complex multiple diagnoses (ODD, ADHD, ASD) using brain-based strategies and approaches.
Dr Alison Bocquée
Team Leader
Clinical Psychologist
Provider number: 401437BK
Children and Families
Parent- Child Relationship
Anxiety and Trauma
Sleep Issues
Mood Disorders
Family Problems
Clinical Supervision
Alison is a Clinical Psychologist and has over 15 years’ experience working in Brisbane-based government and private community and inpatient settings with individuals across the lifespan, presenting with a range of mental health concerns, developmental conditions, and those with dual or more complex presentations.
Cherie Dalton
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Provider Number: 25659595A
Coping with relationship break-up
Life transitions
Grief and loss
Anxiety
Mental wellness for working professionals
Work-life-study balance
Self-esteem and confidence
Health issues and adjustment to medical conditions
Cherie is a warm and experienced Clinical Psychologist. She takes a passionate interest in working with adults who seek to improve wellbeing in the areas of work-life balance, adjustment to early career, coping with study and navigating life transitions. She is particularly interested in assisting people with anxiety, romantic break-ups, return to the workforce, care for aging parents, adjustment to early work and new graduate positions and moving through the process of grief and loss.
With a deep understanding of a range of therapeutic approaches, she utilises Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). Cherie works predominantly with short-medium term treatment toward agreed-upon goals to help you reach a sense of wellbeing.
Michelle Costa
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Provider Number: 4874902Y
Cognitive Assessment
Anxiety Disorders
Mood Disorders
Self-esteem and Confidence
Sleep Issues
Stress Management
General Wellbeing
Disordered Eating
Michelle has experience working across a number of diverse settings, including public mental health, private practice, research and university settings, as well as developing mental health policy and guidance for mental health services in the UK.
Dr Jennifer Wilson
Clinical Psychologist
Provider Number: 4717583B
Couples therapy
Parenting
Depression
Anxiety
Adjustment to life changes
Children’s mental health
Child behaviour problems
Clinical Supervision
Jenni’s PHD research focused on the development of children’s thinking and reasoning skills, and the role that temperament plays in children’s mental health. Jenni combines evidenced-based treatments with a compassionate approach, and aims to work with each person’s strengths to help people achieve lasting change.
Shalini Alé
Clinical Psychologist
Provider number: 4876722J
Anxiety and Panic
Depression
Coping with Marital Separation
Managing Chronic Illness
Treatment for Adolescents
Clients who identify as LGBTQI
Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Sleep Problems
Clinical Supervision
Shalini primarily works with adolescents and adults and has experience in treating a wide range of presenting problems, she has a client-focused approach and is passionate about achieving long term sustainable change.
Nicole Ho
Clinical Psychologist
Provider Number: 5278578W
Cognitive Assessment
Functioning Assessment
ADHD
ASD (ADOS)
Academic Achievement Test
Cross-cultural Issues
Nicole conducts a range of psychological assessment, including diagnostic assessment, cognitive assessment, functioning assessment, academic achievement testing, ADHD, and Autism (ADOS) assessment. She is able to provide assessment in Cantonese and Mandarin.
Sarah Scupham
Clinical Psychologist
Provider Number: 5571372L
Self-esteem and confidence
Relationships and emotional intimacy
Couples therapy
Anxiety and panic
Trauma recovery
Young adults
Successfully completing Honours in Psychology in 2014, Sarah relocated to rural Queensland to help children and families in the NGO sector. Since then, she completed a Masters of Clinical Psychology and gained experience in both private practice and in the public sector for Queensland Health.
Dr Alex Gardner
Clinical Psychologist
Provider number: 5636192J
Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders
Low mood, depression and management of suicidality
Self-esteem
Grief and loss
Parenting and parent-offspring difficulties
Interpersonal relation difficulties (e.g., coping with rejection, attachment difficulties)
Appearance concerns and disordered eating
Personal and occupational adjustment difficulties
Alex works primarily with children, adolescents and adults experiencing emotional difficulties (e.g., mood, anxiety, low self-esteem, grief and loss, adjustment challenges) and interpersonal problems (e.g., parent-child conflict, difficulties with peers, dealing with rejection and romantic relationship difficulties). He is passionate about working with young people and helping all clients feel sufficiently motivated to engage in change within an atmosphere of warmth, understanding and compassion.
Dr Leona Chun
Clinical Psychologist
Provider Number: 5190338J
Children and adolescents
Depression, anxiety and mood
School anxiety and school refusal
Relationship issues
Cross-cultural issues
Adjustment to medical and physical health problems
Education and consultancy
Leona’s work draws on the key values of client-centred and strengths-based approaches. Leona is skilled in evidence-based interventions including: Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P).
Emma Kitching
Clinical Psychologist
Provider number: 5851572H
Couples therapy
Mood disorders
Managing chronic health issues and significant diagnoses including chronic pain, diabetes, and cancer
Sleep issues
Adjustment to major life events
Study skills including managing procrastination
Stress, burnout, and work/life balance
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Emma enjoys working with older adolescence (16+) and adults and she has a special interest in working with couples. Outside of Benchmark, she works in a public hospital helping individuals manage their complex health concerns and the mental health challenges that are commonly associated. Through this work she has developed a passion for helping individuals to build resilience during times of significant life adjustment (for example, after severe health diagnoses or following parenthood). She also has a keen interest in working holistically to address health concerns such as weight gain, smoking, and sleep.
Dr Si Jing Tan (SJ)
Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology Registrar
Provider number: 5982151W
Mood disorders
Anxiety disorders
Grief and loss
Chronic illnesses
Adjustment difficulties
Interpersonal and relationship issues
LGBTQIA+
SJ is a registered psychologist having completed her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Queensland. She has worked in roles across rehabilitation and hospital settings and has experience treating complex clinical cases.
Jessica Lyons
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Provider number: 6035611L
Child and adolescent mental health
Self-esteem
Emotion regulation
Social skills development
Anxiety disorders
Mood disorders
Pain management
Jessica enjoys working with individuals across the lifespan and has a particular passion for treating children and adolescents. She has an interest in therapy and assessment of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, stress, and social skills training.
Anna Stathis
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Provider number: 6217801B
Adults and older adolescents
Anxiety disorders
Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
Mood disorders
Trauma and stressor-related disorders
Personality disorders
Low self-esteem
Life transitions and adjustment
Anna is a Psychologist and Clinical Psychology Registrar having completed a Master of Clinical Psychology at The University of Queensland. She has experience in community mental health, psychiatric hospital, university, and research settings. She has worked with clients across the lifespan presenting with a range of challenges including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, stress, emotional dysregulation, low self-esteem, interpersonal difficulties, trauma, grief and loss, chronic health conditions, and life transitions and adjustment.
Dr Alice Gornall
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Provider number: 6142551H
Ivana Bacovic
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Provider number:
Michelle Hansen (Elle)
Provisional Psychologist
Anxiety and young adults
Anxiety
Depression
Self-esteem
Stress Management
Work-life integration and balance
Andrea Richardson
Clinical Psychology Registration
Provider Number: 6319993H
Anxiety
Depression
General wellbeing
Adjustment and life transitions
Identity and self-esteem
Sleep issues
Trauma
Maternity Leave
Natalie Miller
Clinical Psychologist
Provider Number: 5465353Y
Adolescents
Young Adults
Depression
Substance Use
Adjustment difficulties
LGBTQIA+ issues
Natalie enjoys working with adolescents, young adults, and older adults. She has experience with individuals presenting with depression, anxiety, stress, grief and loss, relationship issues, trauma, self-harm and suicidal ideation, and substance misuse. She uses various therapeutic approaches to inform treatment, including Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).
Dr Elizabeth Torbey
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Provider Number: 5828291X
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons I)
Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology)
Endorsed Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Neuropsychologist
Board-approved supervisor
Elizabeth completed her postgraduate studies through the University of Queensland and has dual qualifications in the areas of clinical psychology and clinical neuropsychology. She has considerable experience in treating complex clinical and neuropsychological cases within the public health setting, having worked within multidisciplinary teams in several major hospitals across South-East Queensland and Melbourne.
Her experience as a clinical psychologist has included providing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions to assist clients with mood and anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, and other neuropsychiatric issues. Elizabeth has a particular interest in providing evidence-based psychotherapy to clients experiencing psychological, cognitive, and/or behavioural changes associated with neurological conditions (e.g. acquired brain injury, neurodegenerative disorders).
Holy Smallbone
Extended Leave
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Provider number: 5934581T
Depression
Social skills
Child and adolescent
Emotion regulation
Interpersonal and relationships difficulties
Adjustment difficulties
Holly enjoys working with individuals of all ages and across a range of different backgrounds. Holly has a warm, empathic and non-judgmental therapeutic style and aims to build strong and trusting therapeutic relationships. She believes that a strong client-therapist relationship is key for therapeutic change.
Administrative Team
Krystle
Practice Manager
Krystle has been part of the Benchmark team since 2013. She enjoys spending her spare time in the outdoors with her family, and likes to relax by watching a good movie or doing yoga.
Erica
Administrative Officer
Erica enjoys keeping busy spending time with her family including keeping up with her two young children. She also enjoys some quiet time reading a good book.
Bec
Personal Assistant
Bec enjoys travelling and spending quality time with her family. She loves coffee, animals, baking and a good book. In her spare time she is often out 4wd’ing, caravanning and exploring with her husband, young sons and 2 little dogs.
Selina
Senior Receptionist
Selina is studying psychology and hopes to be able to use what she has learnt to give back to the community one day. In her down time you will find her spending time with her family often taking walks or enjoying the outdoors with her daughter. She enjoys travelling, a cup of coffee in the morning, a glass of wine in the evening and a good book to read.
Anneke
Senior Receptionist
Anneke is a second-year psychology student and is working towards completing her Honours and Masters. In her spare time she loves crocheting, cooking and spending time with her fiancé and their cat, Lacey.
Ruby
Receptionist
Ruby is a second year Speech Pathology student. She is a cinephile and has a fondness for classic black and white films.
Kate
Receptionist
Kate is currently undertaking a dual-degree in psychology and law. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and reading, as well as spending time with friends and family.
Remi
Receptionist
Remi is currently studying her undergraduate dual degree in justice and psychology. In her spare time she enjoys playing sports, going to the beach and playing with her two golden retrievers, Shilo and Jaggar.
Katie
Receptionist
Katie is currently studying Psychological Sciences and is enjoying the learning experience. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the piano or reading a good book, with a fresh cup of coffee nearby.
Foti
Receptionist
Foti is currently completing his undergraduate studies in psychology, and he hopes to one day become a clinical psychologist working with survivors of complex trauma. In his spare time, Foti enjoys reading, watching movies, and playing with his cat, Stella.