Our Team
Cathy Hayes
Principal Psychologist
"I am passionate about mental health and helping people to grow. My aim is to create autonomy, to build clients up and teach skills that ensures progress that can be maintained long term."
Cathy (she/her) has experience across a variety of sectors and presentations. Known for her passion; positive attitude, and her ability to motivate others, she is eager to be on your team.
Cathy works with adults, children and young adults, using a variety of methods such as CBT, CPT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focused Therapy. She works with clients from all backgrounds, and any gender.
Cathy uses techniques to help people suffering from a range of mental health issues including mood and adjustment disorders, anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar & adjustment disorder.
She feels passionately about working with people on increasing their self-esteem and assertiveness skills and working with couples to rebuild and strengthen relationships.
Cathy's books are currently open for children and adolescent client's, if you wish to book or be placed on her waitlist please contact reception.
Rebecca Bonfield
Clinical Psychologist
Rebecca (she/her) has completed a Master of Psychology (Clinical) and is registered with AHPRA as a Clinical Psychologist. Rebecca works from a client-centred approach, tailoring the treatment to suit each client’s individual needs. She creates a genuine and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their strengths and challenges.
Rebecca provides evidence-based treatment and assessment and has training and experience in: Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness Meditation, Motivational Interviewing and working from a strengths-based model. She has worked in government, not-for-profit and private practice roles and has assisted clients with a wide range of clinical presentations. These include: Complex Trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, anxiety and depressive disorders, chronic pain, suicide prevention, non-suicidal self-harm and relationship, stress and adjustment issues.
Rebecca is available to provide individual services under the Medicare and NDIS schemes. She is also a Board-approved supervisor and is available to supervise Registered Psychologists, Clinical Psychology Registrars and post-graduate students who require short-term placements.
Please contact reception if you can't find the appointment you would like online.
Helena Rontziokos
Clinical Psychologist
Helena (she/her) is registered with AHPRA as a Clinical Psychologist. She works with children and adults of all genders.
Helena works with people wanting to gain a greater understanding of their experiences and to learn new ways to navigate their difficulties. She works with people experiencing stress, grief, relationship pressures, low motivation, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, complex trauma and/or bipolar disorder. She is informed by evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approaches alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Mindfulness. She uses a holistic lens and is guided by Attachment and the relationship we hold with ourselves and others.
Helena has completed the Gottman level 2 training and works with couples and individuals to create, strengthen and repair relationships, as well as provide skill development and practical guides to encourage a couple to gain the confidence in being able to resolve issues internally and share healthy love and communication.
Helena aims to create a safe and non-judgmental space that is collaborative and warm. She hopes she can facilitate an open and honest dynamic, supporting you to lead a life more in line with your values.
Please contact reception if you can't find the appointment you would like online.
Dr. Melinda Hickey
Clinical Psychologist
Melinda (she/her) has completed a PhD (Clinical Psychology) and is registered with AHPRA as a Clinical Psychologist. She works with adults with a range of concerns including stress, loss, mood and anxiety disorders, relationship difficulties, and low self-esteem. She has a special interest in complex trauma and chronic difficulties with emotion regulation and interpersonal relationships.
Melinda predominantly uses Schema Therapy and also draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Psychodynamic Theory, depending on the individuals’ needs. Her approach is centred on building an authentic relationship that supports individuals to move beyond their past and present difficulties, toward meaningful lives.
Please contact reception if you can't find the appointment you would like online.
Marie-Clare Biddle
Psychologist
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Marie-Clare (she/her) is an AHPRA Registered Psychologist who uses evidence based treatments tailored to an individual client's needs. She draws from various therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness.
Marie-Clare has experience in the delivery of both individual and group psychological interventions and is passionate in supporting people presenting with a wide range of mental health concerns including mood disorders, grief, and interpersonal problems.
She provides a non-judgemental and supportive space to explore a client's internal world. Her approach is client centred and she works collaboratively with clients to accomplish their goals and create rich, meaningful lives.
Please contact reception if you can't find the appointment you would like online.
Ailsa Graham
Psychologist
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion" - Dalai Lama
Ailsa (she/her) is registered with AHPRA as a generalist psychologist. She recently moved to Wollongong after working in remote regional NSW for the past 10 years. Ailsa works with adults and adopts a holistic Humanistic approach utilising a biopsychosocial practice model.
Ailsa’s skill set encompasses trauma-related therapies within the context of sexual assault, family and domestic violence, drug and alcohol, mindfulness and self-compassion. She uses a range of therapeutic interventions including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Exposure Therapy.
Ailsa provides individual services under the Medicare, Work Cover NSW, NDIS and Open Arms schemes.
Please contact reception if you can't find the appointment you would like online.
Sarah Hough
Clinical Psychotherapist and Counsellor
Sarah (she/her) is a Clinical Psychotherapist who says she is "driven to help people overcome and empower themselves in their lives."
"I enjoy working with clients in a holistic and client-centred way, acknowledging that we all have our own values, goals, priorities in life. I like to appreciate the individuality within people."
Sarah has an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a Masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice as well as a Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has clinical registration with PACFA and an extensive background working with complex client's with a history of trauma and addiction.
Sarah has also completed level 2 of the Gottman Couples Counselling method and is eager to work with couples to overcome difficulties and strengthen relationships through practical strategies. Sarah also has extensive experience in counselling those with Cognitive Impairment.
Sarah likes to create an individualised approach to each client and has experience counselling people with a range of diagnoses including; anxiety, depression, personality disorders, etc. (see our services page). Sarah works as a trauma-informed therapist and it is important to her that the therapy work is collaborative and promotes safety and autonomy.
Sarah will be working Fridays and one Saturday a month. Please be aware that sessions with Sarah do not attract a Medicare rebate however, her services are covered under a number of Private Health Providers and under the NDIS
Please contact reception if you can't find the appointment you would like online.
Steve Petrolati
Psychologist
“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” - Leonard Cohen
Steve (he/him) has over 30 years of clinical experience, which has encompassed working with PTSD, anxiety disorders grief and loss and adjustment disorders, as well as many more.
Steve is passionate about inclusivity and moving clients from a place of languishing to flourishing. He feels lucky to be a psychologist, being able to learn about others lives and accompany them for part of their journey.
Steve’s sessions include Blossom, the ultimate therapy companion, and Mind Modes cutest mascot. So, if you love a bit of canine companionship in session this is the place for you and Steve is your guy!
Steve uses a mix of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Gestalt Therapies and has an interest in Brain Spotting. He sees adults from 18 and up and loves to see clients across a range of cultural backgrounds. See our services tab for more details of whether Steve is the right fit for you and call now.
Steve’s books are currently open for immediate bookings. Please contact the admin team now to secure your appointment.
Hilary Key
Provisional Psychologist
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Hilary (she/her) works with client's age 5-90+ and is here to work across a range of issues including depression, anxiety, stress, motivation and relationship difficulties.
Hilary has a Masters Degree in Sexology, has training in Gottman Couples Counselling and experience in working with sexual health and dysfunction. Her interests lie in relationships, sexual health and interpersonal communication and she is passionate about being open and non judgemental in her pursuit of helping client's create and maintain healthy and positive relationships.
Hilary has also spent the last year working largely with client's of all ages and who present with neurodevelopmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disability. She works collaboratively with the client, their families and their other supports to help them meet their psychological goals.
Hilary will be available Tuesdays through to Fridays. Please be aware that sessions with Hilary do not attract a Medicare rebate, though she provides her services at a lesser rate in acknowledgement of this.
Hilary has immediate availability. Please contact reception if you can't find the appointment you would like online.
Candice Nicholls
Provisional Psychologist
Candice (she/her) is currently completing her final years of becoming a registered psychologist, she brings major amounts of enthusiasm, intelligence and knowledge to her role and will be seeing client's at a reduced rate during her internship year with us at Mind Mode.
Candice has knowledge across a number of different psychological techniques and will be supervised by a number of psychologists with the aim of building on the knowledge she already has.
Candice is very passionate and personable. She works collaboratively with her client's to develop therapeutic plans and supports her client's progress and journeys with a non judgemental compassionate nature. In fact just being in her presence can be therapeutic in itself!
Candice will be available Mondays and Fridays. Please be aware that sessions with Candice do not attract a Medicare rebate, though she provides her services at a lesser rate in acknowledgement of this.
Please contact reception if you can't find the appointment you would like online.
Denelle Cosier
Accredited Practicing Dietitian
Denelle (she/her) completed a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) from the University of Wollongong and is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian.
We live in a society consumed by dieting and obsessed with body weight, which can result in disordered eating behaviours and negative impacts on mental health. By acknowledging that people can be healthy in any body shape and size, Denelle seeks to empower her clients with knowledge and confidence to listen to their bodies. She works collaboratively with clients to find an eating pattern tailored to their needs.
Denelle practices within a HAES (TM) and non-diet framework. Denelle is trained in providing nutritional treatment for eating disorders including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder for adult clients.
Denelle is passionate about providing dietetic treatment that supports the mental and emotional health of her clients, working in a compassionate and non-judgmental manner
Please contact reception if you can't find the appointment you would like online.
Patrick, Celia and Jasmine
The Admin Team
Meet the Mind Mode Admin Team!
These guys do everything that ensures a smooth running of your bookings and whole bunch of background stuff you wouldn't expect.
They are in charge of making bookings, taking payments, getting your rebates through and stocking up the waiting room with hand sanitiser, Mentos, tea and coffee!
They are also the wonderful people here to greet you, help you and make you feel comfortable while you wait for your psychologist. Don't forget to say hi to them as you enter, you may get some free environmental advice from Pat, or an extra mint from Jasmine, and if you're lucky, Celia might show you how to make a cracker free coffee with our expresso machine set out specifically for client's to use.
These are the people to contact if you have any questions or concerns, just give them a bell by email or phone.
Our admin team are available to assist you with any questions you may have. You can contact them by emailing admin@mindmode.com.au or by calling 4288 4667.