Our Qualified Sydney
Psychologists & Therapists
With an experienced team of psychologists and therapists, the aim of Mind Connect Psychology is to help you achieve profound and lasting change. Our team are all fully qualified and professionally registered, conducting all services with a warm, compassionate and professional approach. We ensure your experience with us is always comfortable, confidential and safe.
Meet Our Team
Meagan Cooke
Psychologist | Director
Meagan is a registered psychologist with more than 10 years experience, committed to working in partnership with clients to help them change, heal, and flourish. Meagan has a person-centered approach to counselling and creates a safe space where individuals can freely explore what is going on, what they need or want, and how they can get there.
With training and experience in a range of therapeutic interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR), Meagan’s style is adaptable and caters for individual needs. She supports clients to apply their strengths and fulfill their own potential for growth.
Meagan has experience supporting people of all ages and a passion for working with children and adolescents. Prior to working in private practice, Meagan worked in schools providing individual and group therapy, cognitive, educational and behavioural assessments, and education for teachers and parents. Meagan continues her strong focus on working collaboratively with families and schools to provide appropriate support for children and adolescents.
Meagan completed her Psychology and Education studies at the University of Sydney. She is currently undertaking a Master of Psychology Practice (Clinical) to further extend her knowledge and skills in supporting complex and chronic psychological problems. She holds full registration as a psychologist and is a Board-Approved Supervisor with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Meagan is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and School Counselling and Psychology Association NSW (SCPA).
Mary Lee
Psychologist | Director
Bronwyn Wall
Psychologist | Director
Deepika (Dee) Radhakrishnan
Psychologist
Deepika (Dee) is a development-driven Registered Psychologist with holistic approaches and has over 17 years of professional involvement in the betterment of her clients across geographies.
Her passion towards the field helped her complete her Master degree in Psychology with specialisation in Clinical Psychology. She trained to be a developmental child therapist and started a school in India for children with special needs. She had opportunities to serve children and their families across geographies, continents and cultures, before she permanently moved to Australia.
She has specialised interests and experience in assessment and treatment planning for complex ASD presentation, ADHD, and related behavioural conditions. Her other proficiencies lie in the eclectic treatment of anxiety and related disorders, as well as social-emotional regulation. Dee uses a range of intervention modalities rooted in Play therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focussed Therapy with a strong focus on behavioural considerations. Dee’s strong focus on cultural implications on a client’s presentation has been a strongpoint in her therapeutic work.
Dee is multilingual, fluent in five Indian languages other than English making her communicate effectively, be culturally sensitive and establish rapport very quickly with families.
Dee is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, is a member of Australian Psychological Society (APS) and Australia Play Therapy Association (APTA).
Paul Navoev
Psychologist
Paul is a registered psychologist with extensive experience in education. He works mainly with adults (18+) and is committed to collaborating closely with his clients to foster a caring and effective therapeutic relationship.
Paul has been trained in and uses a range of evidence-based therapies including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing. Working attentively with the client, he integrates elements of cognitive, behavioural, experiential and psychodynamic approaches to develop self-compassion, flexibility and resilience.
Paul is also a certified Focusing-Oriented therapist, a person-centred approach that values the client’s uniqueness, gently guiding them to learn from and trust their own lived experience. He is passionately dedicated to professional development and learning, and takes a keen interest in emerging research to ensure his clients receive the optimal support they deserve.
Paul completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology at the University of Wollongong and his Graduate Diploma in Psychology at Charles Sturt University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and was awarded the Dean’s Medal from the University of Western Sydney.
Paul is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, is a member of the Australian Psychological Society, and a NESA accredited teacher.
Kirsten Cluett
Psychologist
Kirsten is a registered psychologist with a Masters in Professional Psychology and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from Macquarie University. She has a passion for youth mental health and works with clients aged 16+.
Kirsten is a friendly, calm, and collaborative psychologist who works closely with her clients to meet their needs. Kirsten encourages her clients to take the lead in therapy to strengthen their confidence, assertiveness, and self-awareness.
She is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). She is skilled in complex case management, crisis intervention, occupational assessment, and recovery-oriented therapy. Kirsten has worked with NSW Health, the Australian Defence Force, and community organisations across Sydney.
Natalie Maiolo
Play therapist
Couples & Family therapist
Natalie is a registered Play Therapist who completed her Masters of Play Therapy at Deakin University and a Bachelor of Behavioural Science and Counseling at the University of Notre Dame. She is a member of the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association and mainly works with families and children who have neurological disorders such as Autism, development disorders including Developmental Delays or Intellectual Disabilities and those experiencing trauma, anxiety and depression.
Natalie’s therapeutic approach involves using play as a means of helping individuals, especially children, to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and to work through emotional and behavioural difficulties. She may also encourage the child to engage in imaginative play, such as storytelling or role-playing, to help them process their experiences and develop coping skills. This is part of her humanistic-child centred approach to allow the child to express their inner-world.
Natalie has worked at several non-for-profit organisations providing counselling to individuals, couples, children and families who have experienced domestic and family violence, high conflict separation, mental health challenges and addiction. She has experience in facilitating multiple parenting and children’s groups such as Circle of Security, Tuning into Kids, Keeping Kids in Mind, Emotion Coaching, Wrapped in Angels and Mindfulness program. Natalie is trained in the Gottman Method for couples counselling.
**Natalie will be on maternity leave from late March to July 2024.**
Natasha Vida
Social Worker
Child, Family & Couple therapist
Natasha has extensive knowledge and experience in working with children, adolescent and their families with a variety of emotional, behavioural and life transitions. Natasha gets most joy in working with younger children (3 – 6 years), primary school aged children (7 – 12 years), and their parents/carers.
Her counselling style is warm, curious and playful and her aim in working with children and their families is to enhance and foster connectiveness, create safety, elicit hope and build a trusting therapeutic relationship.
Natasha’s preferred way of practice with children is through expressive therapies including Play Therapy, Art Therapy, Sand and Symbols Therapy and Psychosomatic informed practices. She is also informed by attachment theory, trauma-informed therapies, psychosomatic psychotherapy, and systems approaches to working with parents and their children.
Natasha is a trained facilitator in the following parenting programs: Bring Up Great Kids, Circle of Security Parenting, and Emotional Coaching (123 Magic). She is also currently completing her certification in Theraplay.
Natasha finds happiness in the chaos of raising her three children, getting up early in the morning to go for a run, buying too many books that she will not have the time to read, dancing like no one is watching and time with new and old friends.
Fox Smith
Psychotherapist
Counsellor
Fox is a registered practicing member with The Psychotherapy and Counsellors Association of Australia (PACFA) and works with adolescent and early adulthood clients.
Fox’s therapeutic approach focuses on the client’s life experiences and how this shapes their unique view of the world. She has supported young people as they navigate milestones such as starting high school or university, getting that first job and managing the work/life balance, and weighing up new opportunities and changes.
Life is also full of the unexpected and Fox also works with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, illness, bullying, and loneliness, to make sense of these challenges and nurture resilience and self compassion.
Using practical interventions from evidence based modalities such as Person-Centred Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Psychodynamic-Interpersonal Therapy, allows Fox to work collaboratively with clients and adapt to their current needs. Together, finding the client’s strengths and values to creatively problem solve and move toward meaningful change in aspects of thinking, feeling, actions and behaviour.
Fox also has a special interest in supporting young people in their journey of gender, sexuality and personal expression, and has received training from ACON and Headspace to support the specific mental health needs of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Fox has a Master degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the Australian College of Applied Psychology as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Marketing and Communication) from Monash University and Honour’s Degree in Corporate Communication from The University of Johannesburg. With this strong background in communication services, administration and management, she will continue to work in the Client Experience Officer role part-time and with the same warmth and care as you’ve come to expect.
Emily Paek
Registered Psychologist
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Emily is a registered psychologist who strives to provide person-centred care to clients. Emily aims to create a safe, non-judgemental space for clients to share their difficulties and feel empowered to use their strengths, experiences, and supports to experience a meaningful life.
Emily has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, gender diverse clients, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities. Emily utilises a range of evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, and Family Based Therapy.
Emily has a strong interest in providing psychological support to individuals experiencing eating and feeding disorders. She has a strong passion for working with children and adolescents. Emily has experience providing cognitive, educational and behavioural assessments.
Emily completed a Master of Clinical Psychology at the University of Canberra. She is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, and a member of the Australian Psychological Society. Emily is currently undertaking a psychology registrar program for clinical endorsement.
Dani Ospitale
Client Experience Officer
Dani is a warm and compassionate person who welcomes everyone through the Mind Connect doors with a smile. She has a keen interest in working with and supporting mental health and wellbeing, and this is supported through her current tertiary studies in psychology.
Dani understands that the process of reaching out for support may be challenging and works to create a safe environment so everyone feels appreciated and understood. She is happy to connect and answer your questions, and looks forward to getting to know each and every one of our clients. In her down time, she enjoys a coastal walk with her dog, and working on one of her art projects.
Join Our Team
Mind Connect Psychology is a well established psychology practice located in Kogarah. We are dedicated in providing professional psychology services, helping our clients achieve positive change, mental health and well-being. We are expanding our practice and looking for an energetic and motivated registered psychologist to join our passionate team. For more information, read more on our Join Us page.
For more information about our psychology services call 02 9587 3887
who can we help
Our Trusted Psychological Services
Children & Adolescents
We work collaboratively with young people and their families to develop an individualised treatment plan to achieve their goals.
Our psychologists relate to children exceptionally well and strive to provide a warm and friendly environment where our young clients feel safe and comfortable.
Adults
Mind Connect psychologists are professionally trained listeners who can help you overcome emotional challenges, and make positive changes in your life.
Mind Connect Psychology offers adult clients a confidential and secure professional relationship, as well as a safe place to discuss your situation.
Psychological Assessments
At Mind Connect Psychology we offer three main types of assessment: cognitive assessment, educational or academic assessment, and social-emotional-behavioural assessment.
