Meet our team
Melissa Spinks
Registered Psychologist | BSc (Psych), GradDipPsych(Adv) | Founder of Thriving Minds Clinic | Board Approved Supervisor
Melissa is a registered psychologist with over eight years of experience in the mental health field. She is the founder of Thriving Minds Clinic and is known for her warm, compassionate approach and strong commitment to helping individuals across the lifespan feel seen, supported, and empowered. She has a special interest in supporting adolescents and young adults, helping them navigate life’s challenges and transitions with confidence and self-compassion. Melissa is approachable, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in helping people live fuller, more connected lives. Through her work at Thriving Minds Clinic, she strives to create a space where individuals feel understood, empowered, and supported in achieving their own vision of mental health and wellbeing.
Melissa provides both therapy and psychological assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. Her areas of focus include anxiety, emotional wellbeing, neurodivergent presentations such as Autism, ADHD, and learning differences, as well as trauma, identity development, parenting support, and grief. She has a particular interest in working with clients who may have been overlooked or misdiagnosed, including females who present with more subtle signs of Autism or ADHD. Her approach is gentle, personalised, and grounded in an understanding of how diverse minds experience the world.
Melissa is trained in a range of evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Positive Psychology. She is currently completing a Masters of Clinical Psychology (post registration) and plans to complete the Clinical Registrar program upon graduating for clinical endorsement.
Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family - including her three kids, husband, and dogs - as well as exercising, travelling, and enjoying delicious food
Frida Tekin
Registered Psychologist | BSc (Psych) | MSc (Health Psych)
Creative Powers
Frida is a registered psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in schools, private clinics, and social services. Her approach is integrative, incorporating Person-Centred Therapy, EMDR, ACT, CBT, Schema Therapy, Solution-Focused Coaching, Somatic Work, and Mindfulness-based practices.
She works with individuals experiencing trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, grief, and emotional regulation challenges. Frida’s practice is grounded in evidence-based psychology and complemented by holistic and creative methods, allowing her to offer a compassionate, flexible, and person-focused therapeutic experience.
Her interests include art, nature, permaculture, yoga, meditation, qi gong, theatre, singing, and dancing
Daniel O'Brien
Registered Psychologist | Clinical Psychology Registrar
Lightwell Psychology
Daniel is a registered psychologist with experience working across a range of clinical settings, including private practice, public health, and university-based clinics. He is currently completing the Clinical Psychology Registrar Program and is passionate about delivering high-quality, evidence-based care tailored to each individual’s needs.
Daniel works with clients across the lifespan - from children and teenagers to adults - and is skilled in supporting those experiencing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, grief and loss, ADHD, autism, chronic pain, and relationship difficulties. He uses a client-centred, collaborative approach, drawing on modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based strategies.
In addition to therapy, Daniel is trained and experienced in administering a wide range of psychometric assessments, including cognitive and educational assessments, ADHD and autism evaluations, and mental health screenings. He values the role that assessment plays in promoting clarity, direction, and tailored support for his clients.
Daniel provides a thoughtful presence and his is focused on building strong therapeutic relationships. He is committed to helping his clients develop insight, self-compassion, and practical strategies for navigating life’s challenges. His approach is grounded in respect, curiosity, and a belief in each person’s potential to grow and thrive.
When not at work, Daniel enjoys exploring the outdoors, keeping active, and spending time with his family and friends.
Amaryllis Lim
Registered Psychologist | Diploma in Physiotherapy (Partial), BSc (Psych), BPsychSc(Hons), M.A.P.S | Board-approved Supervisor
C&C Your Emotions
Amaryllis is a Registered Psychologist with over a decade of experience supporting individuals across hospital, community, rehabilitation, and private practice settings. Her background also includes prior study in physiotherapy and two years of military service, giving her a unique, grounded perspective when working with clients from all walks of life.
She has special interests in complex trauma (including dissociative disorders), challenges amongst individuals who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, neurodivergent presentations, bipolar disorders, personality disorders, substance use difficulties, degenerative conditions (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.) and palliative care. Amaryllis is also adept in chronic disease (e.g., diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.) and pain management from a psychological perspective. Amaryllis is passionate about working with individuals across the lifespan (i.e., all ages), who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who may feel misunderstood or overlooked, including high-functioning individuals with complex needs.
Amaryllis draws on a range of evidence-based therapies, including Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Schema Therapy (ST), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). Her warm, collaborative, and non-judgemental style helps clients feel safe, seen, and supported as they work towards meaningful and lasting change.
She is also highly experienced in administering psychological assessments, including cognitive, memory, educational, and autism assessments for both children and adults.
Outside the therapy space, Amaryllis enjoys running, netball, cycling, and all things outdoors. She’s also a proud foodie and anime fan, and values staying connected to her family overseas.
Adam Currell
Registered Psychologist | BSc (Psych), BPsychSc(Hons), MProfPsych
BlackKat Psychology
Adam Currell is a registered psychologist and the director of BlackKat Psychology. He holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), a Master of Professional Psychology, and has completed the Master of Psychology Practice (Clinical) through ACAP. He is preparing to undertake the Clinical Psychology Registrar Program toward clinical endorsement.
Adam specialises in psychological assessment and diagnosis, integrating clinical interviews, personal history, and evidence-based psychometric testing to develop clear, meaningful formulations. His work focuses on helping people better understand their experiences—whether through diagnostic clarity or by identifying strengths and support needs without a formal label.
He also provides therapy for concerns such as anxiety and life stressors, offering a collaborative, practical, and compassionate approach. Adam is registered with SIRA and is committed to ongoing professional development, including planned EMDR training.
Outside of work, Adam is a country boy at heart, enjoying the outdoors, good food, and time with family and friends
Hayley Ford
Provisional Psychologist | Behaviour Support Practitioner
MProfPsych, GradDipPsych(Adv), GradDipPsych, Med, BHlthSci(PDHPE)
Hayley is a Provisional Psychologist and Behaviour Support Practitioner with over 10 years of experience across educational, disability, and therapeutic settings. Her extensive background in teaching and learning support has shaped her strengths in understanding diverse learning needs, building strong rapport, and supporting individuals to develop practical daily living, emotional-regulation, and communication skills. She is passionate about helping children, adolescents, and young adults build confidence, independence, and meaningful engagement in their environments.
Hayley has worked widely within the NDIS space, providing functional behaviour assessments, positive behaviour support plans, and skill-development interventions for individuals with intellectual disability, autism, ADHD, and psychosocial disabilities. She takes a neuro-affirming and trauma-informed approach, ensuring that clients feel understood, respected, and empowered. Hayley's collaborative style involves working closely with families, educators, support workers, support coordinators, and allied-health professionals to promote consistency and meaningful progress.
In her therapeutic work, Hayley draws on evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing. She is committed to compassionate, person-centred practice that helps clients build insight, strengthen coping strategies, and create lasting, positive change.
Grace Gilbert
Provisional Psychologist |
MProfPsych
Grace is a Provisional Psychologist with experience working across therapeutic and educational settings. She holds a Master of Professional Psychology (with Distinction) from the University of Newcastle and is passionate about supporting individuals to navigate challenges, build resilience, and create meaningful change in their lives.
Grace has supported young people in a variety of contexts, including those in high-performance environments such as athletes, musicians, and academically driven students. She has also worked within the school system, supporting diverse presentations including autism, ADHD, anxiety, family separation, experiences of out-of-home care, and identity development. Through this work, she has developed a strong interest in supporting children, adolescents, and adults as they navigate periods of growth, transition, and increasing life demands.
In her therapeutic practice, Grace draws on evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing. She has a special interest in working with individuals experiencing concerns such as anxiety, stress, trauma, burnout, ADHD, self-esteem difficulties, academic pressures, and identity development.
Grace aims to create a warm, collaborative, and non-judgmental space where clients feel understood and supported to explore their experiences. Her approach is neuro-affirming and LGBTQIA+ affirming, grounded in trauma-informed, strengths-based, and client-centred practice. She supports individuals to reduce the impact of stress, strengthen emotional regulation and coping skills, and build greater confidence and self-understanding when navigating everyday challenges.
Grace values working collaboratively with families, schools, and other professionals to support consistent and meaningful progress. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active, spending time outdoors, and engaging in creative activities.
OUR ADMINISTRATION TEAM
Abbey