All of our consultants have professional qualifications with extensive post graduate experience. All psychologists, social workers and counsellors are connected to their relevant professional associations and adhere to strict ethical standards.

ACCESS Programs is also fortunate to employ multi-lingual staff, including speakers of Turkish background.

Amanda Coldwell – Senior Manager

Bachelor of Social Work; Certificate in Training and Assessment TAA; Mental Health Social Work AASW Accredited

Amanda has worked as a social work clinician for over 25 years, fulfilling leadership and clinical roles within community, acute health and mental health sectors. She has recently transitioned from SA Health, managing social work teams in the areas of general medicine, rehabilitation and palliative care. Amanda also has private practice experience, specialising in grief and loss counselling. Her strengths in service development offer focused business directions with highly valued staff engagement. Amanda has a passion for visionary and supportive leadership, aiming to empower our experienced and skilled staff to offer high quality, wellbeing support services.

Darren McGeachie – Senior Consultant

B. Social Work; B.A. LLB (Hons); Nationally Accredited Mediator (Leadr); Cert. IV TAE; Mental Health Social Work AASW Accredited

Darren is qualified in law and social work and practiced as a solicitor in private practice for a number of years. He has worked as a Solicitor and Senior Conciliator with the Equal Opportunity Commission., joining ACCESS-OCAR in 2000. His current interests are in organisational consultancy, coaching, dispute resolution and workplace investigation. He has trained as a mediator with LEADR, and coaches trainee mediators at the University of South Australia. He lectures in law and social work at Flinders University, and is a past Vice President of the Employee Assistance Professional Association of Australia Inc (EAPAA). He also holds the Certificate iv in Workplace Assessment, and acts as a trainer in the area of case recording.

Cris Pirone – Senior Clinician / Consultant / Counsellor

B.A. (Psychology); B. Social Work; B. Ed (Counselling); AHPRA Registered Member

Cris is a registered Psychologist and has over 25 years of experience in working with couples, individuals and families in counselling. She draws upon a range of evidence based frameworks and has clinical experience in providing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness based therapy, Family Therapy, Relationship Counselling, Individual Counselling and Counselling for children. Cris aims to support and assist individuals to build upon their strengths and skills and to learn new ways of managing their concerns so that they can enhance their wellbeing, develop their potential and live the life they want to live.

Alyce Hunter – Counsellor

Bachelor of Counselling

Alyce is an experienced counsellor with over eight years’ experience in both clinical and community settings. Alyce has a Bachelor’s of Counselling and is currently completing a Master of Social Work. Alyce provides support from a Trauma Informed Framework and utilises techniques such as; Psychoanalytic Counselling, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Person Centered, Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Grief and Loss Counselling. Alyce has extensive experience supporting individuals, families and children with Anxiety based disorders, Drug and Alcohol dependency and body image issues. Alyce places importance on providing a safe space for clients to explore and share their story with validation of their experiences, emotions and needs.

Carolyn Glynn – Counsellor

Bachelor of Counselling

Carolyn began her professional career counselling students and their families as well as establishing a private practice specialising in family therapy, couples counselling. Carolyn enjoys exploring the effects of relationship issues; grief and loss; stress, anxiety and depression; life transitions such as divorce and parenting; addiction; abuse and trauma. Her focus is in acknowledging individuals have the awareness and skills to overcome their life situations and mapping a personal/outcome plan equipping clients to successfully journey through their life circumstances.

Carolyn uses the following therapies: Narrative Therapy (storytelling), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy (meaning making) as well as Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). From a philosophical perspective, social justice motivates Carolyn’s role and practice, advocating on behalf of the culturally diverse, for example, immigrants, first nation’s people, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQI populations and especially, addressing gender biases towards women.

Christine Sibley – Counsellor

B.Psychology; M. Social Science (Counselling); Grad Dip. Jungian Psych; Cert. Women’s Studies

Christine has a background in Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling and holds degrees in Psychology, Jungian Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling. She has a background working in relationship counselling, staff counselling and consultancy, psychiatric group work and EAP counselling. She uses Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Jungian, Systemic and she likes to work in the area of loss and grief, personality and psychology.

Christopher Hibberd – Counsellor

B. Behavioural Science (Psychology); Grad. Cert (Mental Health Science)

Christopher has been working as a clinician and counsellor for 15 years, particularly in Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) and with placements at the Centre for Anxiety and Related Disorders and with an OCD support service. In counselling, Christopher draws from his knowledge and experience in using Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / Mindfulness and training in Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)), Client Centred / Positive Psychology, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Strengths Based, Grief and Loss, Problem Solving and Goal Setting, Behaviour Activation and Resilience Building.

David Hawke – Consultant / Counsellor

Dip. Counselling and Group Work; Grad. Dip. Relationships Counselling

David is an experienced Counsellor who has been providing counselling and therapeutic group work for over 15 years. He welcomes a diverse range of concerns presented by individuals or couples. He came to ACCESS Programs with extensive experience in understanding and addressing workplace related concerns and has over 40 years’ experience in workplace training.

David maintains clinical membership of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia through meeting annual requirements for ethical standards, continuing professional development and regular supervision as a counsellor. He is a compassionate Counsellor who applies an integrated theoretical approach to his work and uses a combination of counselling approaches including; Solution Focused Brief therapy, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness and Grief and Loss counselling.

Di Nayda – Counsellor

Bachelor Psychology (Hons)

Di has been providing counselling services for many years, predominantly in the area of anxiety disorders, for individuals families and couples. Di has an Honours degree in Psychology and is currently completing her Doctorate at Flinders University. She draws from a range of evidenced based therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy and Self Compassion- Based Mindfulness Therapy tailored to the individual or family to ensure the best outcome. ​Di’s primary objective is to build on the clients strengths and coping strategies, to learn new ways of managing challenging situation in order to enhance their well being and reach their potential.

Elly Wild – Counsellor

B.Social Work; B.Science; Grad Dip (Group Work); Mental Health Social Work AASW Accredited

Elly has extensive and varied clinical work as a social worker and counsellor. Elly has considerable experience in working with people who have experienced childhood trauma. She also embraces working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. In counselling her work is informed by a combination of approaches including Solution Focused, Strengths Based, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Interactive Drawing Therapy, Grief and Loss as well as somatic based understandings of trauma and recovery.

Emma Twelftree – Counsellor

Bachelor of Nursing; Master of Social Work; Mental Health Social Work AASW Accredited

Emma is an experienced social worker with a background in nursing. She has worked both in clinical and community mental health services, in suicide prevention and in schools. Emma works with children, youth and adults using a collaborative and strengths-based counselling approach. Her work is informed by a combination of approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution Focussed Brief Intervention, Grief and Loss and she has experience teaching social and emotional intelligence skills and DBT skills within a trauma informed approach. Emma works with clients building upon their strengths and empowering them to improve their emotional wellbeing to develop fulfilling and meaningful lives.

Heidi Lichtenberg – Counsellor

B. of Social Work; Grad Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; Dip. of Counselling; Mental Health Social Work AASW Accredited

Heidi has over six years’ experience of working in the child protection sector as a Senior Social Worker in which she honed her skills in solution based casework. Heidi has a Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in which she provided counselling at Flinders’ Psychological Therapy Services (SA Health). Heidi is driven by helping her clients develop insights into their thoughts and behaviours and to walk alongside them to resolve their current challenges using a holistic and strengths based approach to practice. Heidi continues to extend her professional development through her counselling studies and employment with ACCESS programs.

Kathleen Ballinger – Counsellor

BA (Indigenous Studies); Masters of SW; Mental Health Social Work AASW Accredited

Kathleen Ballinger is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, with an extensive background that includes within disability services, the homelessness sector, mental health, in SA, NT, and Victoria.  She provides Focused Psychological Therapies that includes CBT, DBT and ACT, and has recent experience in Suicide Prevention Programs, Private practice counselling, and hospital acute & sub-acute social work provision in western Victoria. Kathleen is passionate about social justice and contributing to providing responsive, meaningful mental health therapies, and has a collaborative, strengths based approach.

Katie Bordas – Administration Officer

Cert IV Business and Frontline Management; Cert IV Community Services

Katie is originally from Perth and has worked in case management and administration roles in both the Department of Justice and Department of Communities (Child Protection) for 10 years. During her time with the Department of Justice, Katie fulfilled roles within the Magistrates Courts, the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) (Human Rights), and the Victim-offender Mediation Unit. Katie holds a Cert IV in Business and Frontline Management and is completing a Cert IV in Community Services. Katie previously completed volunteer work as a mentor for children in care.

Lee Bradley – Consultant (Mediation)

Diploma Community Services – Mental Health; Diploma Remedial Practitioner; Certified Mediator; Certificate IV Workplace Injury Management.

Lee has completed formal qualifications in areas surrounding Injury Management, Mediation and Workplace Consultancy. She has experience designing and facilitating workshops in Stress Management for local community centres in the southern area. She has worked in the private sector as a Case Manager, as a Rehabilitation Consultant at SA Health and Injury Management Consultant with SAPOL. Her passion is in assisting people in conflict to come to an agreement. She supports people in highly confidential matters with sensitivity, empathy and hope.

Lee Ritchie – Counsellor

Master of Social Work (prof qual); B. Social Science (Human Services and Anthropology); Post Grad Cert. Community Development; Dip. Alcohol and Other Drugs; Mental Health Social Work AASW Accredited

Lee is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has over 13 years of experience in the social services field. Lee has predominantly worked in case management and counselling roles with a broad range of adult client groups including: people living with mental illness; carers; asylum seekers and refugees; culturally and linguistically diverse individuals; First Nations people; individuals identifying as part of the LGBTIQ+ community; people experiencing homelessness; and individuals using alcohol or other drugs. She has a passion for working one on one with frontline employees in a strengths based approach helping them navigate the challenging work they do. Lee encourages a positive work life balance with an aim of improving overall wellbeing, often in relation to depression, anxiety and stress management. Lee also enjoys working with clients to set and achieve goals for personal growth and career development through various life stages such as, entering professions and retirement.

Martin Delaney – Counsellor

B.A Labour Studies (Hons); Master of Social Work; Mental Health Social Work AASW Accredited

Martin migrated to Australia in his late twenties from Ireland. He is an experienced Social Worker with a background in child safety, youth work, and disability. He holds a Bachelor of Labour Studies (Hons) and a Master of Social Work. He is also qualified to teach English to speakers of other languages. Martin utilises relationship-based models of practice to quickly build rapport and trust with his clients. He works collaboratively with clients to identify needs, explore issues, and develop action. His approach is trauma-informed and culturally sensitive.

Nihan Demircan Baser – Counsellor

B.A Law; Master of Social Work; Mental Health Social Work AASW Accredited

Nihan is a social worker with a background in law. She has gained experience in case management and counselling roles within mental health, homelessness, and legal services. Nihan is deeply committed to promoting social justice and equality. In her practice, she adopts a strength-based and trauma-informed approach, prioritizing the well-being and empowerment of her clients. Nihan utilizes a diverse range of counselling approaches, including Solution-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness, to support individuals in their journey towards positive change. She is a bilingual counsellor and fluent in Turkish.

Patricia Donovan – Counsellor

B.A Social Work (Hons); Post Grad. Dip. Family Therapy; Associate Dip. Child Studies; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Training, Mindfulness Cognitive behavioural Therapy for Professionals

Patricia has a Bachelor of Social Work with Hons, Post Grad in Narrative Therapy and Community Work. She has worked with adults, children and adolescents, family groups and group work.  Experience and training in mental health, Mindfulness CBT, Sensory Motor Psychotherapy. In counselling roles her practice  is informed by a combination of approaches including Solution Focused, Strengths based, Motivational Interviewing , Mindfulness CBT, Narrative and Brief Therapy, Grief and Loss counselling, Sensory Motor understanding of trauma and recovery.

Tim Halls – Counsellor

B.A Social Work; Grad. Dip. Psych; Grad. Dip. Management; Mental Health Social Work AASW Accredited

Tim has 37 years of experience as a counsellor and consultant assisting individuals and corporations with change and development in the private and public sectors. Tim has worked in government, predominantly with SA Health over a 16-year period, with his remaining years in private practice. Tim has knowledge and experience relating to physical and psychological/psychiatric disability, rehabilitation and the management of anxiety and mood disorders, including depression.  He has worked with individuals and couples in the area of relationship, vocational and personal counselling. Tim has been prominent in the area of Employee Assistance and Trauma Recovery services.  He has also worked as a coach with Managers in relation to change and personal development. Tim adopts a client-oriented and inclusive approach with individuals drawing on the theoretical models of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Narrative Therapy, to name a few.

Tracy Dickens – Professional Development (Training) Consultant

Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy; Grad Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy; Bachelor of Nursing; Advance Diploma of Business; Advanced Diploma of Management (Human Resources Management); Diploma of Clinical Hypnosis; Associate Diploma of Social Science (Child Care); Certificate NLP Practitioner; Certificate IV Frontline Management

As an esteemed program facilitator, Tracy brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to empower individuals in their personal and professional growth. With a Master Degree and Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, she has a deep understanding of mental well-being and counselling techniques. Her Bachelor of Nursing adds a holistic perspective to her approach. Tracy’s diverse qualifications (Management, Business, Clinical Hypnosis, Social Science, NLP, and Frontline Management) enables her to create impactful professional development programs. Through her compassionate and insightful guidance, Tracy promotes capability and fosters a supportive learning environment, ensuring employees thrive and flourish both personally and professionally in their roles.

Tracy maintains clinical membership of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) through meeting annual requirements for ethical standards, continuing professional development and regular supervision as a counsellor.