Our Team
Each of our therapists have completed extensive training in accordance with our individual areas of interest as well as enjoying offering support for general health and wellbeing. We are also committed to the Ethical and Professional Guidelines established by our governing bodies, including AHPRA; OTA; APS; Clinical College of APS and AAPi.
Dr Tracey M Walker
Clinical Psychologist, Director and Founder of Minding Family
“Every heart sings a song.”
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Tracey’s primary focus has now moved to teaching, mentoring and supporting early career psychologists.
She has extensive experience supporting individuals and families for a wide range of clinical difficulties including stress, depression and anxiety. Anxiety problems can be diverse and include generalised and separation anxiety, phobias and related conditions such as Perfectionistic Traits and Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder. She is particularly passionate about supporting parents and being able to empower families to find the right balance for their lives. She also has a strong understanding of the Autism Spectrum Conditions and other complex neurodevelopmental difficulties such as ADHD, Tourette’s Disorder, and Learning Disorders.
Tracey also enjoys mentoring Minding Family clinicians to complete detailed psychological diagnostic assessments for these conditions to enable early intervention and appropriate learning support to be coordinated in the educational environment.
Tracey also enjoys delivering workshops and training sessions and has been an adjunct and guest Lecturer for James Cook University.
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B Psych (Hons); D Psych (Clinical)
Member of Australian Psychological Society (MAPS)
Fellow of APS Clinical College
Kerry Abbott
Occupational Therapist, Operations Assistant of Minding Family
“Occupational Therapy. Hopeless into hope. Can’t into can. Impossible into Possible.”
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Kerry is a passionate and experienced occupational therapist who enjoys working with individuals across all stages of life. Her special interest lies in Early Intervention, where she supports young children and their families to build foundational skills for lifelong development.
With a strong background in the neurodiverse field, Kerry works with individuals experiencing:
Developmental motor delays
Sensory processing challenges
Attentional, behavioural, and emotional regulation difficulties
Learning difficulties (physical, cognitive, and mental)
Executive functioning difficulties
Life-skills development
Assessments including comprehensive Functional Assessments and Sensory profiles.
Kerry’s occupation-based therapy approach is designed to be engaging, enjoyable, and meaningful across all stages of life. By creating a supportive and interactive environment, she helps individuals feel at ease, improve communication, and actively participate in their therapy journey.
Beyond her work with children, Kerry is equally passionate about supporting adolescents and adults to maximise their independence in daily life. Whether it’s developing routines, returning to work, managing money, cooking a meal, or participating in leisure activities, she empowers clients to live more independently and with purpose.
Above all, Kerry values collaboration with families and carers, offering practical tools and compassionate guidance to help navigate challenges and celebrate progress together.
Kerry is also working toward her Mental Health Clinician accreditation.
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B Occupational Therapy
Member of OT Australia
Aasmund Helness
Registered Psychologist
“All those days that came and went, little did I know that they were life.”
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Originally from Norway, Aasmund moved to Australia in 2015 to study psychology and graduated with a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) from James Cook University in 2019. Since then, he has worked in Private Practice at Minding Family Townsville, where he has had the opportunity to work with a variety of presentations across the lifespan.
Aasmund places value on getting to know each client (and their families for the younger ones) and then meeting them where they are at. This means not throwing more at the client than they can handle, and collaboratively building the skills they and their family need to thrive. Every person is different, and they all come with their own experiences, perspectives, strengths, and difficulties. Therefore, Aasmund values tailoring interventions to the individual, by providing the treatment that best suits their needs while building on their strengths and interests.
Aasmund has experience working across the lifespan with a range of presentations, including, but not limited to, neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), Anxiety Disorders (e.g. Social anxiety, Specific Phobia), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, and Tic Disorders. Aasmund places a high importance on working with the family as a whole when his client is younger. This helps both the client and their support systems grow and implement skills allowing everyone to thrive.
Whilst Aasmund is adept at employing various evidence-based treatment approaches to suit the individual client’s needs and wishes, he tends to adopt a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) informed approach. CBT is a collaboration between client and clinician where focus is placed on examining connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and how they each influence each other. Making small changes to each component can often influence the others, in turn creating a higher quality of life for the individual.
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Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
Associate Member of Australian Psychological Society (AMAPS)
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Comprehensive Behavioural Training for Tics (CBIT)
Linda Nerboni
Provisional Psychologist – Currently on Medical Leave
“Courage is contagious.”
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Linda is a warm and approachable person who is passionate about supporting individuals of all ages to experience wellbeing. Working from a strengths-based perspective, Linda uses evidenced based treatment strategies tailored to individual needs and clients’ personal goals. She believes it is a privilege to come alongside children, adolescents, and adults and assist them to identify their strengths, appreciate their value, develop new skills, and experience resilience in the face of challenges.
Linda has experience working in the education system and supporting children and adolescents presenting with a range of emotional, social, and behavioural challenges, as well as mood and anxiety disorders (eg. depression, generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobias). She is particularly passionate about supporting individuals with complex neurodevelopmental differences (eg. Autism, ADHD, intellectual impairment). Linda values the role that parents and caregivers play in children’s lives and enjoys collaborating with them to support their children and enhance parenting skills when challenges arise. Linda is developing her skills in psychometric testing.
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BPsych (Hons)
Associate Member of Australian Psychological Society (AMAPS)
Stephanie Brus
Registered Psychologist
“Every step counts, no matter how big or small it is.”
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Steph graduated from James Cook University with a Bachelor in Psychology (Honours) in 2014. From there, she went on to work with families, children and young people who had been involved with, or were at risk of entering the child protection system. During this time, she gained extensive experience working with families who experience multiple and complex challenges such as mental health, disability, alcohol and drug use, parenting challenges, domestic and family violence, family separation and intergenerational trauma. This sparked her interest and motivation to work with individuals who have experienced and continue to experience adversity and complex trauma.
Steph’s passion lies in working with people to navigate and overcome their challenges as well as supporting them to harness their strengths and be their authentic self. She works from a client-led, strengths-based lens, and believes in “going slow to go fast” – taking the time to gain a thorough understanding of a person, their journey and their needs, so that support can be tailored to the individual and the best outcomes can be achieved. Her work experiences have also led to her developing a deep understanding of complex trauma and having a trauma-informed lens in practice. Ensuring people have a positive and welcoming experience when they access supports is also important to Steph. She uses a warm, non-confrontational, and client-centred approach to help clients feel comfortable and ready to participate.
Steph works predominantly with teens and adults across a range of presenting areas. These include but are not limited to anxiety and stress management, depression, self-esteem and self-identity, relationships and assertive communication, acute and complex trauma, and supporting clients with transitioning through life stages, such as leaving school, and becoming a parent.
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Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
Graduate Certificate in Domestic and Family Violence Practice
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT Level 2)
Comprehensive Behavioural Training for Tics (CBIT)
Emily Cannavan
Registered Psychologist
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
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Emily graduated from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) in 2021 and has a strong passion for early intervention. Emily works with children with Autism, ADHD, other neurodevelopmental concerns, and anxiety/depression, supporting both the child and their family to build a deeper understanding of their needs and development. She is dedicated to forming meaningful relationships through a supportive, safe, and non-judgmental approach, helping families feel confident and equipped to support their child.
Emily values collaboration and takes a holistic approach by liaising closely with families, allied health professionals, and schools to ensure strategies are consistent across environments, maximising each child’s growth and progress. She understands that parenting is not straightforward and believes it is not about being perfect, but about showing up for your child every day. Emily holds a strong belief that meaningful progress begins with the parents, and that a parent’s own self-care and understanding of their child is essential in being able to show up for both their child and themselves. She strives to create a safe, non-judgmental environment where those supporting the child feel empowered and understood.
While early intervention remains a key focus, Emily also enjoys working with teenagers, supporting them through important life transitions, building and maintaining healthy friendships, and navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. She works closely with both the young person and their support network to develop practical strategies at home and school, ensuring consistent and meaningful progress across all areas of life.
In addition, Emily also completes psychological assessments across the lifespan to provide valuable insights into an individual’s strengths and areas of challenge. These assessments help inform individuals, families, schools, and other support networks, guiding tailored interventions and fostering a greater understanding of what supports each person to thrive in their daily life.
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BPsych (Hons)
Certified AutPlay Therapy Provider
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Comprehensive Behavioural Training for Tics (CBIT)
Jess Simmonds
Provisional Psychologist
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.”
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Jess completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) and a Master of Professional Psychology at James Cook University, where she gained experience working with clients across the lifespan. Jess has lived in Australia, Kenya and Arnhem Land which has given her a deep appreciation for the diverse experiences and perspectives that shape each person's story.
She is committed to providing evidence-based, client-centred care tailored to her clients’ unique needs and goals. Her therapeutic approach primarily draws on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), supporting clients to develop practical coping strategies while building a life that reflects their personal values and strengths.
She has experience working with clients across the lifespan and an interest in supporting individuals with neurodevelopmental differences, including Autism, ADHD, and intellectual disabilities. She also has experience working with anxiety and depression, helping clients develop skills to manage challenges and improve their overall wellbeing.
One of Jess’s passions is psychometric assessments, using a strengths-based approach which recognises that every individual has unique abilities and learns in their own way. Her goal is to help clients and families better understand these strengths while identifying strategies and supports that promote success.
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Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
Master of Professional Psychology
Our Admin Team
We have a team of amazing individuals, Emma (Senior) and Nicola, who share the reception and administration duties for Minding Family. Together, they help make our beautiful clinic a welcoming, safe and respectful place to visit. Their attention to detail along with their sensitivity to mental health and wellbeing will help your access to Minding Family’s services be as smooth and efficient as possible.
Emma Thompson
Senior Admin and Reception; Operations Team Member
Nicola Simmons
Reception and Admin Duties
Join our team!
Are you ready to join a team that values connection, growth, and a touch of creativity?
At Minding Family, we pride ourselves on a supportive, collaborative culture where every team member is encouraged to bring their unique spark to a practice rooted in humility, dedication, and shared moments.