Mary Malak
Practice Director and
Registered Psychologist
Mary is a registered psychologist. Her qualifications included a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) and an Associate Diploma in Youth Work. Mary has an extensive background in working with young people with multiple complex individual, family and social challenges. Mary is committed to supporting individuals across the lifespan to realise their potential and live their best lives. She is also passionate about empowering families to support their children and young people through their development, build their their strengths and address challenges.
Mary is passionate about recognising and building upon the strengths of children, young people, adults and those around them in addressing challenges and working towards their goals. She has had experience in working with emotional dysregulation, trauma, depression, anxiety, neurodiversity, bullying, grief, anger, social skills and peer issues. Adopting an evidence-based client-informed approach, Mary recognises the client and the parents as the “experts” in their own lives, empowering children, young people and parents with strategies and support through the therapy journey. As a mother of older teens, Mary appreciates the important role of family has in raising healthy and confident children and young people.
Jake Bucholtz
Registered Psychologist
Jake is Registered Psychologist who has a passion for working with adults, adolescents and children, helping them to achieve their goals. Jake has worked to achieve positive outcomes with a diverse range of presentations, including those with a trauma background, anxiety, depression, stress, neurodiversity (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), relationship difficulties and grief.
Jake fosters a collaborative approach in his practice, applying evidence-based therapy that meets the specific needs of clients, creating an empowering space and leading to meaningful change. As well as working with a wide range of adults, Jake has an interest in working with children and adolescents with anxiety and neurodiverse presentations.
Areas of interest: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Schema Therapy; Stress, anxiety and panic disorders; Depression and mood related difficulties; Neurodiversity; Trauma; Relationship difficulties; Communication and assertiveness; Sleep difficulties; Grief and loss; Value exploration; Anger management; LGBTQIA+
Languages spoken
• English
• Spanish
Selaima Nau
Registered Psychologist
Selaima is a Registered Psychologist with experience working with adults and adolescents across a range of presentations, including anxiety, depression, trauma-related difficulties, substance use challenges, behavioural concerns and relationship challenges.
She has worked in both individual and structured group settings supporting clients with complex emotional and behavioral patterns. Her approach balances warmth and variation with clarity and accountability, helping clients build insight, emotional regulation and practical skills for change.
She fosters a collaborative and structured therapeutic approach, applying evidence-based interventions tailored to the specific needs of each client. Selaima values creating a safe and respectful space where clients feel supported to explore difficult experiences while developing practical strategies for meaningful and sustainable change.
Areas of interest: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Trauma-informed practice; Anxiety and stress; Depression and mood-related difficulties; Emotional regulation; Behavioural challenges; Relationship difficulties; Neurodiversity; Anger management; Values exploration.
Bridget Manyonga
Youth and Family Therapist / Counsellor
Bridget Manyonga is a highly experienced Youth and Family Therapist who has more than 10 years’ experience working in various Youth work settings with 5 years of practicing as Behaviour Support Coordinator. As a Behavioural Support Coordinator, Bridget worked with a team in a blended model, providing a mixture of triage, assessment, intervention, and care-co-ordination. Her main roles were to plan, develop, and monitor a variety of behaviour support service delivery options to meet the needs of clients diagnosed with different Neuro Divergent conditions including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) ADHD, ODD, and/or other behavioural and social/communication challenges. Through her passion for working with young people, she supports disaffected youth from 12 to 24 years to be engaged and reconnected to educational, employment and community pursuits. Throughout her career Bridget has worked with various families and young people affected by tripartite burden of homelessness, substance abuse, domestic violence, school avoidance, habitual absence and mental health providing evidence-based interventions to improve young people’s overall wellbeing. Outside of Youth worker Bridget enjoys Sports, she strongly follows the NRL, Cricket and Swimming. Bridget enjoys cooking .
Robbie
Youth Worker
Robbie is a passionate youth worker dedicated to empowering young people through sports and community engagement. With over 4 years of experience in mentoring and community service, he believes in the transformative power of teamwork and sport. Robbie has a background in sport and fitness fostering an inclusive environment where every young person can thrive. Outside of work, he enjoys playing Rugby League and promoting healthy lifestyles and camaraderie among youth. Robbie is committed to making a positive impact, one game at a time.