THE RIVER SUITES
Professional Consulting Offices
Allied Health Practices at The River Suites
Independent Allied Health Practices located within The River Suites include Psychologist and Certified Gottman Therapist Madonna Hirning, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker Karly Rubins and Psychologist Leigh-Anne Chester - Sunshine Coast Couples Clinic, Clinical Psychologists Dr Carly Fay, Dr Alex Short, Dr Jacinta Thomson -Time to Untangle, Anna Overell, Carla Hopper, Francesca Finelli, Melanie Parkes - Unmasked Psychology and Fiona Harris.
The independent Practitioners at The River Suites collectively offer evidence based assessment and treatment both to couples experiencing relationship distress and individuals for a range of issues including trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and stress. Our Practitioners offer neuro-affirming care and several specialise in the diagnosis of ADHD and autism and are skilled in supporting neurodiverse individuals. For more information about our Practitioners and their areas of expertise please see below.
Meet the Providers at The River Suites
Sunshine Coast Couples Clinic - owned and operated by local Psychologist and Certified Gottman Couples Therapist Madonna Hirning. Sunshine Coast Couples Clinic offers evidence based Couples Therapy in Two Day Intensive, weekly and online formats. Madonna is also an experienced presenter of the Gottman Two Day Workshop for couples, The Art and Science of Love Workshop. At Sunshine Coast Couples Clinic we have a range of experienced Clinicians who work with couples experiencing distress in their relationship to help them develop more effective communication and conflict management skills, process painful events and rebuild connection and intimacy. Our therapists are also experienced in working with couples to repair and recover from infidelity, couples who are being impacted by childhood or recent trauma in their relationship and in working with neurodiversity and how this can impact relationship dynamics. Individual psychological therapy around relationship issues is also available.
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Dr Carly Fay is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in working with anxiety, cancer support, stress and burnout, grief and loss and chronic pain and health conditions. Carly is trained in a range of therapies including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Schema Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. With a focus on providing simple yet effective tools and strategies, along with a generous dose of humour, Carly is passionate about helping you live a fuller, more meaningful and courageous life.
Anna Overell is a Clinical Psychologist who works with a range of mental health presentations and has a particular interest in relationship & attachment difficulties, self-esteem, grief & loss, and perinatal mental health. Anna has been trained in and draws upon, a range of evidence based therapies, including: Psychodynamic therapy (Self Psychology), Interpersonal therapy (IPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT),Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Family Systems Therapies, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness.
Time to Untangle - Dr Jacinta Thomson is a Clinical Psychologist with expertise in the areas of assessment and treatment of autism and ADHD. Depending on your needs, Jacinta will offer therapy in one or a combination of the following evidence-based interventions, including: Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy Enhanced (CBT-E) for eating disorders, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Solutions-focused Therapy, Schema Focused Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Attachment-based Models and Trauma-informed CBT
Dr Alex Short is a Clinical Psychologist with training and experience in treating young people and adults with a variety of concerns including: depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and alcohol/substance use problems. His primary treatment approach is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and he is trained in a number of other therapeutic modalities. Alex tries to find the right balance between providing the most up to date evidence-based therapeutic techniques whilst also providing genuine care and compassion in a warm, safe, and relaxed therapeutic environment.
Francesca Finelli is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience assessing and clinically treating a variety of psychological difficulties, such as anxiety, mood and trauma related disorders. She approaches treatment with an individually tailored approach, utilising a range of evidence based interventions such as CBT, Schema Therapy, ACT, Mindfulness, DBT, Somatic Therapy and is currently undertaking training in EMDR. Francesca is particularly interested in assisting individuals to identify and reconstruct unhealthy belief systems stemming from past trauma that impacts behaviour, self-worth and relationships.
Fiona Harris is a Clinical Psychologist experienced in providing support and strategies for adults who are recently diagnosed ADHD or autistic and is also experienced in conducting Adult ADHD assessments. . Fiona provides neuro-affirming, trauma informed care. She is also skilled in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, adjustment, grief & loss. Fiona is trained in EMDR (trauma reprocessing therapy) along with Schema therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-Based CBT and Meta Cognitive Therapy.
​Carla Hopper is a Clinical Psychologist who provides therapeutic support for range of mental health concerns and disorders that are related to challenges with one's sense of self; with particular interest in social anxiety and other anxiety disorders, attachment/relationship concerns, addiction and perinatal mental health. Carla offers a tailored, integrative therapeutic approach that is guided by attachment-based and psychodynamic frameworks and incorporates skills-based, emotional, behavioural, and somatic frameworks and techniques (ACT, DBT, PVT) as needed.
Melanie Parkes is a Clinical Psychologist with a warm, down-to-earth, and compassionate approach. She values building authentic therapeutic relationships where clients feel seen, understood, and accepted just as they are. Melanie is passionate about creating an inclusive and supportive space where diversity is embraced. She has a particular interest and expertise in working with Autistic people and ADHDers, helping them better understand, advocate for, and affirm their unique strengths and needs. She takes a neurodiversity-affirming and strength-based approach, ensuring clients feel empowered and valued. Melanie welcomes individuals from all cultures and communities, including the LGBTQIA+ community, and is mindful of sensory preferences during sessions to help clients feel comfortable and safe.
