Dr Rebekah Hedges
Dr Rebekah Hedges is a Clinical Psychologist with a Professional Doctorate and over 20 years of experience across all age groups. She has specialised expertise in assessing and treating mental health conditions, behavioural and emotional disorders, developmental delays, and learning difficulties.
In 2014, Dr Hedges served as a Court Child Expert for the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, where she played a pivotal role in assisting families navigating high-conflict separations. Her primary role continues to be serving as a Regulation 40 Family Consultant and Single Expert Witness. She brings evidence-based approaches, forensic insight, and child-centred expertise to complex family matters, supporting courts in high-conflict separations with integrity, empathy, and a focus on the well-being of children.
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Kirstin Hides
Kirstin is a Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years experience in clinical practice. Kirstin works primarily with adults who present with a range of issues including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, chronic health matters, interpersonal issues and work place stress. Her focus is on reducing client’s suffering while enhancing meaning and satisfaction.
Kirstin’s treatment approach is primarily based in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with mindfulness based interventions but also includes Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
Kirstin is available to see clients referred by their GP with a Mental Health Care Plan, under SIRA/Workcover, NDIS, DVA, ADF or Bulk Billing/ATAPS.
Please note that Kirstin is currently on extended leave for 2026.
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Wayne Clarke
Wayne is a Clinical Psychologist with more than 50 years experience. In Public Health, he worked in Developmental Disability, Paediatrics, and Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health. His work continued in general Community Health, primarily with adults, and continues in this private practice setting.
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Felicity (aka Foss) Fizelle
Foss is a Clinical Psychologist and accredited EMDR practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience in a range of settings. Her goal is to provide a safe, calm space for conversations to take place and deep listening to facilitate healing.
Foss’s training in Eye Movement De-sensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), a treatment method endorsed by the World Health Organisation for trauma, began in 2011 and emerged from her observation that psychological trauma could be complex to treat yet was not uncommon. She felt it necessary to train in an evidence-based therapy that produced effective relief for those suffering from trauma. Much of her work helps people to live more at peace with their past so they can be focused in the present and create the future they desire.
Foss has also been trained in Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavour Therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing. She undertakes professional development both in Australia and overseas.
Foss also provides professional supervision for both the Anglican and Catholic religious traditions, teachers and others who seek reflective practice supervision.
Foss is available to see clients referred by their GP with a Mental Health Care Plan, under SIRA/Workcover, NDIS, DVA or ADF.
For further information regarding EMDR therapy, go to https://emdraa.org/emdr-resources/
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Joanne Azzopardi
Joanne is a Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience treating individuals with a wide range of psychosocial problems and disorders including: depression, anxiety (generalised anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, simple phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder), relationship issues, chronic pain, infertility, trauma (including sexual abuse), health related problems, personality disorders and grief.
Joanne worked in Adult Psychiatry at the Prince of Wales Hospital and has highly specialised skills in treating individuals with severe mental illness including psychosis, bipolar disorder and severe depression. Whilst at the Prince of Wales Joanne also did work for the Mood Disorders Unit which later evolved into the Black Dog Institute.
Joanne predominantly works within a cognitive behavioural (CBT) framework however she is skilled in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and also works from these modalities. Joanne has also been practicing Schema Therapy for over 10 years and regularly implements this therapy for clients requiring a longer term treatment approach.
In addition to clinical work Joanne has regularly provided supervision to intern Clinical Psychologists.
Joanne accepts referrals from GPs under a Mental Health Care Plan and provides services to clients accessing SIRA/WorkCover or Compulsory Third Party schemes, NDIS, private health insurance, and Hunter Primary Care.
Nelson Bay Allied Health 