Psychologists

A dedicated and specialist team of psychologists matching structured evidence-based interventions to individual's needs and complexities in the clinical delivery of targeted psychological support services to adults, adolescents and children. 

Robert Thomson

Psychology Unit Team Leader

Robert is registered as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).  

Robert sees adult and child clients and is committed to assist each with their individual issues, including depression, anxiety, relationships and trauma, using appropriate evidence-based treatments.

Locations: RelateWell Centre, Coburg

Lyvia Govinden 

Lyvia is registered as a Provisional Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is completing a Master of Professional Psychology through Cairnmillar Institute. Lyvia will be registered in June 2022. 

Lyvia is also a Sexologist and has a keen interest in working with both individuals and couples in mental health issues relating to relationships, sexuality and sexual identity.

Locations: RelateWell Centre (Coburg) & Belle Vue Park Primary School & co-located maternal & child health centre

Rebecca Fakhri

Rebecca is registered as a Provisional Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is completing a Master of Professional Psychology through Cairnmillar Institute. She has worked with a vast range of individuals of different ages and background and particularly enjoys working with children and families.

Rebecca will be registered in July 2022. 

Locations: Springvale Service for Children & RelateWell Centre Coburg

Provisional Psychologists

Anthony Shahat

Anthony is registered as a Provisional Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is completing a Master of Professional Psychology through Cairnmillar Institute. Anthony is a student member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).  

Anthony has experience working with complex cases including, psychotic, anxious, and depressed presentations as well as substance abuse issues, acquired brain injuries and intellectual disability.  Anthony has experience working with adults and is keen to start working with children.

Anthony is trained in motivational interviewing and mindfulness-based techniques and is training in cognitive-behavioural therapy and acceptance commitment therapy.  

Anthony has been registered since December 2021. 

Location: Belle Vue Park Primary School & co-located maternal child health cetnre

Elaine Mong

Elaine is registered as a Provisional Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is a student member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). She is currently completing a Master of Professional Psychology through Cairnmillar Institute.

Elaine enjoys working with children and is also keen to work with couples, parents and families. Having had experience working with children on the autism spectrum, Elaine believes in adopting a holistic and person-centred approach whilst integrating evidence-based strategies to support her clients.  

Location: Springvale Service for Children

Counsellors & Psychotherapists 

A team of appropriately trained and experienced counsellors performing significant in-depth therapeutic work with clients using various therapeutic approaches.

Madeleine Anbar

Family & Relationship Services (FaRS) Unit Team Leader

Madeleine has graduated with a Masters of Counselling from Monash University and is a member of the Australian Counselling Association.

Madeleine has experience working with individuals, couples and families in a wide range of areas, including anxiety, depression, anger-management, self-esteem, stress management and interpersonal issues.

Madeleine particularly enjoys working with clients in the perinatal space and has a strong focus on the importance of the development and maintenance of healthy relationships between couples and families. 

Madeleine is a registered Circle of Security ParentingTM Facilitator. 

Locations: RelateWell Centre (Coburg), Wardens Walk Maternal Child Health Centre (Coburg), Brunswick West Maternal Child Health Centre & Springvale Service for Children (Springvale)   

Amanda Sacco

Amanda is a placement student in her final year of Master of Counselling at Monash University; she has a student membership with the Australian Counselling Association.

Amanda has experience working with client’s experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression and working with adults and adolescents facing a range of issues including anxiety, depression, bullying, self-esteem, and family difficulties.

She utilises a person-centered approach with her clients through cognitive behavioural therapy and other evidence-based approaches.

Location: RelateWell Centre (Coburg)

Colleen Reilly

Colleen Reilly is a Counsellor and Psychotherapist. She completed her Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy at Cairnmillar Institute and her Couple and Relationship Studies and Internship at Relationships Australia.

Colleen specialises in working with couple and relationship issues, and also has extensive experience in anxiety and panic disorders; loss and grief; low self-esteem; mild to moderate depression; stress management, and finding purpose and meaning in life. 

Colleen is a trained Emotion Focused Therapist, but depending on the needs of her clients draws from skills-based approaches such as Mindfulness and CBT. She often provides useful practical reading material to broaden the understanding of specific issues for her clients.

Her focus is on being fully present with you, in an empathetic, calming and non-judgmental space.

Colleen is passionate about her work with people and is delighted to be a team member at RelateWell.

Colleen Reilly is registered to accept referrals for Therapeutic Supports under the NDIS at Coburg and Springvale Service for Children

Colleen is an Adult Educator / Facilitator of relationship courses at RelateWell.

Location: RelateWell Centre Coburg

Haiwen Cai

Haiwen is a current placement student doing a Master of Counselling at Monash University. She did her Bachelor and Honors' degree with a major in psychology at the University of Melbourne, which nourished her with an in-depth knowledge about mental health and human wellbeing.  

Haiwen has long been enthusiastic about working with different vulnerable client groups, especially with young clients and their families. Due to her previous work experiences in hospitals, Haiwen is genuinely committed to ongoing learning; wanting to offer evidence-based help for populations in need.

Locations: Belle Vue Park Primary School & co-located maternal & child health centre.

Relationship Educators

Colleen Reilly

Lisa Shuck

Lisa is an experienced Adult Educator / Facilitator of relationship courses at RelateWell.

Location: RelateWell Centre Coburg