About us
Kare Psychology is a private psychology practice with a duty on providing a high quality service for all clients. Kare Psychology provides counselling, treatment and assessments to a wide-variety of individuals throughout Melbourne.
Kare Psychology has been operating as a Group Private Practice since 2015, providing counselling and mental health assessments to our community. Kare Psychology has a shared VISION: to provide an evidence-based, best-practice psychological service to children, adolescents, adults and families within a professional, caring and welcoming environment. It is this vision that serves as the foundation for our daily practice, enabling us to remain steadfastly focused on providing mental health care that is streamline, accessible, affordable, and reliable. We ensure this vision and mission is shared by our clinicians and supporting staff to guarantee a consistent and coherent approach that adds value to the experience of our clients while enhancing their overall functioning.
Kare Psychology defines the culture and customer experience in terms of our Core Values.
Core Values
- Deliver Through Service
- Drive change
- Pursue growth and learning
- Build Open and Honest Relationships with partners, referrers and clients
- Build a Positive and Empathic team
- Do More with less
- Embrace, Empower and Lead
- Meaningful practice for equal outcomes
- Bottom Up (Marries Top Down)
At Kare Psychology we:
– use a
– strive to provide a calm and secure therapy environment to reduce the level of distress client’s often report feeling when seeing a psychologist. We achieve this through the use of specially designed therapy rooms and match
– are committed to helping people improve their mental health and well-being, enhancing their relationships, improving daily functioning, and improving learning outcomes for children and adolescents.
MARIA KAREFILAKIS
Clinic Director
Maria Karefilakis, our clinic Director and principal psychologist has a Masters in Educational and Developmental Psychology. Maria has extensive experience working in private practice with children, adolescents and adults presenting with a range of psychological issues including depression, anxiety, behavioural difficulties, and developmental and learning disorders. Maria has a special interest in ADHD, executive function and learning disorders. Maria is available for face to face and telehealth appointments.
EXPERIENCE & SPECIAL INTERESTS
Maria had experience in assessing and treating the following conditions;
Academic and learning difficulties
Behavioural difficulties
Mood difficulties ( depression, bipolar disorder)
Anxiety Disorders
Parenting (psychoeducation, developing strategies)
Developmental Disorder
Maria has a special interest working with anxiety disorders, educational and learning difficulties, developmental disorders and self-confidence.
Maria is a member of the national board of the Australian Psychological Society and an endorsed psychologist in Educational & Developmental Psychology.
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Maria has a strong knowledge base and skill set in evidence based psychological therapies, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy. She has also delivered therapy in the format of group programs including Seasons – a program for children and adolescents that have experienced loss and grief – and also co-facilitating an anxiety program for children.
Maria also provides psychological services within the primary and secondary educational setting, particularly in various assessments – including cognitive, psychoeducational and achievement – and therapy.
Maria adopts a warm and client-centred approach when working with her clients. She aims to consider the person she is working with, within the context of their overall needs and lives.
Jamie Maserow
PSYCHOLOGIST
Jamie is a warm and caring general practitioner with a Masters in Professional Psychology. She is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society and has had experience working with children, adolescents and adults in non-for profit organizations as well as in school settings. Jamie is part of our school assessments team and not available for individual therapy.
EXPERIENCE & SPECIAL INTERESTS
Jamie has worked with a diverse range of presenting issues. In particular, she has a special interest in the well-being and development of young people in our community.
She enjoys conducting educational and behavioral assessments including ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder and other learning issues.
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Jamie uses a strength based, holistic approach with all clients and consistently aims to create a safe and nurturing therapeutic environment. She utilizes evidence-based psychological therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness in order to achieve and maintain positive outcomes
Dr.SIMONE GINDIDIS
PSYCHOLOGIST
Simone is a registered psychologist and PhD Candidate in Educational and Developmental psychology. Simone’s research investigates the experience of psychologists and adolescents using apps in therapy. A former Apple employee trained in the technical support of devices and software as well as in the facilitation of individual and group training. Simone is part of our school assessments team and not available for individual therapy.
EXPERIENCE & SPECIAL INTERESTS
Simone has considerable experience working with primary and secondary schools and is trained in Cross-Battery Assessment of cognitive and academic abilities.
Simone’s interests include:
• Autism Spectrum disorder
• Learning difficulties
• Cognitive and academic achievement assessment
• Behavioural difficulties
• Anxiety
• Social skills
• Positive parenting
• Parental separation
• Sleep difficulties
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Simone ensures a flexible, responsive approach to providing evidence-based psychological services. She is sensitive to cross-cultural issues, fluent in both English and Greek.
Simone is an Associate Member of the Australian Psychological Society, and former representative of the National Committee of Educational and Developmental Psychologists.
She is also a facilitator of the Signposts for Building Better Behaviour training program.
DR LYDIA SOH
Psychologist (on leave)
Dr Lydia Soh is a registered psychologist with a Master and PhD in Educational Developmental Psychology. She is experienced in working with children, adolescents and their families from a range of cultural and social backgrounds. Lydia has a keen interest and understanding of the assessment and diagnostic processes of Specific Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has also presented at professional conferences about her scholarly interests in cognitive ability theory, and it is her belief that understanding the full cognitive profile of strengths and weaknesses is paramount in ensuring best outcomes for a child’s academic learning. Lydia is part of our school assessments team.
EXPERIENCE & SPECIAL INTERESTS
Lydia draws from a range of therapeutic models in her practice, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, play therapy, and mindfulness-based strategies. She is passionate about being in the child’s corner, and acknowledges the value of involving important stakeholders such as parents and teachers in the therapeutic process. Being able to equip children and their parents with a toolkit of life skills is a privilege that Lydia values highly, and she is grateful for the opportunity to work with people from all walks of life.
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Outside of her clinical work, Lydia enjoys reading Harry Potter (for the umpteenth time), sweating it out in the gym, and spending time with friends, family, and her pets.
Emily Kirsh
PSYCHOLOGIST
Emily is a registered psychologist with a Master in Educational Psychology and is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society. She is experienced working with primary and secondary school systems to support young people with social, emotional and/or learning needs.
EXPERIENCE & SPECIAL INTERESTS
• Cognitive strengths and weaknesses
• Intellectual Disability
• Specific Learning Disabilities, including Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Behavioural Difficulties
• Mood Difficulties
• Anxiety
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Emily enjoys conducting Cross-Battery Assessments to gain a full understanding of the young person.
Jessica Haines
Psychologist
Jessica Haines is a registered psychologist who has extensive training in counselling and conducting psychological assessments for social, emotional, learning, attention, and behavioural difficulties. Her approach is compassionate, non-judgemental, and collaborative. Jessica has completed a Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology at Monash University. Jessica is part of our school assessments team.
EXPERIENCE & SPECIAL INTERESTS
Jessica has experience working with a variety of client ages and presenting issues within private practice and school settings. She has special interests in prevention and intervention of the difficulties experienced by children, adolescents, young adults, and their families. Such difficulties include anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, self-esteem, social challenges, and diverse learning needs. Jessica’s client-centred approach integrates frameworks such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), solution-focused approaches, mindfulness and relaxation, and play-based approaches – depending on what best fits the client. Jessica conducts comprehensive assessments which provide practical evidence-based strategies tailored to the client’s needs.
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Jessica strives to create a space of acceptance and empowerment to help clients explore their challenges and collaboratively identify ways of increasing wellbeing. She aims to help clients identify and draw on their strengths. Jessica believes that clients are the experts in their lives however she can offer guidance and support based on her specialist expertise. She is constantly updating her knowledge of psychological frameworks, strategies, and research to best help her clients.
Our Locations
Fitzroy North
468 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy North, VIC 3068