Our Team At
The Willow Tree Clinic
The Willow Tree Clinic is a multidisciplinary team of occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists and support staff who always put the needs of their clients first. Each member of our team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to support children, adolescents and adults. Dedicated to helping all their clients thrive, our team works with you to deliver individualised services to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Our Psychologists
Sarah Griffin
Psychologist
Clinical Director
Read Sarah's Bio
Sarah is a registered Psychologist who brings an empathetic, caring, and client‑centred approach to her work. She is committed to building strong therapeutic relationships with individuals and their families, creating a nurturing and non‑judgemental environment where clients feel safe to work toward their therapeutic goals and create meaningful change.
Sarah has experience providing therapeutic support to children, adolescents, and adults through psychological therapy, assessment, and behaviour support services. She has supported clients with a wide range of clinical presentations, including Depression, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention‑Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Post‑Traumatic Stress, and trauma‑related concerns.
Her therapeutic approach is collaborative, holistic, and strength‑based, tailoring intervention to the unique needs of each client. Sarah draws on a range of evidence‑based modalities, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness‑based strategies, Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapy.
Sarah values creating a warm, supportive space where clients feel understood, empowered, and actively involved in their therapeutic journey.
Adam Keyes
Psychologist
Clinical Director
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Adam is a registered Psychologist who takes a person-centred approach, while also acknowledging the supports required for their family and their support team. Adam has extensive experience delivering therapeutic services to children, adolescents and families. Adam has provided therapy to clients who have experienced a range of complex environmental, psychological and/or developmental difficulties. As well as experience providing clinical guidance to management and support staff, developing behaviour management plans and administering psychological assessments.
Adam’s particular interests include, supporting parents to strengthen their attachments with their children, working with clients that have Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, and/ or experienced traumatic histories Adam also has extensive experience utilising psychological assessments to identify supports for clients to increase their overall wellbeing and reach their full potential.
Adam favourite thing about working at The Willow Tree Clinic is that it allows him to work within a multidisciplinary team that delivers high quality services. Adam uses the following modalities: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye-Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing and Narrative Therapy.
Amy-Lee Seward
Psychologist,Certified Theraplay® Practitioner/Trainer
Clinical Director
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Amy-Lee is a registered Psychologist and Certified Theraplay® Practitioner/ Trainer. She has experience supporting children, adolescents, adults and families, with a diverse range of mental health presentations and disabilities.
Amy-Lee graduated from The University of Newcastle in 2013. Her honours research focusing on suicide prevention was published in the ‘Journal of Clinical Psychology’. Amy-Lee has also completed post-graduate training in Applied Behaviour Analysis and Theraplay®. Amy-Lee works from an attachment-based framework and is passionate about strengthening the attachment relationship between a child and their parent/ caregiver. She has experience using Theraplay with children® and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma, to support them to develop and strengthen relationships with their parents/caregivers and reduce challenging behaviour.
Amy-Lee also enjoys utilising psychological assessment to guide treatment planning and intervention. She is focused on delivering clinical services through a client-centred and positive-based framework, with the goal of helping clients meet their needs. Amy-Lee uses the following therapeutic modalities: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye-Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), Theraplay®, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing and Narrative Therapy.
Andrew Serhan
Psychologist
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Andrew is a practicing Generally Registered Psychologist with a Bachelor of Psychology from The University of Newcastle.
Throughout his career, Andrew has demonstrated a commitment to providing therapeutic interventions to individuals and families grappling with a diverse array of psychological, environmental and developmental challenges. Specializing in working with adults and adolescents, Andrew has developed his knowledge and experience across various clinical, healthcare, and rehabilitation settings.
Andrew’s profession centres on empowering his clients to overcome an extensive spectrum of diagnostic presentations, including but not limited to; stress management, anxiety and depression, trauma, personality disorders, neurodivergent support, vocational conflicts, and substance abuse issues. Andrew is adept at conducting formal assessments for conditions such as ADHD, ASD, and intellectual disabilities, including providing support and tailored treatment plans post diagnosis.
Andrew is excited to work at The Willow Tree Clinic as it allows him to provide services he is passionate about and advocates for. He brings an honest, empathetic and light-hearted approach to therapy, where his core focus is the pursuit of improving the support and well-being for his clients. Andrew uses the following therapeutic modalities: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Brief Solution Focused Therapy (BSFT), Motivational Interviewing, Vocational Counselling and Narrative Therapy.
Angela Grant
Psychologist
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Angela is a registered Psychologist and has also completed a post-graduate Master of Teaching (School Counselling). Angela has experience in supporting a diverse range of clients who have experienced social and/ or mental health concerns. In her previous role within the Department of Education, Angela gained extensive experience providing therapeutic support to children and young people, parents/carers, teachers, and executive staff, as well as working collaboratively with various external health services.
Angela’s particular interests and clinical focus include individual counselling for clients experiencing general life stressors, depression, anxiety, self-harm & suicidal ideation, supporting parents to communicate/strengthen their attachments with their children and young people, and working with clients that have experienced trauma.
Angela’s therapeutic style is highly aligned with Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and considers the importance of Neuropsychological Integration (NPI) and psychoeducation, and her office is usually full of sensory items. She is also skilled in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Positive Psychology, Neuropsychological Integration (NPI) and general mental health first aid.
Angela’s main goal is to create a sense of safety and genuine connection that allows ‘us’ (client/therapist) to do our best to maximise your wellbeing or meet your therapeutic goals realistically and within the available resources. Angela is excited about working at The Willow Tree Clinic as it will allow her to more extensively deliver services that she is truly passionate about. She is focused on working from a client-centred and ACT-based framework, with the goal of improved wellbeing and general functioning for her clients/families.
Our Occupational Therapists
Samantha Hiles
Occupational Therapist
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Anna Doyle
Occupational Therapist
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Anna is a registered Occupational Therapist with a special interest in paediatrics. Anna graduated her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) from The University of Newcastle in 2020 and has worked in the paediatric setting since then. Anna enjoys connecting with others’ interests and learning and trying new things. Anna also values the expertise that caregivers have of their children and recognises the importance of collaborating with families, teachers and other health professionals.
Anna has experience supporting differing individuals, including those with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, cerebral palsy (CP), developmental coordination disorder (DCD, or dyspraxia), learning disabilities and sensory processing difficulties. She also has helped individuals with more specific functional goals, including improving sleep, handwriting, mealtimes, play/social skills and independence in daily routines.
Anna uses a play-based and relationship-based approach to establish a motivating and supportive basis for therapy. She has had practical training in the use of The SpIRiT© of Occupational Therapy, a clinical reasoning tool that assists in mapping out the underlying factors that impact a person’s functional challenges. Anna uses this to direct her problem-solving for therapy planning as needed. She is also a certified Circle of Security® Parenting™ (COPM™) facilitator, and incorporates these concepts within therapy sessions and caregiver collaboration, particularly when working with families of younger children. Anna also has training in using and recommending Quickshifts®, incorporating concepts of DIRFloortime® within therapy, and Sleep with Disability diaries and strategies for home.
Anna looks forward to getting to know individuals and their unique qualities, whilst focusing on improving the overall functioning, wellbeing and satisfaction of the family unit. She also endeavours to continue developing her clinical knowledge and therapy tools through professional development opportunities, refining her skills in supporting children with ranging occupational challenges.
India Bignall
Occupational Therapist
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India is a registered Occupational Therapist who graduated with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) from the University of Newcastle in 2021. Since graduating, she has worked exclusively in paediatrics, where her passion lies in supporting children and adolescents to achieve meaningful goals, build confidence, and pursue their interests. She is equally committed to empowering parents—helping them understand their child’s needs and create safe, loving, and joyful experiences together.
India enjoys using a wide range of therapeutic modalities to support children and families in ways that align with each child’s strengths, preferences, and family routines. She places strong value on parent involvement, offering practical education and strategies that can be embedded into natural environments to support ongoing progress beyond the therapy room.
India has experience working with a diverse caseload, including children with intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental trauma, sensory processing differences, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), anxiety, and developmental delays. She also supports children with everyday functional goals such as sleep, play, handwriting, toileting, emotional regulation, and increasing independence in daily routines.
Relationship‑building is central to India’s practice. She prioritises creating strong, trusting connections with children and their families and works collaboratively with teachers, health professionals, and other stakeholders to ensure each child receives consistent, holistic support. India is dedicated to fostering independence through teamwork, shared understanding, and meaningful, strengths‑based intervention.
Rebecca Mason
Occupational Therapist
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Rebecca graduated with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) from the University of Newcastle in 2025. She has experience across paediatric and community settings, supporting children and families to build participation, independence, and confidence in everyday life. Her previous work as a support worker and allied health assistant has strengthened her ability to embed therapy strategies into natural routines at home, school, and in the community.
Rebecca is passionate about helping children reach their full potential through playful, engaging, and evidence‑based therapy. She enjoys discovering each child’s unique strengths and interests and uses these to guide meaningful goals and intervention. Collaboration is central to her practice, and she values working closely with families and other professionals to create consistent, team‑based support.
She has experience supporting children with a range of developmental, sensory, and emotional regulation needs. Rebecca is excited to continue learning and growing within The Willow Tree Clinic team, helping children and families achieve positive outcomes and celebrating every success along the way.
Our Speech Pathologists
Jess Kiely
Speech Pathologist
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Jess is a certified practising Speech Pathologist who completed a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) degree at the University of Newcastle in 2017. Since graduating, Jess has gained experience working with infants, toddlers, children, adolescence, and their families with a range of disabilities including: Global Developmental Delay, Developmental Language Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Anxiety, Dyslexia and Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
Jess has experience delivering a range of evidence-based assessments and interventions with clients who have speech sounds disorders, language disorders, phonological awareness, literacy disorders, social language disorders and fluency disorders. Jess is certified in the following programs: Hanen – It Takes Two to Talk, Hanen – More Than Words, The Lidcombe Program, Sounds Write, Secret Agent Society and SOS Approach to Feeding.
She is passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to her clients and their families. Jess loves to make her sessions with clients engaging and fun by including each person’s own individual interests to ensure they enjoy their therapy as much as possible. She understands each child is unique and is developing at their own rate. Jess is adaptable and is willing to provide services in a range of environments depending on the needs of her clients and their families.
Jess has a kind and caring nature which allows her clients to feel comfortable and for her clients’ communication skills to continuously grow. Jess considers it a privilege to be able to watch her clients’ skills develop which significantly increases their self-confidence and ability to participate in their everyday lives.
Abbey McPherson
Speech Pathologist
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Abbey is a certified practicing Speech Pathologist. Abbey completed a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours Class I) from the University of Newcastle, receiving the Speech Pathology Australia Award. She is also a published academic researcher.
Abbey has a passion for supporting children on their communication and developmental journeys. Her play-based and family-centered approach ensures the unique interests and strengths of each client are always at the forefront. Abbey is committed to providing evidence-based and neurodiversity-affirming care, and values building strong connections with children and their families to foster greatest success in therapy.
Abbey enjoys working with infants, toddlers, children, adolescence, and their families across a range of areas including speech sound disorders, receptive and expressive language delays and disorders, literacy difficulties, feeding and mealtime challenges, voice disorders, fluency disorders, and social communication differences. She brings experience with various presentations including: Global Developmental Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Down Syndrome, Intellectual Disability, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, Developmental Language Disorder, and other learning and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Abbey has training in programs such as Hanen – More Than Words, Natural Language Acquisition and Gestalt Language Processing, ADHD Done Differently for Speech Pathologists, Inside Out Sensory Certificate for Speech Language Pathologists, Learn Play Thrive Approach, Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme, and Key Word Sign.
Passionate about inclusion and neurodiversity, Abbey looks forward to collaborating with families to empower them on their child’s communication journey. Her fun and caring nature is evident in her play-filled sessions, supporting children and their families to learn and grow in both skill and confidence.
Connie Close
Speech Pathologist
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Rebecca Johnson
Speech Pathologist
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Rebecca is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological & Brain Sciences from Colgate University and a Master of Speech Language Pathology from the University of Sydney.
Rebecca is dedicated to providing creative, inclusive care that reflects each individual’s interests, learning style and communication profile. She has experience supporting people with a range of cognitive, developmental and mental health presentations, delivering evidence-based assessment and intervention across speech, language, literacy, fluency, social communication and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
Rebecca takes a neurodiversity-affirming approach, honouring the identity, communication preferences and lived experience of those she works with while promoting autonomy, confidence and meaningful participation in the settings that matter most to them.
Rebecca has completed training in Sounds-Write First Rate Phonics, Liberator AAC Access, The Lidcombe Program, Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice & Advocacy, Sensory Integration and Dyslexia & Learning Disorders.
Rebecca strives to create a space where connection and collaboration are at the centre of care, ensuring her clients and their families feel safe, valued and empowered throughout every stage of their communication journey.
Lauren Hales
Speech Pathologist
Read Lauren's Bio
Lauren is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist with five years of experience supporting children, young people, and their families to become confident, capable communicators in the ways that matter most to them. She is deeply relationship‑focused in her practice, believing that meaningful progress happens when the whole family feels supported, understood, and involved. Lauren delivers evidence‑based assessment and intervention across speech, language, literacy, fluency, social communication, and functional communication.
Lauren enjoys working with children and families because each day brings fun, creativity, learning, and the occasional challenge that inspires growth. She is particularly passionate about building self‑advocacy skills in the early years and supporting social communication across all ages, recognising the importance of helping individuals develop the confidence to share their ideas, preferences, and opinions with the world. She also supports adults in developing and strengthening social communication skills, helping them navigate relationships, workplaces, and community settings with confidence and clarity.
One of Lauren’s favourite parts of working at The Willow Tree Clinic is supporting children and families to build effective communication and witnessing the growth that occurs as children become empowered, self‑advocating communicators.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys exploring Newcastle with her family — wandering through Blackbutt Nature Reserve, building sandcastles, riding her bike, or visiting local art galleries.
Our Admin Team
Charli Mitchell
Administration
Georgia Hutchings
Administration
