Thrive Counselling Hub

Thrive Wellness Hub

With a focus on individual counselling, relationship therapy and EMDR, our counselling team draws on evidence-based tools to help you work through life’s many challenges. Led by counsellor and psychotherapist, Tracy Lynch, our qualified and experienced team take a heartfelt, client-centred approach to create a safe space for healing.

We help support:

Depression

Anxiety

Stress

Grief

Relationship Issues including mediation

Trauma

Chronic Illness

Parenting

Low Self-Esteem

Life Transitions

Emotional Dysregulation

PTSD

Counselling - Thrive Wellness Hub

Our therapeutic approaches

  • Gottman Couples Therapy
  • Acceptance Commitment Theory
  • Emotional Focused Therapy
  • Clinical Hypnotherapy
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Imago Therapy
  • Resource Therapy
  • Mindfulness
  • Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Art Therapy
  • Family Systems Therapy
  • Strength Based Therapy
  • Ego State Therapy
Thrive Wellness Hub

Meet our team

Melanie Zammit

Counsellor

Appointment Type: Face to face and Online
Works with: Couples and Families
Working Days: Wednesday

James Dean

Counsellor

NOT CURRENTLY TAKING NEW CLIENTS

Thrive Wellness Hub - Catherine Hickson Practitioner

CATHERINE HICKSON

Psychotherapist/EMDR Therapist

Appointment Type: Face to face and Online
Works with: Individuals and Couples
Working Days: Varies

MIMI BLOOM

Counsellor

Appointment Type: Face to face and Online
Works with: Teens and Adults
Working Days: Tuesday

TONI KNIGHT

Counsellor/Hypnotherapist/EMDR

Appointment Type: Face to face and Online
Works with: Teens and Adults
Working Days: Monday to Friday

KYLIE GALLAHER

Hypnotherapist / Psychotherapist

Appointment Type: Face to face and Online
Works with: Teens and Adults
Working Days: Monday to Saturday

CASSIE WELLS

Counsellor

Appointment Type: Face to face and Online
Works with: Adults, Teens and Adolescents
Working Days: Varies

Gabrielle lawrie

Relationship and Sex Therapist

Appointment Type: Face to face and Online
Works with: Individuals and Couples
Working Days: Varies

Frequently asked questions

Thrive Wellness Hub

No, you don’t need a referral to make an appointment. Fill in the contact form below to make a booking. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours. Or call our Hub on (02) 4031 4241.

Yes, we currently offer telehealth appointments. Let us know your preference when making your booking so we can provide a link to the online appointment.

Our waiting period for new clients is only one week. As we have a growing team of counsellors, we’re able to fit in more clients, helping you access support sooner.

Individual counselling costs between $145-$220 per session. This is comparable to the Medicare gap you’d pay with most clinical psychologists. 

Couples counselling costs between $170-$220 per session. This applies when couples see a therapist together or as individuals in the context of the relationship.

There is no cancellation fee if you notify us more than 24 hours before your appointment. If less than 24 hours’ notice is provided, you’ll be charged 50% of the appointment fee (unless it’s an emergency). Read our cancellation policy [link] for more information.

Contact us for an appointment

MELANIE ZAMMIT

Melanie Zammit is a qualified and experienced Counsellor / Psychotherapist, Mediator and Facilitator.

Melanie holds the following qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Business
  • Graduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy
  • Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy & Strategic Psychotherapy
  • Gottman Therapy Level 2
  • Graduate Diploma Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner 
  • Nationally Accredited Mediator 
  • Registered with the Attorney General Department


With over 14 years experience in the helping industry, Melanie is the lead therapist at The Beginnings Institute specialising in the journey of relationships through counselling, coaching, mediation and facilitation. As a level 2 Gottman trained therapist Melanie brings expertise and commitment to couples who are maybe stuck, confused, searching for new ways of being together and looking for support on their journey.

With a passion for helping others Melanie sees the world through a relational lense and believes we learn the most about ourselves when we experience ourselves in relationship with others whether that be friendship, family, associate, intimate partner. Melanie is able to hold the space for couples, families and groups to explore behaviours and patterns that may no longer be working for them and to create healthier connections.

Melanie’s warmth and highly approachable manner sets her apart. First impressions will always reveal a relatable, broad life experience (professional and personal) and an instantly engaging approach to conversation.
Her professional therapy skills are complemented with a strong natural empathy and a passion for supporting understanding and communication.

Melanie provides a non-judgmental space for clients to explore and to challenge themselves to reveal all of the resources, talents, gifts and opportunities existing within them and how to put these into practice in their everyday life.

As former General Manager of a communications agency, Melanie also brings 20 years of experience in the business sector with a strong background in marketing and management at a senior executive level. This assists her in understanding that many of her clients lead busy lives with many burning priorities and ensures that the environment is relaxed but that your time together is efficient, relevant, and beneficial.

Melanie is passionate about helping people and about the industry she represents. Melanie brings up to date qualifications, industry membership, diligent supervision and continuing professional development to her practice. Melanie is a member of PACFA and adheres to the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics.

Melanie is a mother, a family member, a friend, an active member of her community. She enjoys time outdoors and at the beach, meals with friends and family and any chance she can to get away for a short break and a new perspective.

Thrive Wellness Hub - James Dean Practitioner

JAMES DEAN

James completed his Master of Counselling in two areas: Relationships and Crisis & Trauma. He is a registered counsellor with the ACA and CCAA.

In his career James has trained in a number of fields however his focus has always been on serving others. As a Rescue Paramedic he experienced the joy of delivering babies, the reward of saving lives, and the honour of sitting with people as they breathed their last. James left the Ambulance Service to train as an Exercise Physiologist and worked with children, athletes and the elderly. He especially enjoyed his opportunity to work with the Australian Olympic Swim Team. James then moved into the field of personal injury which found him supporting people who had experienced serious workplace injuries. He observed that the greatest injury was often to the person’s emotional well-being. Physical wounds usually heal but the emotional scars run deep and have lasting impacts upon their closest relationships.

James and his wife, of more than 30 years, are marriage coaches which has seen them working with couples to prepare them for marriage as well as running weekend seminars to invigorate tired marriages and help good marriages become even stronger. The area of love and relationships is a particular passion for James, and he is constantly researching and adding to his skills in this area.

Overall, James has found that the key to being effective in each of his roles has been to listen and to remain present with each person in moments of joy as well as in their deepest pain. James often says “I won’t ask what is wrong with you. I desire to know what hurt you and then journey with you to find your healing.”

Thrive Wellness Hub - Catherine Hickson Practitioner

CATHERINE HICKSON

Catherine is a highly skilled and experienced counsellor and clinical supervisor. Her natural warmth, rapport  and empathy along with her non-judgemental approach support her passion for helping people through change and difficult situations…. “I will work with you at your pace on your terms.”

Catherine provides treatment for trauma, stress management, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, grief and loss, adverse childhood experiences, eating disorders, drug and alcohol dependency, gambling, compulsive shopping, relationship difficulties, anger management, low self worth, lack of self confidence, trust issues. 

The initial session with Catherine  will focus on getting to know you, understand your situation and explore how you got to be the way you are…. « Let’s find out what has happened to you. »

In subsequent sessions Catherine will focus on underlying negative beliefs and experiences that are causing you distress. When you feel ready  she will guide you very safely through proven therapeutic processes to clear, heal and restore your sense of confidence and wellbeing.

“Trauma, distress and imbalance sit in the body as well as the mind and brain. It is essential to work on all levels simultaneously to change thought patterns, neural pathways and behaviours.”

 Catherine uses Resource Therapy and EMDR, two psychodynamic therapies that support the mind/brain in activating its natural healing process. All Catherine’s work is supported with mindfulness, relaxation practices and positive resourcing. 

« If you want to make changes in your life, if you are sick of feeling anxious, depressed, uncertain, dissatisfied, addicted – if life feels overwhelming – come and talk about it and together we will explore what you really want, what is stopping you, and how to make progress towards your needs and goals.  What are you ready to change today?” 

Catherine is a mother, grandmother, artist, teacher, yogi, lover of nature, loyal friend. 

Appointment type: face to face and online

Works with: individuals, couples, teenagers

Working days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Qualifications and training: Bachelor Communications, Grad Dip Education, Grad Dip Counselling, Clinical supervision, Clinical Resource Therapy, Advanced EMDR, Attachment Focussed EMDR, Imago Couples Therapy, Emotional Freedom Therapy, Hatha Yoga and Meditation Instructor.

Registered member: ACA Level 2, EMDRAA

MIMI BLOOM

Mimi Bloom is an experienced counsellor and psychotherapist who works with both adults and adolescents in a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, anger, depression, ADHD, interpersonal and relational issues, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, social anxiety, bereavement, PTSD and trauma, domestic violence, addiction, OCD, and sexual abuse. She trained in the UK, completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), later following this with a Postgraduate Diploma in Hypnotherapy from the Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy and Counselling. She has an interest in meditation and yoga, recognising how important the mind-body connection is to wellbeing and emotional health, and in this way likes to work holistically with clients. She is currently completing yoga-instructor training, and looks forward to being able to offer one-to-one yoga sessions, with a focus on the use of yoga for mental health and wellbeing, later this year.

Mimi Bloom grew up in Melbourne, Australia, but relocated to the UK to continue studies in opera and vocal performance. Having worked for a while as an opera singer, she retrained as a counsellor and undertook studies at the Manchester Counselling Training Centre and later at The University of Salford. Mimi moved to Newcastle at the beginning of 2022 from Manchester where she owned a successful private practice. She is excited to now be a part of Thrive Wellbeing.

At the heart of Mimi’s practice is the warm and genuine therapeutic relationship she achieves with her clients, which develops from the therapeutic conditions she offers; warmth and acceptance, a willingness to understand her clients from their point of view, and a commitment to be genuine and honest in all of her interactions. Although person-centred therapy is at the core of her practice, she also offers clients other modalities including CBT, Internal Family Systems (parts work), EFT (tapping), and hypnotherapy, often combining these to tailor a unique and individual way of working with each client.

Qualifications and training:

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Distinction), University of Salford
  • Postgraduate Certificate in CBT (University of Salford)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Hypnotherapy (Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy and Counselling)

Toni is a counsellor, hypnotherapist, and EMDR therapist who specialises in treating anxiety, trauma and burnout.

Having graduated with a four-year degree in psychology, Toni has worked for more than 15 years in government, and non-government counselling roles, including 10 years of private practice.

Toni also holds diplomas in hypnotherapy and strategic psychotherapy, crisis management, and injury and illness prevention and management. She has completed comprehensive training in EMDR and is a member of The Australian Counselling Association and an Advanced Clinical Member of the Australian Hypnotherapy Association.

Toni facilitates workshops on promoting resilience and preventing burnout and is currently writing a book on this important subject.

She delivers two highly effective programs, in addition to her individual EMDR and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) work.

The first is her Accelerated EMDR program. Her clients have made profound, positive changes to their lives in just one week of longer, intensive EMDR sessions by reprocessing traumas, unhelpful beliefs and the difficult feelings that they trigger.

The result? The past tends to feel more distant and neutral, unhelpful beliefs and feelings are upgraded, and the person is able to live a more values-centred, satisfying life without those old blocks getting in the way of what matters most.

The other program that Toni delivers is called Stop Self Sabotage. This five-session program uses some of the most powerful tools in psychology, including hypnosis, to remove significant obstacles to achieving important life goals as well as to recover from burnout.

Toni is passionate about teaching the key to resilience and flourishing – to enhance a personal resource called Mindful Self-leadership. This asset enables people to live assertively and consciously according to their values and priorities.

When she’s not counselling, presenting and writing, Toni likes to play ukulele, hang with her husband and daughter (preferably at a beach) and stay as fit as possible.

KYLIE GALLAHER

Kylie Gallaher is the owner and principal therapist of Newcastle Clinical Hypnotherapy.

Kylie is a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Strategic Psychotherapist, Gordian Pillars Strategic Psychotherapist, and certified NLP practitioner. 

Kylie is passionate about supporting a person’s journey to achieving real freedom from anxiety and anxiety related issues by offering truly empowering cognitive skill development and compassionate support along your journey. 

She is motivated by the practical, effective and empowering nature of how Strategic Psychotherapy and Clinical Hypnosis support real life changes rapidly.  She believes the combination of a personalised strategic treatment plan and evidence-based knowledge are a strong partnership for an effective therapy experience.

Kylie has experience working with teens and adults of all ages who experience social and general anxiety, supporting them to be better versions of themselves as they move into adulthood, empowering them to make better decisions and experience the life they strive for.

Kylie has a special interest in the treatment of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and has worked with children 9+ and adults with ARFID and other eating disorders.  She has a lived experience with ARFID, which is at the heart of her special interest in the treatment of eating disorders and helping people improve their relationship and experiences with food and eating.

To support this, Kylie also has clinical training in eating disorder treatment in Australia and specialised treatment training in 4Rs Protocol, developed by UK Chartered Psychologist, Felix Economakis, who is acknowledged as one of the world’s most proficient SED/ARFID practitioners. She is also trained in Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) for Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED).  Kylie is also completing certification in Gut Directed Hypnotherapy (completion October 2023) for the treatment of Tiers 1, 2 and 3 gut issues and conditions.

Qualifications and training: Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Strategic Psychotherapy, NLP Practitioner Certificate, 4Rs Protocol, Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, Coaching Resilience, Re-thinking Depression and Process-Oriented Hypnosis, Certified Gut-Directed Hypnotherapist (Oct 2023), Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) (March 2023), Masters of Business Administration (MBA)

Cassie Wells

Cassie is a qualified counsellor and has worked within the
Community Services sector for over 7 years  in areas of; 

  • Child Protection, 
  • Family and Domestic Violence, 
  • Teens and Adolescents,
  • Women’s mental health (Trauma, Grief, Anxiety,
    Depression, attachment to your child, parenting struggles), 
  • Parenting programs.


Cassie has always been passionate about helping people and whilst studying encountered many life challenges including divorce, job loss, recurrent miscarriages, pregnancy after loss, ectopic pregnancy, and coming to terms with her own mental health issues of depression and anxiety. 

With these life events happening Cassie has a special interest in the stages of infertility, pregnancy and perinatal period.

Cassie is passionate about offering a space where you can openly explore the challenges you are facing along with your feelings. You will be heard and provided a safe place to
explore and share your fears and worries.

Cassie is available at Thrive on Thursday but also offers walk-and-talk therapy, along with online counselling.

Cassie is a mother and enjoys time spending with family and friends and spending time
outdoors.
 

Appointment type: face to face and online

Works with: Adults, Teens and Adolescents

Working days: Thursday


GABRIELLE LAWRIE

Gabrielle Lawrie has been a committed and passionate Relationship & Sex therapist for 14yrs who is highly recommended in our google reviews for creating a safe, non-judgemental environment where couples feel immediately at ease and understood, thus able to understand their partner or relationship issues in ways they haven’t before, which can bring enormous relief as they work to heal some of the following issues –

  • Unhealthy conflict resolutions styles
  • Issues with jealousy, perfectionism, control
  • Coping with in-laws, blending step families, the empty nest
  • Mismatched libidos
  • Childhood attachment triggers / trauma
  • Loneliness caused by different love languages, parenting styles etc
  • Resentment from poor distribution of household responsibilities
  • Burn out caused by work, life balance difficulties when raising young kids
  • Relationship ambivalence (Too good to leave or too bad to stay?)
  • How to reignite passion in a sexless marriage
  • How to reconnect when you feel like flatmates running a childcare centre
  • Recovery and rebuilding trust after an affair
  • Inability to set healthy boundaries
  • Getting the love and respect you deserve
  • Low self-esteem, self-abandonment, self-care
  • From co-dependence to interdependence
  • Breaking the demand withdraw cycle
  • Coping with ADHD and ASD differences in partner or kids
  • Relationship ambivalence (should I stay or should I go)
  • How to break up in a healthy way and build a good co-parenting relationship
  • Support for LGBTI, Alt, Traditional, open, poly or LATs couples
  • Couples sexual functioning effected by back injury, radical prostatectomy, mastectomy, MS, Erectile dysfunction, vaginismus, premature ejaculation, performance anxiety, dyspareunia, STIs, HIV, Endometriosis, PMDD, a partner transitioning, resentment blocking sexual desire, childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, sexual harassment /bullying in the work place

And she has worked with individuals in the following areas –

  • Escaping toxic relationships safely
  • Recovery from unhealthy relationships
  • Rebuilding self-worth, self-respect and secure attachment
  • Recognizing red flags and unhealthy dating patterns
  • Finding and building attraction to healthy partners with secure attachment styles
  • Planning for a baby with or without a partner
  • Maintaining a healthy relationship and understanding the phases (from honeymoon to interdependence if these weren’t role modelled in your childhood)
  • How to overcome negative body image, low libido, performance anxiety
  • Depression and anxiety caused by loneliness
  • Understanding why a partner cheated or left them
  • How to heal a broken heart


Alongside Gabrielle’s work in private practice she has also worked at Relationships Australia as a workshop facilitator running groups like Parenting after separation, Men & Relationships, Self-esteem & Communication, Women, Choice and Change (DV recovery) and as a health promotion officer at ACON LGBTI health, Lifeline as a suicide prevention counsellor, in High schools running Healthy Relationship skills programs for teens, facilitated workshops at Newcastle university for Sexual Health weeks and she does regular radio segments on Relationship and Sex Therapy issues on Newcastle Live radio.com as she has done in the past for Got Your Back Sista.

On top of this Gabrielle gets plenty of healthy relationships skills practice with her lovely partner of ten years and their beautiful 4yr old and 7yr old boys, where they navigate how to parent with ADHD and ASD in the mix, which seems to bring comfort to other parents experiencing the same growth opportunities, whilst they still manage to go camping with friends, enjoy backyard BBQs around the pool with their extended family followed by weekend escapes with good bushwalks, books and board games.

Gabrielle has her Masters in Sexology from the university of Sydney (CBT, SFBT, Narrative therapy), followed by training in Gottman Couples therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy and Resource therapy.

Appointment type: Face to face

Works with: Individuals and couples

Working days: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday