Emma-Rose Parsons
Director / PsychologistEmma-Rose opened Spectrum House in 2008, creating a space for young people to access quality psychological support.
She works with children, youth and their parents/guardians and is passionate about increasing a family’s quality of life, by offering Education, Understanding and Skills for Life.
Taking a person-centred, solution-focused, practical and evidence based approach, Emma-Rose tweaks her approach to suit her client’s needs.
Emma-Rose provides supervision for other psychologists and presents at schools and community organisations for professional development. To work with Emma-Rose or to discuss workshop opportunities for your school, please email [email protected]
Ellie Gwyther
PsychologistEllie is a registered psychologist who has a passion for helping children and adolescents navigate the rollercoaster of life! As they say laughter is the best medicine, she likes to add a sprinkle of humour into the serious business of growing up!
Ellie has experience working in a variety of settings, including primary and senior schools, as well as the cosy corners of private practice. She likes to blend the brainy with the bubbly; armed with evidence-based techniques, Ellie takes a relaxed, creative, and collaborative approach when diving into the unique worlds of her clients and tailors therapeutic approaches to suit specific needs.
At Spectrum House, brains are celebrated in all their marvellous glory! Ellie takes a neuro-affirming approach, embracing the fantastic diversity of minds and acknowledging individual differences, interests, and needs. Whether working therapeutically with clients or completing comprehensive assessments, Ellie’s goal is to increase understanding and acceptance, and celebrate her clients for their uniqueness. When it comes to neurodevelopmental assessments, Ellie is on a mission to uncover strengths and craft strategies to support her clients thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
When Ellie is out to play, she can be found enjoying the company of her family, friends, and dog (Fred), travelling, appreciating good food and wine, or cheering on her beloved blue boys at the ‘G’.
Nia Thavapalan
Educational and Developmental PsychologistNia has specialist endorsement as an Educational & Developmental Psychologist.
Having a decade of previous experience in educational settings, not for profit organisations, and paediatric multidisciplinary settings, Nia is a passionate and creative practitioner who adopts a person-centred, strength-based approach while incorporating evidence-based therapeutic frameworks such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Play-Based Therapy tailored to her clients’ needs, preferences and personalities. She is also passionate about neuro-affirming practice and is dedicated to empowering young people with the skills to help them function to their fullest potential.
Nia also has a special interest in assessing autism, ADHD, ID, and Specific Learning Disorder (SLD), as well as supporting young people presenting with social, emotional, and behavioural challenges. Through assessment, Nia aims to provide a holistic understanding of her client’s needs, and provides individualised, evidence-based support strategies to parents, school personnel and their multidisciplinary team, to enhance outcomes for her clients.
Beyond work, Nia enjoys staying active, sharing quality time with her family and friends, and travelling.
Alex Shilton
Clinical PsychologistAlex is a kind and compassionate clinician who brings warmth and empathy to create a safe and inclusive therapeutic space. She adopts a collaborative approach, focussing on individual strengths to guide her clients in exploring their sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Alex is a registered Clinical Psychologist, with foundations in contextual behavioural sciences, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and CBT. Alex helps individuals navigate their inner thoughts and emotions, empowering them to take action towards the lives they want.
Her experience within the public mental health system has equipped her to assist people managing challenges such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis. Alex also has a special interest in neurodivergence, trauma, and concerns related to body image and disordered eating.
Working alongside families and schools, Alex is very passionate about helping children and adolescents thrive in all areas of life.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two young boys, often playing cars! She cherishes weekend getaways to country Victoria seeing family, and appreciating the wide open space and fresh air. Another favourite past time for Alex is playing or supporting various sports.
Megan Fielding
PsychologistMegan completed her Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) at Australian Catholic University.
Megan has a special interest in providing comprehensive psychological assessments including assessments for, but not limited to Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism, intellectual disabilities (ID), and specific learning disorders (SLDs). Megan aims to provide a holistic understanding of her client’s needs which provides individualised, evidence-based support for clients, parents, teachers and school to assist her clients.
Megan has experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families in a range of settings including primary school, not-for-profit organisations, and private practice. Megan aims to provide individualised evidence-based treatment plans tailored to each clients strengths and needs. She has experience in a variety of developmental and socio-emotional challenges such as learning, attention, social and behavioural difficulties, emotion dysregulation, anxiety, depression and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Matt Smith
Provisional PsychologistMatt completed his bachelor's of Psychological Science (Honours) degree in 2021 at the Institute for Social Neuroscience (ISN). Having an enduring passion for mental health and wellbeing, Matt is now very excited to be working at Spectrum House as a Provisional Psychologist.
Matt undertakes a creative and collaborative approach in helping children, adolescents, and young adults to understand their thoughts and feelings, assisting them to reach their highest potential. Matt adapts his treatment to each individual’s circumstance and unique personality, ensuring every client receives the most appropriate care. Therapeutic methods Matt delivers include CBT, psychoeducation and other evidence-based strategies.
Matt provides comprehensive psychological assessments with the aim to assist his client in understanding themselves and their needs. Through these assessments, individualised evidence-based support strategies can be utilised by parents and teachers alike to further support the client’s needs.
In his spare time Matt loves the company of friends and family, whether it be by the campfire with marshmallows or at the table with a boardgame. Matt enjoys creative hobbies such as painting and animating, and absolutely adores his family kitten Maisy.
Elysia Thomas
Provisional PsychologistElysia (she/her) is a provisional psychologist with a special interest in internalised and masked presentations of Autism & ADHD, as well as giftedness, twice-exceptionality (2e) & multi-exceptionality.
She also welcomes working with young people exploring gender identity, queer identity, feeding and eating challenges (including ARFID), body image concerns, and/or eating disorders. Elysia also works with parents for neuroaffirming parenting sessions.
Elysia conducts comprehensive ADHD, Autism and Cognitive assessments with a neuroaffirming lens, supporting positive self worth, identity and autonomy & a well-resourced path forward for a young person and their loved ones.
A proud neurodivergent person, Elysia is gentle, warm, energetic and uses humour in session. She provides person centred, lived-experience informed and trauma informed care. She is passionate about advocacy & supporting a young person within their family, school, and other systems.
Elysia is the National Manager (Clinical) & a Board Member for the not-for-profit organisation Eating Disorders Neurodiversity Australia (EDNA) and has previous experience facilitating workshops and talks in the area of weight neutral, person-centred, body image support. She is currently in the process of becoming ANZAED & NEDC accredited as an Eating Disorder Clinician after having undertaken significant training on interdisciplinary management of eating disorders such as Anorexia (including Atypical Anorexia), Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, ARFID & EDNOS (eg. Orthorexia).
Elysia is also a parent of a toddler and spends the majority of her non-working time enjoying playing at the park or bouncing on trampolines with her child, or engaging in creative practices that bring her joy such as songwriting, singing, watercolour art or reading fiction.
Elysia currently works Mondays & Fridays.
