Counsellors, their Qualifications and the Legislation.
Karinya’s counsellors and psychologists are all qualified, registered with their professional body and Christian. They are also selected for their experience and personal gifts in relating with and responding to a diverse client base.
Karinya complies with all legislation regarding the professional conduct of its staff, volunteers and counsellors. This is maintained by applying a number of measures to ensure the safety of all clients and children in their care; including Working with Children Checks and Police Checks.
Kathy Smith
B.A. Psych., PostGradDip Psych., MAPS
Kathy has worked as a Psychologist for the last 15 years in varied roles and is experienced in providing psychological counselling for a range of life concerns including depression, anxiety, stress and relationship difficulties.
Kathy is most interested in assisting people who are seeking to heal from negative experiences and move into living more fully.
A Medicare rebate is accessible for those accessing counselling with Kathy with a Mental Health Care Plan and referral from a G.P.
Vicki Hughes
B Arts(psych), BSc (Hons) (psychophys) Grad Dip (Couns), Grad Cert (Soc. Sci Family Therapy).
Vicki has been counselling for 8 years in a variety of settings ranging from schools, churches, and community based centres. Whilst having experience in a wide range of clinical issues, she particularly enjoys working with the spectrum of eating disorders, OCD, trauma, and family of origin issues. She is registered with the Australian Counsellors Association at Level 2.
Ruth Walker
B.Sc. (Psych), B.Ed. (Pastoral Counselling) Cert. Past. Counselling, CCAA (Clinical) PACFA Reg. CCAA (Reg. Supervisor)
Ruth has an extensive background counselling and teaching. She has been counselling for many years, leading seminars and wellness programs. Her area of interest is the wide range of hurt that people struggle with and also anxiety and depression.
Ruth is experienced in crisis debriefing and mediation and does some life coaching. She is a clinical counsellor and supervisor registered with CCAA and PACFA
Maureen Ireland
Masters in Counselling, Grad Dip Couns., Dip. SFT, Certified Focusing Professional, Trained MBTI, Couple Counsellor, Mediator.
She has been counselling for 28 years, runs workshops and supported the profession for 9 years as President of CCAA. She likes working with Couples, Families, communication, sexual issues, depression, anxiety and supervision and groups. She has specialised training in Focusing which opens up ways of listening to the body and learning from what it has to teach us. She is a Clinical Counsellor with CCAA and PACFA, and registered Supervisor.
Annette Turnbull
BA (counselling) MA (Pastoral Counselling), CCAA(Clin), PACFA Reg
Prepare and Enrich Facilitator
Annette is married to Michael; they have four married adult children and ten grandchildren.
Annette has special interest in relationship and personal counselling for individuals, couples, adolescents and children.
Issues include: grief/loss, self-esteem, anxiety, depression and anger management.
Annette is a Prepare and Enrich Educator and debriefing facilitator for aid/mission workers. She offers children’s Play Therapy.
Karen Macaulay
BA (Counselling), Dip. Counselling and Family Therapy, CCAA Registered
Currently completing Masters in Family & Systemic Therapy.
With a trauma informed approach, Karen has extensive experience counselling young people who present with a wide range of issues. Counselling in a school setting for 10 years, she has a particular interest in counselling adolescents, families, couples and individuals. A wide range of therapeutic approaches are drawn upon including person centred, narrative, solution-focused and family system therapies; a wholistic approach that respects the impact of life circumstances on mind, body and spirit. Personal growth and development are stimulated as she encourages and attends to her clients.
Faye West
BA Christian Couns, Grad Dip Couns, Dip Teaching (Primary), Specialist Bereavement Cert, CCAA (Clin/Supervisor), PACFA Accredited Supervisor.
Faye has worked with children and adults in both individual and group settings. She has specialized training in Play Therapy, grief/bereavement and Expressive Therapies including Sandplay Therapy and Symbol Work.
Faye has a particular interest in identity, finding meaning in grief/loss, childhood abuse, life transitions, cross-cultural challenges, behavior issues in children, parenting and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is committed to supporting and empowering clients as they discover new perspectives on their life stories.
Faye grew up in East Africa and has adult children and grandchildren.
Erica Purcell
BA (Counselling)
Erica is beginning her career as counsellor with Karinya in 2021. She has a passion for supporting people to thrive in their own lives.
She enjoys working with individuals, both adolescent and adult clients, working with a diverse range of issues.
She works with an eclectic approach to counselling with a range of influences including person-centred, narrative therapy, solution focussed therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy.
Administration
Janelle Brooks
Certificate IV in Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care, Diploma in Human Resource Management
Janelle joined Karinya in October 2020 and prior to that was working as a Finance & HR Manager for a boutique consultancy firm. She has a wide range of experience, having worked in a variety of industries including dental, media, insurance and retail. Janelle lives with her husband and 2 teenage daughters and is very active in her local church.
Maggie Wong
Bachelor of Social Science, Certificate III in Business Administration
Maggie migrated to Melbourne with her family about 12 years ago. She has experience in office administration in social work and community services overseas and locally. She has joined the team at the office at Karinya since mid-2019.
Technology Support
Nicholas Yap
B Econs. CPA
Studying in Australia in the early 70’s, Nicholas came to the Lord through the ministry of the Overseas Christian Fellowship during his Monash University days.
Since 1987, Nicholas has served the Lord in various Christian Organisations in Finance & Administration.
Nicholas is married to Tess and worships at Rowville Baptist Church as well as attending Crossway regularly in recent days.
He has 3 grown up boys, two are married with children and the youngest just recently graduated as a Secondary School teacher.
Cliff Varcoe
Cliff has experienced over 50 years in a very diversified technical career in the telecommunications industry. Since retiring from paid work, Cliff assists the Karinya team members and the Syndal Baptist Church in the areas of Information Technology, telecommunications, and security systems.
Cliff happily applies his skills in this area as a form of “Ministry Enabler” to allow the various ministries to focus on their specialist work without unnecessarily overusing their time managing their PCs and tools.
