Meet Our Clinicians

Dr Kim Stirling

Clinic Director & Clinical Psychologist

“Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued” ~ Brene Brown

Kim works across the lifespan (childhood to adulthood)

Clinical areas of interest:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders
• ADHD
• Adjustment Disorders
• Agoraphobia
• Anger Management
• Autism
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder
• PTSD
• Depression and mood disorders
• Emetophobia
• Excoriation Disorder (skin picking)
• Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
• Grief and Loss
• Health Anxiety
• Perfectionism
• LGBTIQ+ Mental Health
• Body Image
• Eating Disorders (16yo+ only, if medically stable)

Areas of interest specifically within Perinatal Psychology:

• All presentations listed above
• Birth Trauma
• Late termination
• Trying to conceive
• Parenting skills and confidence
• Perfectionism in parenting
• Pregnancy after miscarriage
• Pregnancy loss
• Stillbirth

Therapy Modalities:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Mindfulness
• Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
• Habit Reversal Training (HRT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Metacognitive Therapy (MCT)
• Trauma Focused CBT (TF-CBT)

Kim obtained her Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons) from the University of Queensland, and her Doctor of Clinical Psychology and PhD from the University of Sydney. Throughout her training and career to date, she has worked in research-based clinics, inpatient hospitals, outpatient services within community settings, a multidisciplinary non-government organisation and now private practice since 2020. Kim was previously the Principal Psychologist at OCD Clinic Brisbane before transitioning to Clinic Director role at Foundations. She works with clients of all ages, with particular interest in coexisting neurodivergence (e.g. ADHD, ASD), and perinatal mental health.

Kim’s therapeutic style is open, compassion-focused, and flexible. She formulates clinical presentations using a CBT lense and then applies therapy modalities flexibly as indicated by the formulation and treatment goals. She enjoys supporting her clients in not only reducing symptom severity and functional impact of their challenges, but in reshaping behavioural patterns in their broader life to create more meaningful experiences and a stronger sense of self moving forward to support relapse prevention.

Clinical Note: Kim is a STAP trained supervisor.

My career started in child developmental and behavioural research where I found a love for supporting families and providing evidence-based early intervention in the hopes of changing the developmental trajectory for young people. A major outcome of my PhD research was the importance of supporting the mental health of parents within the context of early intervention for the child. Since becoming a mother myself and throughout my many years of clinical practice, I have developed a passion for supporting people in their adjustment to parenthood. My hope is to provide a space where my clients feel seen, heard, and experience compassion in my approach to treatment.

Outside of the clinic, I am an imperfect mum to two young children and a floofy golden retriever. We love camping, being by the water, and lazy afternoons watching cartoons on the couch.

Catiray (Cat) Poiani-Cordella

Clinical Psychology Registrar

Cat works with new parents at any stage of their journey from family planning to early years of parenting.

Clinical Areas of Interest:

• Anxiety Disorders
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Adjustment Disorders
• Neurodivergence (ADHD/Autism)
• Bipolar
• Complex PTSD
• Cross-cultural issues
• Depression
• Domestic Violence victims
• Grief and Loss
• Chronic Pain
• Health Anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Performance Anxiety
• Personality Disorders
• Relationship Difficulties
• Self esteem
• Sexual assault victims
• Sleeping Disorders
• Social Skills
• Suicidality
• Trauma and PTSD

Areas of interest specifically within Perinatal Psychology:

• All presentations listed above
• Birth Trauma
• Late Termination
• Trying to Conceive
• Parenting Skills
• Pregnancy after Miscarriage
• Pregnancy loss

Therapy Modalities:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Mindfulness
• Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
• Trauma Focused CBT (TF-CBT)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Cat graduated from Monash University in 2014 with a Bachelors of Arts (honours) in Psychology and Swinburne University with a Masters in Clinical Psychology in 2022. Cat has worked in trauma-based settings supporting youth and adult survivors of sexual assault and developed an innovative group program in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence and Eating Disorders supporting sexual assault survivors who displayed disordered eating. Cat also has experience with supporting clients within inpatient and outpatient oncology settings and community mental health setting. Cat has presented at the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders (ANZAED) conference and has publications to her name. Cat is a member of the Australian Psychology Society (APS) and has sat as Secretary and committee member of the Perinatal and Infant Psychology Interest Group at the APS.

Nidhi Gupta

Senior Clinical Psychologist

“Having a baby is a psychological revolution that changes our relationship with almost everyone and everything” ~ Esther Perel

Nidhi works with parents and adult clients. She has limited availability for couples’ therapy.

Clinical Areas of Interest:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Functional Neurological Disorder
• ADHD
• Adjustment Disorders
• Agoraphobia
• Anger Management
• Anxiety Disorders
• Bipolar
• Complex PTSD
• Cross-Cultural Issues
• Depression and mood disorders
• Dissociative Disorders
• Domestic Violence victims
• Emetophobia
• Excoriation Disorder (skin picking)
• Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
• Gender Identity/Dysphoria
• Grief and Loss
• LGBTIQ+ Mental Health
• Health Anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Performance Anxiety
• Personality Disorders
• Psychosis
• Relationship Difficulties
• Schizophrenia
• Sexual Assault Victims
• Tic/Tourettes Syndrome

Areas of interest specifically within Perinatal Psychology:

• All presentations listed above
• Birth Trauma
• Parenting skills

Therapy Modalities:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Mindfulness
• Schema Therapy
• Solution-Focused Therapy
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
• Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)
• Psychodynamic

Nidhi is a Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years of clinical experience in private, public, prison mental health and school settings with children, adolescents, and adults. She takes a tailored approach to therapy, utilizing a range of evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Schema Therapy among others.

Nidhi is also a trained EMDR Therapist and Board Approved Supervisor.

Nidhi provides therapy for 16+ years age group. She is experienced in treating anxiety disorders (social anxiety, specific phobias, generalised anxiety disorder and OCD), depression, grief/loss, chronic pain/illness, and trauma. Nidhi is a gender affirming and neurodiversity affirming practitioner.
Nidhi prides herself on building strong therapeutic relationships with her clients and delivering collaborative and person-centered therapy to support her clients through their life challenges.

Clinical Note: Nidhi is a STAP trained supervisor.
Languages Spoken: English, Hindi

I experienced this adjustment during my Matrescence (the developmental passage of becoming a mother) and that is why I am passionate about supporting parents who are experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, or overwhelm. As a parent, I understand parenting at any stage can be challenging whether you have good or little support around you. As a Clinical Psychologist my extensive training (CBT, ACT, Schema and EMDR) and wide experience of public and private mental health helps me to support people in reaching their goals and feeling empowered in their journey towards well-being. I believe in co-regulation, “good enough” parenting, and being kind to yourself.

Dr Tory Dax

Clinical Psychologist

“You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging” – Dr. Brene Brown

Tory works with children and their parents

Clinical Areas of Interest:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• ADHD
• Adjustment Disorders
• Agoraphobia
• Anger Management
• Anxiety Disorders
• Autism
• Depression
• Emetophobia
• Family Systems
• Grief and Loss
• Hoarding
• Needle Phobia
• Health Anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Performance Anxiety
• Relationship Difficulties
• School Behaviour Management
• Self Esteem
• Specific Phobias
• Trauma
• Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
• Parenting Skills

Therapy Modalities:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Mindfulness
• Schema Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)

Tory is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). She completed a Doctorate of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) at Monash University. She has worked in community, correctional and private settings across the lifespan.

Tory works with a wide variety of clients but has a particular interest and expertise in anxiety (separation anxiety, SAD, GAD, EBSA, OCD, phobias), parenting challenges and parenting anxious children. She has a passion for working with children, young adults and their families. Tory’s therapeutic style is genuine and compassionate, focused on collaboratively defined goals and building connection through creativity and humour.

I believe all parents are doing the best they can with the resources they have. There’s no single manual on how to be the perfect parent. I support children and parents in managing big emotions, anxiety, transitions in family systems and overall parenting challenges. Without judgment or blame, I work with families to improve wellbeing, and build secure attachment. With your child, my goal is to provide a safe place where no worry is too big to say out loud.

Andrea Parkyn

Clinical Psychology Registrar

“A parent is made at the very moment a child is thought of.”

Andrea works across the lifespan (children and adults)

Clinical Areas of Interest:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• ADHD
• Adjustment Disorders
• Anger Management
• Anxiety Disorders
• Autism
• Depression
• Emetophobia
• Excoriation Disorder (skin picking)
• Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
• Grief and Loss
• Hoarding
• Needle Phobia
• Chronic Pain
• Health Anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Performance Anxiety
• Relationship Difficulties
• School Behaviour Management
• Selective Mutism
• Self-Esteem
• Social Skills

Therapy Modalities:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Mindfulness
• Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)

Andrea is a Clinical Psychology Registrar with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and a member of the Australian Psychological Society and College of Clinical Psychologists. She has experience in education, inpatient, community-based and private practice settings.

Andrea takes a strengths-based, feedback informed approach to therapy, and brings warmth and authenticity to the therapy space. She is collaborative and evidence-based in her approach to treatment, drawing from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and systemic approaches.

Becoming a parent is something absolutely new for any person. I experienced a profound identity shift when I found myself simultaneously changing careers, having my first baby, and becoming a stepmum. Since that time, I have been driven to continuously learn and work in the space of supporting children and families, and it is incredibly rewarding to witness the ripple effect of even small changes within families, and the wider systems in which they live and function.

Outside of my work I enjoy dance, reading, escapes to the Sunshine Coast, and watching the unfolding of my tweens through to young adults.

Jade Maurer

Senior Clinical Psychologist

Jade works with older children, adolescents and young adults

Clinical Areas of Interest:

• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Self-harm and suicidal ideation
• School refusal
• Selective mutism
• ADHD
• Autism
• Adjustment Disorders
• Agoraphobia
• Emotion regulation
• Emetophobia
• Grief and Loss
• Learning difficulties
• Health Anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Performance Anxiety
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Friendship difficulties
• School Behaviour Management
• Self Esteem
• Social Skills
• Substance/Alcohol Use
• Trauma and PTSD

Therapy Modalities:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Mindfulness
• Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)
• Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)

Jade is a Clinical Psychologist, who obtained her Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons) and a Master of Clinical Psychology at Griffith University Gold Coast. She has 15 years clinical experience, supporting children, adolescents and parents.

Jade builds a comfortable and easy working relationship, by engaging with young people in a warm, gentle and humorous way. She appreciates the opportunity to build an authentic, open and trusting therapeutic environment where adolescents can explore their emotions, values, goals, relationships and identity. 

Jade draws from her experience with various treatment modalities (including Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) to tailor a treatment plan specific to your young person and family. She collaborates with families to find workable solutions to family challenges; prioritising the relationship between parents and their young people and enjoys supporting families long-term.

Clinical note: Jade is a STAP trained supervisor

Over many years of supporting families, I have developed deep compassion for adolescents navigating their journey through the many transitions into young adulthood. Whether they are starting high school, preparing for senior school, beginning university or TAFE, or entering the workforce. For parents, it can be a whirlwind of emotion – from worry and frustration to joy and pride. I value supporting parents as they navigate the evolving dynamics of raising teenagers and finding confidence in their changing roles. 

With two boys of my own, I spend many hours cheering on the sidelines of soccer fields, having Pokemon battles and cooking.

Dr Emily O’Leary

Senior Clinical Psychologist

“Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” – C.S. Lewis

• Perinatal and postpartum OCD
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in children
• Anxiety Disorders
• Health Anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Psychosis
• Depression and mood disorders
• Parenting stress and overwhelm
• Childhood anxiety

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Schema Therapy
• Mindfulness-based approaches

Rhiannan Luke

Admin Supervisor

At Foundations, Rhiannan brings over five years of experience in allied health administration, primarily within the private psychology sector as well as NDIS allied health providers. She has experience in senior reception roles, supporting both clinical teams and clients with professionalism and care.

Rhiannan is dedicated to creating a warm, welcoming, and well-organised environment for clients and their families. With a strong understanding of client-focused service and efficient practice operations, she plays a key role in ensuring the centre’s day-to-day operations run smoothly while supporting positive client experiences from the very first phone call.

Dr Kim Stirling

Clinic Director 

As Foundations Clinic Director, Kim brings a wealth of clinical and management experience from her career to date. She is passionate about providing not only a high level of clinical care, but a warm, inclusive environment within the clinic space.

As Clinic Director, Kim is dedicated to establishing service streams that provide a holistic approach to diagnostics and therapy for the whole family and where each member of the family is welcomed and supported.

For clinicians working within the Foundations team, Kim is passionate about nurturing their clinical confidence via access to a range of peer supervision opportunities and in-house continued professional development to ensure that clients have access to the best quality care.

Dr Emily O’Leary

Managing Director

With over 17 years of experience, Emily is widely recognised for her leadership in the treatment of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Her passion for perinatal mental health was shaped early in her career while working at the Mothers and Babies Unit in New Zealand.

It was there that she developed a deep appreciation for the complex needs of new parents and the importance of early, specialised support. She has a particular interest in postpartum OCD and psychosis—presentations that are often misunderstood yet deeply distressing for those affected.

She remains committed to improving awareness and ensuring compassionate, evidence-based care is available during this vulnerable time.

Kym Geier

Group Operations manager

Peter Hanbury

Chief Financial Officer

With a Diploma of Business Management and over two decades of experience in finance and business development, Peter brings a strong commercial focus to his role.

He is known for aligning financial strategy with operational goals to support sustainable growth across the clinics.

Peter has held leadership positions in a range of industries, where he played a key role in driving performance and building organisational capability.

Peter is committed to supporting services that make a meaningful impact in the community.