Bondi Junction

Hi I’m Paul and I’m a Youth Access Clinician here at headspace in Bondi Junction. I am a Provisional Psychologist and my job is to help and support young people when they first come to headspace. I have been fortunate to work for multiple headspace centres along with a background working in rural and remote mental health, working with Indigenous Youth and LGBTIQA young people.

I can understand that coming to see a counsellor can be daunting, particularly if is your first time seeing a professional, therefore my style is informal and casual  to help make you feel relaxed but also empowered about seeking professional support. Generally for your first appointment we will sit down and have a yarn about things that have been going on for you, chat about the kinds of supports you feel you need and work out a plan from there. At headspace we understand that many young people have many different needs and therefore we try and accommodate for those through our services and programs we offer. We may talk about linking you in with our GPs, sexual health nurses, Psychologists or family workers.

Hi, I’m Jenna and I’m a Senior Clinician/Psychologist here at headspace Bondi Junction. Seeing a psychologist can feel pretty daunting at first but most people find they feel comfortable by the end of the first session or two. That first step can take a lot of courage though, so I have a huge amount of respect for all the young people that walk through our door.

In the past I’ve worked in the disability sector, out of home care (with young people who have experienced homelessness or severe problems at home), and with survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Many of the young people I meet with at headspace are experiencing a couple of different problems – from arguments at home to trouble at school. There can be a huge range in the severity of these problems. However the one consistent thing is that it’s always better to see us as soon as possible. No problem is too big or too small – and even if it doesn’t feel like it now, by working together we can often see improvements in your circumstances pretty quickly. 

Hi, I'm Nikki, and I am a senior clinician.

I’m Chris and I’m the Exercise Physiologist here at headspace Bondi Junction. Mental health and physical health go hand in hand. Coming into headspace helps you take good care of your mental health so my job is to make sure young people are looking after themselves from a physical point of view also. I have been fortunate enough to work across multiple headspace sites and see the positive impact exercise can make on young people and just how much it can improve their happiness.
Our first session is all about having a chat and seeing where you’re at in terms of health and fitness and then deciding what your goals are. From there, I can help with goal setting, nutrition, sleep advice and, of course exercise.
Exercise and physical activity should be something you enjoy so sessions are always based around what you are interested in and your specific goals. We keep things as fun and light hearted whilst ticking off some big achievements.
I work here Wednesdays and Fridays, and appointments can be made through the front desk on 9366 8800 or e-mail: headspacebondijunction@health.nsw.gov.au

Hi I’m Karen and I’m a GP. I’m here on a Tuesday and you might come to see me or one of the other wonderful GPs here if you have any concerns about your wellbeing at all. GPs can work closely with your YAC or counsellor if you are having some help for your mental health, or you can come and see us just for a check up if you’d like! Adolescence is a time of rapid change and sometimes it’s hard to work out what’s happening to your mind or body and our job as youth friendly GPs is to provide a safe space and a resource for you to be the healthiest and happiest possible. I’ve been involved in helping set up the Bondi Junction headspace and have worked with many young people in many different settings over the years and I also help out with teaching medical students and GP Registrars. Our service here is bulk billed on Medicare and we do our best to make sure any other medical costs you may incur such as tests or prescriptions are as low cost as possible.

I'm Mary and I'm a GP here at headspace Bondi Junction. I'm available for young people who need any medical advice or treatment. Of course your mental health is very important to me but so is your general health and well-being. What I love about headspace is that it provides a GP service that is welcoming and nonjudgmental. Sometimes young people have health issues that they feel uncomfortable talking to their parents or regular family doctor about and we are here to help in those situations. I can also help you navigate the many resources that are available to you at headspace. We are a team here and I can work closely with other staff members, such as the counsellors, so that it's easier for you to get the help you need.I work on Thursdays and there is also a GP here on Tuesdays. All consultations are bulk billed, so all you need is a Medicare number. If you don't have one, we can help you organise one. Appointments can be made through the front desk once you've had an initial chat to one of our intake people on 9366 8800 or email: headspacebondijunction@health.nsw.gov.au

Hi, our names are Maria, Jane and Colleen (left to right) and we’re specialist sexual health nurses at headspace. We know that sometimes talking about sex stuff might be embarrassing or scary so we want to reassure you that our clinic is a safe and private place where you can come to talk freely and get information and help. As well as doing STI, HIV and hepatitis testing and treatment, we can explain the latest HIV prevention methods and medications like PREP and PEP. We can also do pregnancy tests, give out the ‘morning after pill’ and talk about the right contraception for you. To visit the clinic just drop in during clinic hours on  Monday 1-5pm or Wednesday 2-6pm and ask to see the sexual health nurse (or Satellite clinic).  No appointment or referral is needed. Our service is free and you do not need your Medicare card to visit us. 

Hi, I’m Simone and at headspace I am available as a Family Counsellor. I am able to provide counselling to a whole family or part of the family. This can be really helpful when families are arguing a lot, using anger in unhealthy ways or having trouble communicating. Young people tell me that when life at home is really difficult, it can then become difficult in other parts of their life and other relationships. Family counselling provides a safe opportunity to explore what’s bothering a young person and their family as the Counsellor helps to bring calm to discussions and helps family members to explore feelings and thoughts and look at different ways of responding to situations or feelings. Parents and their children often want to be the best they can be but sometimes things get in the way such as learning some unhealthy ways of expressing thoughts and feelings in their childhood. Lots of families have family counselling now and find it beneficial. I work at another organisation called Centre 360 Youth and Family Service as a Family Counsellor and then come to the wonderful team at headspace every Tuesday.

I have been to University and studied nursing, counselling and psychotherapy to obtains degrees in these areas and also hold a Masters of Counselling. I’m really passionate about continuing my learning so that I can offer the best to my clients.

If you feel that Family Counselling is for you, then call headspace and our very helpful Youth Access Clinicians can see you first and help you make a plan around your needs. 

My work focuses on people who often have problems with:

• Depression: feeling down, numb, not motivated
• Anxiety: worrying about the future, feeling panicky, anxious around people
• Video games & technology: excessive or compulsive use of video games which is a barrier to daily life
• Relationships: things not going well with friends, family, or issues at school/work place
• Coping with feelings- the whole range of them!
• …and many, many more.

In our sessions, it will be a space where you will be listened to, supported and challenged to remove obstacles from the road you’re on. I am interested in the story of where things are now, how they came to be, and how we can work together to overcome problems whether they be mountains, or molehills.  I am consistently amazed by the strengths that young people carry within them and look forward to sharing in your unique journey as a fellow traveler.