About Our Psychologists

Lyn Shand - Psychologist, Family Therapist & Mediator

B.A., Dip Ed., Grad Dip Psych. M.A.P.S & Member of V.A.F.T.

Lyn has much experience working with couples & relationship issues. She can also assist in mediation with couples who have decided to separate, so as to lessen negative effects on children. As a family therapist, Lyn also assists adolescents and parents, and those adults with family of origin problems. She has expertise in career counselling, career change and aptitude testing.

Lyn has a special interest in women's health, taking a holistic approach. She has wide experience in working with hormonal problems such as Pre-menstrual tension, Post-natal depression and Menopause, as well as helping with stress from various causes. Lyn has written a book called Balance Those Hormones and often talks to groups on this topic. She is registered with Victims Referral & Assistance Service, Medicare, TAC & Workcover.

Kerryl Beissel - Psychologist

B.Sc. (Hons - Psych.), M.A.P.S.

Kerryl has experience in counselling for a wide range of personal and relationship issues. Her areas of work include management and treatment of anxiety, stress and depression, and assistance in dealing with the effects of difficult past experiences including abuse. She has expertise in the area of burnout recovery for those in workplaces and in ministry.

Kerryl can provide counselling for the enhancement of relationships, including for couples. She has conducted group programs for parents and can assist with parenting issues. Kerryl aims to assist people to grow through times of transition or crisis and to find new or renewed ways of approaching life. Kerryl is registered with Medicare, TAC and Workcover.

John Andersen - Psychologist & Family Therapist

B.A. Dip Psych., M.A. M Sc. Member of V.A.F.T.

After completing graduate studies in the United States, John worked as police counsellor with the Police in Los Angeles, followed by work as a marriage and family therapist in a Christian counselling centre in Nebraska. John specialises in relationship counselling including: marital, stepfamily/blended family issues. Individual counselling includes: depression, anxiety, sexual addiction, sexual abuse and addressing men's issues.

John has a systematic approach to counselling based on marriage & family therapy, which focuses on finding new solutions, on changing long-standing patterns in a person's life, and changes in meaning and behaviour, with an emphasis on the present, while not ignoring the past. John is also registered with Medicare.

Melanie Birch - Psychologist & Trauma Therapist

BA, BBSc(Hons), Cert Pastoral Psychotherapy, Cert & Adv. Cert Trauma Therapy. M.A.T.T., M.A.P.S.

Melanie worked in the field of organisational development for 10 years before training as a psychologist and trauma therapist. She has now been practising in this area for 8 years. The principal focus of Melanie's work is the treatment of trauma, loss, grief and depression. She specialises in treating clients who are feeling sadness, confusion, fear, anger, sudden mood swings, sleep disturbances, anxiety, crying or who feel emptiness. Melanie works with her clients in a gentle way to relieve their distress and help get their life back on track. She also currently lectures in trauma at a Melbourne theological college.

Melanie is registered with Medicare, Workcover, TAC, Victims' Referral & Assistance Service and is an accredited counsellor with the National Association of Loss & Grief.

Sylvia B. Werba - Psychologist

B.Ed. (Psych.), T.Sp. T.C., M.A.P.S.

Sylvia has worked in private practice and in a broad range of schools as a psychologist. In this role she has assisted students, their parents and families, as well as the school communities, in addressing various social, emotional, behavioural and learning issues. Sylvia also has an interest, and extensive experience in psycho-educational assessment for students of all ages - including those at VCE level. She combines her qualifications in the areas of special education and psychology, to provide valuable diagnostic information, support and advice, thus ensuring that all students are assisted to achieve their maximum potential.

Sylvia also has considerable experience in supporting students with special needs, including Autism and Aspergers Syndrome.

Sylvia's other areas of interest include family conferencing, self-esteem and confidence-building, social skills, decision-making, stress, mood disorders and solution-focused counselling. She uses an empathic and eclectic approach, and strongly believes in the importance of a positive client/counsellor relationship. Sylvia is also registered with Medicare.

Edwin “Eddy" Kleynhans - Psychologist

M.A. M.A.P.S. (member of Health Psych. College)

Eddy has been a registered psychologist for 25 years. He has also been registered with the Dutch Psychological Society, with Dutch being his second language. In Australia, he has been providing Employee Assistance Programs to organisations, often travelling interstate to consult with clients. He is an ex-president of E.A.P.A.

His expertise in private practice includes working with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. Clinical areas of his practice cover trauma & critical incident debriefing, WorkCover, career counselling, substance abuse, eating disorders and weight loss, depression, phobias, self esteem, relationships and mediation, management and stress.

He adopts an eclectic approach with the main focus being on cognitive behaviour and solution-focused therapies. He is a keen proponent of a healthy lifestyle and is involved in his local parish. Eddy is registered with WorkCover and Medicare.