OUR PSYCHOLOGISTS
Janelle Nichols - Psychologist & Director
Janelle Nichols, locally known as Nel, is the founder and director of COCOON, formerly known as HUON VALLEY PSYCHOLOGY. Nel lives locally and has supported adults, adolescents & children in the Huon for over 20 years. She supports people to live their best life, and is often described as grounded, authentic, relaxed and friendly . Her life ambition is to hold kindness at her core, especially when challenged. Nel works collaberatively with clients, and is interested in helping people gain clarity and direction, through exploring current and past difficulties and unveiling subconscious factors influencing thoughts and feelings. During sessions Nel listens and provides space; along the way, she shares insights, knowledge and guidance. Nel assists people experiencing a range of difficulties including:
Nel loves hometime with her family, border collies, cooking a vego meal, getting her hands dirty in the vege patch and dreaming about travelling with her family, in their coaster, Myrtle the Turtle. Outside work you might see Nel running around the Huon, exercising with the Huon Spirits and balancing at Bikram Yoga.
- anxiety, panic and specific phobias,
- depression, hoplessness, and grief,
- trauma, dissociation, and derealisation,
- health or physical impairments (incl NDIS participants)
- gender identity and sexual identity,
- multiple and dissociative personalities,
- interpersonal conflicts, psychodynamics and attachment needs.
Nel loves hometime with her family, border collies, cooking a vego meal, getting her hands dirty in the vege patch and dreaming about travelling with her family, in their coaster, Myrtle the Turtle. Outside work you might see Nel running around the Huon, exercising with the Huon Spirits and balancing at Bikram Yoga.
Bethany Smith - Clinical Psychologist
Bethany is a caring and compassionate registered Clinical Psychologist with 15 years experience working with adults and adolescents. Bethany believes person-centred therapy, with a focus on building rapport and trust, is essential to assist people reach their goals. Bethany draws upon several evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), in her work to understand the complex issues people face in lif
Bethany uses strategies from these approaches to assist her clients to build upon their skills and address their needs in therapy. Bethany has experience providing care and support to people with the following concerns:
Bethany studied at the University of Adelaide and completed her Master of Psychology (Health) in 2009. Since then Bethany has worked in government, not for profit organisations, and private practice in Melbourne and Hobart, including:
To make anappointment contact Bethany directly
Phone: 0473 611 479
Email: [email protected]
Bethany uses strategies from these approaches to assist her clients to build upon their skills and address their needs in therapy. Bethany has experience providing care and support to people with the following concerns:
- Mood issues including, depression and adjustment to challenging life situations
- Anxiety and stress management
- Self esteem
- Grief and loss
- Experiences of trauma
- Managing chronic health conditions, including diabetes, chronic heart and lung disease, and pain management
- Anger management
- Transgender and other identity based challenges
Bethany studied at the University of Adelaide and completed her Master of Psychology (Health) in 2009. Since then Bethany has worked in government, not for profit organisations, and private practice in Melbourne and Hobart, including:
- The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (Melbourne)
- Southern Health (Melbourne, hospital setting)
- Relationships Australia Tasmania
- headspace Hobart (youth focus)
To make anappointment contact Bethany directly
Phone: 0473 611 479
Email: [email protected]
Tina Richter - Psychologist
Tina has worked in counselling and social services for over 15 years and has been a registered psychologist for over 10 years. Originally from Germany she has called Australia home for half her life now, and has lived in the Huon Valley since 2014.
Tina loves supporting people in sharing and reflecting on their experiences, finding meaning and insight, and help people achieve their goals.
Tina can assist adults with the following issues:
In Tina’s experience and perception, psychology and mental health permeate all aspects of our lives, so it can be hard to ‘get away from work’. However, Tina loves travelling, and bushwalking and being in nature. She is also an avid reader (always open to book recommendations from clients!), and loves languages speaking German, English, some basic French – and most recently she attempted to learn Dutch.
Tina is available at Cocoon on Fridays. To arrange an appointment please contact her directly :
Phone 0476 313 914
Email: [email protected]
Tina loves supporting people in sharing and reflecting on their experiences, finding meaning and insight, and help people achieve their goals.
Tina can assist adults with the following issues:
- General wellbeing, stress, and burn-out
- Depression and/or bipolar disorder
- Anxiety
- PTSD and trauma
- Grief and loss, including following a family separation
- Relationship issues, couple counselling
- Loneliness, hopelessness, life stage issues
In Tina’s experience and perception, psychology and mental health permeate all aspects of our lives, so it can be hard to ‘get away from work’. However, Tina loves travelling, and bushwalking and being in nature. She is also an avid reader (always open to book recommendations from clients!), and loves languages speaking German, English, some basic French – and most recently she attempted to learn Dutch.
Tina is available at Cocoon on Fridays. To arrange an appointment please contact her directly :
Phone 0476 313 914
Email: [email protected]
OUR SOCIAL WORKERS
Stephen Fletcher - Mental Health Social Worker
Steve is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, with over 25 years of experience of working within the health and community sector. He enjoys working with young people (aged 16 plus) and adults. Steve works with a sensitive, holistic, solution focused and empathetic approach with all of his clients. He offers a warm, friendly and professional approach to enabling clients to move forward in their lives. Steve specialises in working with adults who experience anxiety and depression, PTSD and complex trauma, relationship/separation support, grief and loss, anger management, alcohol and other drug support and many other complex mental health needs.
Steve has a strong commitment to client centred therapy and utilises numerous recognised therapeutic frameworks to achieve success such as: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy and he combines mindfulness skills into every care plan.
In 2018, Steve completed his second masters in mental health - a Masters in Social Work. Whilst Steve has a high level of academic training, Steve has grounded experience, which has developed in varied roles across youth mental health, corrections, and Aboriginal mental health. Steve is available at Cocoon two days a week and spends his other workdays at Open Arms, Hobart, where he supports Veterans and their families. Steve also continues to participate in professional development and is an experienced supervisor.
To arrange an appointment contact Steve directly. Available: Mondays & Tuesdays at Cocoon.
Email: [email protected]
Steve's Website: sjfcounselling.com.au
Steve has a strong commitment to client centred therapy and utilises numerous recognised therapeutic frameworks to achieve success such as: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy and he combines mindfulness skills into every care plan.
In 2018, Steve completed his second masters in mental health - a Masters in Social Work. Whilst Steve has a high level of academic training, Steve has grounded experience, which has developed in varied roles across youth mental health, corrections, and Aboriginal mental health. Steve is available at Cocoon two days a week and spends his other workdays at Open Arms, Hobart, where he supports Veterans and their families. Steve also continues to participate in professional development and is an experienced supervisor.
To arrange an appointment contact Steve directly. Available: Mondays & Tuesdays at Cocoon.
- Medicare subsidies are available if a current MHCP and referral is in place.
- Services funded by Employment Assistance Programs (EAP) are also available.
- High quality supervision to social workers and those working towards their mental health accreditation is available.
Email: [email protected]
Steve's Website: sjfcounselling.com.au
Lili Su - Mental Health Social Worker
Lili’s passion in the counselling space is helping her clients rise from their self-defeating thoughts and behaviours to realise their potential. Lili views her clients as the experts in their lives. As a therapist, she would walk alongside her clients and assist them in tuning into their strengths and resilience. Lili’s therapeutic style is focused on building trusting relationships with her clients through compassion, collaboration, care and respect. Lili believes trust in the counselling space is important to support clients to feel safe emotionally and physically.
The therapeutic approaches Lili utilises range from a strength-based approach, person-centred therapy, narrative therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, trauma-informed frameworks, attachment theory, Polyvagal theory, family systems theory, and neuroscience of trauma. Lili is open to hearing your feedback and willing to adjust her approaches to tailor what works best for you.
Lili studied and trained in Australia as a Social Worker. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioural Science at Monash University. She studied for this degree with a double major in Psychology, History and Politics. Lili studied various units in human behaviours, motivations, developmental psychology, personalities, and research methods.
To arrange an appoimntment contact Lili Su directly. Lili Su is available on Thursday and Saturday
Phone: 0436 333 260
Email: [email protected]
Lili's Website: https://mindknitcounselling.com/
The therapeutic approaches Lili utilises range from a strength-based approach, person-centred therapy, narrative therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, trauma-informed frameworks, attachment theory, Polyvagal theory, family systems theory, and neuroscience of trauma. Lili is open to hearing your feedback and willing to adjust her approaches to tailor what works best for you.
Lili studied and trained in Australia as a Social Worker. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioural Science at Monash University. She studied for this degree with a double major in Psychology, History and Politics. Lili studied various units in human behaviours, motivations, developmental psychology, personalities, and research methods.
To arrange an appoimntment contact Lili Su directly. Lili Su is available on Thursday and Saturday
Phone: 0436 333 260
Email: [email protected]
Lili's Website: https://mindknitcounselling.com/
OUR COUNSELLORS
Please note that Medicare is NOT availble to see a counsellor
Anna Hopwood - Counsellor + Provisional Psychologist
Anna is a lifelong resident of the Huon Valley, with a deep commitment to the well-being of all people in our local community. She enjoys working with clients of any age and is particularly skilled in supporting those who are concerned that nobody will understand the struggles they face, and who may find it difficult to seek help. She offers clients gentle support - fostering the ability to recover from and overcome obstacles, to thrive, and find contentment.
Anna holds degrees including a bachelor of arts with majors in psychology and philosophy, honours in psychology, and a graduate diploma in counselling. Her work draws on the combined knowledge and principles of these disciplines, allowing flexible, nuanced, attuned therapy. She is an experienced practitioner, providing support for the stress and impacts of cultural, social, gender, and neurodiversity factors; as well as providing targeted psychological treatments for people who are living with diagnosable mental health conditions.
She draws from a range of evidence based practices, including person-centered counselling, schema therapy, and various forms of cognitive behavioural therapy. She is a member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation, and has a particular interest and training in Compassion focused therapy; a trauma-sensitive therapy focused on alleviating feelings of shame, self-criticism, and isolation. Compassion focused therapy can be of particular benefit for people who experience depression that has not responded easily to other treatments.
Contact Anna directly to arrange an appointment. Anna is available on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Phone: 0497 386 405
Email: [email protected]
Anna's website: https://www.huoncounselling.com.au/
Anna holds degrees including a bachelor of arts with majors in psychology and philosophy, honours in psychology, and a graduate diploma in counselling. Her work draws on the combined knowledge and principles of these disciplines, allowing flexible, nuanced, attuned therapy. She is an experienced practitioner, providing support for the stress and impacts of cultural, social, gender, and neurodiversity factors; as well as providing targeted psychological treatments for people who are living with diagnosable mental health conditions.
She draws from a range of evidence based practices, including person-centered counselling, schema therapy, and various forms of cognitive behavioural therapy. She is a member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation, and has a particular interest and training in Compassion focused therapy; a trauma-sensitive therapy focused on alleviating feelings of shame, self-criticism, and isolation. Compassion focused therapy can be of particular benefit for people who experience depression that has not responded easily to other treatments.
Contact Anna directly to arrange an appointment. Anna is available on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Phone: 0497 386 405
Email: [email protected]
Anna's website: https://www.huoncounselling.com.au/
