OUR PSYCHOLOGISTS

Medicare subsidies (partial refund) are available for therapy sessions when a Mental Health Treatment Plan  and referral has been created  by your Dr prior to visiting.

Janelle Nichols - Psychologist & Director

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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   unveiling subconscious factors  influencing perceptions  and defences. During sessions Nel listens and provides space.  Along the way, she shares insights, knowledge and recommendations to help individuals forge their future.    
​Nel   assists people experiencing:  
  • 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.
Central to Nels work   is acceptance whilst also supporting congruence between who you are and how you are. Nel   is    well versed in evidence based  interventions including  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).  
 
​Outside work you might see Nel running around the Huon, hanging with the Huon Spirits  and balancing at Bikram Yoga. Nel loves hometime with her family, border collies, cooking  a vego meal,   getting her hands dirty in the vege patch and dreaming about travelling in  her coaster, Myrtle the Turtle.​

 Bethany Smith - Clinical Psychologist 

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​Bethany is a caring and compassionate registered Clinical Psychologist with 14 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 life. 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 aims to support clients to improve their coping skills and self-regulation of emotions, to better understand their relationships, and to learn about the links between their thoughts, feelings and actions.
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)
When not at Cocoon, Bethany works at the University of Tasmania as a Lecturer and Supervisor to students studying their Postgraduate degrees in Psychology and Counselling.