The Family Room

Get to know The Family Room

From The Family Room's website.

• Our approach

  Therapy at The Family Room is tailored to each person rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach. Clinicians are trained in a variety of evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, Systemic Family Therapy, and EMDR, among others. The team prioritises building an honest, open, caring and safe connection with clients, believing this foundation is essential for therapeutic tools to work effectively. Sessions focus on partnering with you to make decisions, develop skills and take actions tailored to your situation. The philosophy is kind, genuine and practical—clinicians don't position themselves as experts with all the answers, but rather work alongside clients so they become the experts on what works for them, enabling growth that extends beyond therapy itself.

• Working with families

  The Family Room emphasises partnership with parents and carers as an integral part of treatment. For children's therapy, the team specifically partners with parents to ensure they are heading in the right direction and achieving results. For teenagers, counselling is framed as something that works for both the young person and the family. The approach across age groups recognises that involving families helps create a loving, supportive and safe atmosphere at home and strengthens family connections overall.

• Meet the team

  The Family Room's team comprises six mental health professionals: Rachael Lovett, Jackie Batrachenko, and Kirsten Schmitt are registered psychologists who see children and parents, teenagers and adults. Kelly Worrell is a clinical psychologist working with children and parents, teenagers and adults. Chad McCormick is a registered psychologist who sees teenagers, adults and couples. Dee Pakendorf is a counsellor and family therapist who works with teenagers, adults, couples and families. Each clinician brings specific expertise across these areas and is trained in multiple therapeutic approaches to provide tailored support.