Meet The Team
Good Start Psychology is a dedicated, boutique psychology clinic, nestled in the heart of the northern suburbs. Over the last few years, since the inception of the NDIS, Dr Alex Ryan has been busily building a team that will drive a generation of hard working, dedicated, well qualified staff in delivering services to people with a disability. Our main focus is with people with autism and/or intellectual disability. Over the next generation, this team will deliver quality care that will set your child or teenager up for the rest of their life.
Good Start Psychology subjects all staff to quality controls including regular training, strong platforms to share information and knowledge, strong communication, staff support mechanisms, and a cooperative work environment open to change and evolution. Psychology, like most professions, is constantly evolving with new innovations, new knowledge and new therapies, and we are constantly scoping and learning these new approaches. Good Start Psychology is also about being open to client feedback and changing our service to suit the wants, needs and desires of our clients and their families. We are a clinic that prides ourselves on delivering high quality services from caring, open, approachable staff.
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Below you will see our team and a description of what they do. As you read each bio, think about who your child would connect with and with whom they can form a strong relationship; this is key in developing a long, healthy and productive partnership that is tailored to your child's needs and allow them every success.
Dr Alex Ryan
Director and Senior Psychologist
Alex holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Adelaide and has carved a career interest in child psychology.
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Alex is a registered psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and a long-standing member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). He is a published contributor in eight scientific health journals. Having worked face to face with children and their families since 2003, he has seen many children with problems such as autism, ADHD, learning disorders, media addictions, anger management, anxieties, and depression. Alex has been personally driven for over 20 years to explore and understand children which started with his PhD on violent gaming and adolescent males.
Marie Ryan
Practice Manager
Marie has over 20 years experience working with children and young adults as a school teacher. She has a Postgrad in Ed (Student Welfare) and a B.Sc. She has worked with children from diverse backgrounds and differing learning abilities including Autism and ADHD. She has worked closely with parents to ensure the best outcome for their child is achieved.
Marie prides in offering a premium service by implementing the NDIS code of conduct and having a person-centred practice.
Kerry Mayes
Psychologist and Peer Mentor
Kerry completed a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) at Swinburne University in 2017, and a Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced at Monash University in 2019.
She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society.
Kerry has a passion for working with individuals to help them reach their full potential. She has a person-centred focus and promotes individual’s well being using evidence-based practices. She promotes a trusting and respectful environment to ensure the open expression of all individuals.
Ashlee Breen-Ellis
Psychologist and Peer Mentor
Ashlee completed a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at Flinders University in 2018. She has previous experience working in the NDIS space with individuals living with complex mental health and behavioural disorders.
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Ashlee is passionate about working with all individuals and believes in taking a person-centred approach to assist clients to meet their goals. She is constantly working to build her knowledge, experience and skills to provide the best possible service to her clients.
Claudia Campestre
Psychologist
Claudia completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) at the University of Adelaide in 2019 and is a member of the Australian
Association of Psychologists (AAPi). She is also trained in Dialectical
Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
Claudia has experience in the operations of crisis support for women and children in the domestic violence and homelessness sector and has worked with clients from diverse
backgrounds. Claudia provides a safe, judgment free environment and is passionate about using strengths-based approach when working with clients, to promote quality of life.
Linda Bleckly
Psychologist
Linda graduated with First Class Honours in Psychology from the
University of Adelaide and holds a Degree in Behavioural Science
(Psychology) majoring in Disability and Developmental Education from Flinders University. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society.
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Linda has worked in the education and disability sectors for the past 20 years and is passionate about working with individuals of all ages who present with a range of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, as well as their caregivers, parents and families. She provides a supportive environment and uses evidence-based practices to assist individuals to develop their own strengths, skills and strategies so challenges have less impact on them and they can focus on the things in life that are most meaningful to them.
Brooke Leane-Silva
Psychologist
Brooke completed her Bachelor of Behavioural Science, majoring in Neuroscience and her Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) at Flinders University. She has worked in remote communities in Queensland, providing psychological services to a range of individuals with complex mental health and behavioural disorders. In particular, a significant portion of Brooke’s work focused on the assessment and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Brooke is passionate about utilising a compassionate evidence-based approach that is individualised to the client. Brooke focuses on creating a safe and supportive environment for individuals to reach their therapeutic goals.
Kara Miller
Provisional Psychologist
Kara completed her Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) in 2019 at Flinders University. Since then, she had been working in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis, helping children successfully gain life skills, learn to communicate and to express themselves.
Kara is passionate about supporting clients to achieve their goals by using an inclusive, individualised best practice model. She promotes a safe, trusting and non-judgemental environment where everyone is free to be themselves.
Alex McCartney
Provisional Psychologist
Alex's education includes a Bachelor of Psychology from Adelaide University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology from Murdoch University (in Perth), and a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language from Flinders University. His work history includes therapy, mentoring, and education roles.
Alex engages clients in his sessions through shared and varied interests in computing technology, sports, card games, board games, video games, art, design, music, and webcomics. He has two children himself and can relate to the challenges of parenthood too. Alex enjoys breaking down concepts into simpler chunks with the use of visual analogies and concrete examples, to keep everyone on the same page in a client's therapeutic journey
Nathan Waldhuter
Provisional Psychologist
Nathan completed his Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) in 2022 at the University of South Australia. Since then, he has been completing his Master of Professional Psychology at La Trobe University. He is a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPi) and the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
Nathan is committed to using evidence-based practice to help young people achieve the best outcomes. He works with clients and their families to provide a safe, tailored space to enhance the client’s psychological well-being and explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Bianca Woods
Office Manager
Bianca has extensive administrative experience and a Diploma in Business Administration. She also has a background in the performing arts. Bianca has performed in, and also directed, many theatre productions across the state and also taught drama classes for children of all ages for over a decade.
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Bianca has worked with children and young adults from diverse backgrounds, including those with developmental delays and behavioural concerns.
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Bianca has a Level 3 Certificate in Drama and Speech from Trinity College London (TCL) as well as up to date training in first aid and child safe environments.
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Bianca approaches her role with compassion, understanding and a genuine desire to deliver high quality supports to the community.
Heather Mackenzie
Administration
Heather comes to Good Start Psychology with 7 years’ experience in
Administrative Support in the Education sector. Working across various roles including reception, project, and executive support she brings a wealth of experience and skills and strives to provide excellent customer service to all clients.
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Heather is also working towards her Bachelor of Psychology through Uni SA, with a keen interest in human behaviour and the brain. Her long-term goal is to support children and young people impacted by mental health issues.
Andrea Urukalo
Administration and Social Skills
Andrea enthusiastically joins Good Start Psychology, bringing over two years of Administrative Support in the Allied Health Sector. Andrea has extensive experience in customer service and strives to make sure your visit is a positive and delightful one.​
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Andrea is working towards her Bachelor of Psychology at the University of Adelaide. She is eager to make impactful changes by providing mental health support to all who are in need.
Philip Sellars
Social Skills
Philip has worked in and around various technology fields for over 20 years. His interest in computers was sparked at a young age which was further developed in high school; at age 14 he and his peers started a computer support company within Pulteney Grammar School called PulTec. With a Diploma of Information Technology and a B.Sc he has continued to pursue that interest with great vigour.
Philip has recently expanded his duties to collate programs that assist young adults expressing themselves in one-on-one interactions and group settings. Using board and video games as a common interest, he is assisting the development of social and communication skills to form lasting friendships.
Charlie
Therapy Support
Our recent addition to the therapy support team is Charlie. Charlie will be in and around the clinic often so keep an eye and ear out for his scurrying little feet and playful antics.