WELLINGTON STREET CLINIC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Clinical Social Worker
- Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Karen Pennington smith is a Clinical Social Worker & Accredited Mental Health Social Worker bringing some 30 years of experience working in private practice.
She has relocated back to Tasmania from Hervey Bay QLD where she provided services to clients nationally via Telehealth.
Karen's professional interests are in Anxiety and Depression, Relationship Counselling (individuals and couples) and helping her clients to deal with life changes (relationship/career/grief and loss).
She is happy to see school aged children and teenagers with social anxiety, family conflict, family separation issues (not related to Family Court matters) school related issues (attendance, bullying)
Karen has experience working with young people, adults and staff across different Education settings (Schools /TAFE/University), in workplace EAPs (employee assistance programs) provision and Worker's Compensation related to psychological injury (stress) claims.
When she's not working you might find Karen in a café along Charles St or riding her e-bike somewhere.
Job Titles:
- Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Kelly is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with extensive experience in assessment and therapeutic intervention of a broad range of mental health concerns experienced by adolescents and adults.
Kelly has been a Launceston local since the age of 12 years when her family relocated here from Tasmania's North West Coast. On completion of high school Kelly obtained employment in administration and management prior to returning to UTAS in 2001 to study and pursue her interest in mental health. Kelly graduated from UTAS with a Batchelor of Social Work (Honours) and completed a post graduate Developmental Psychiatry Course with University of Melbourne.
Kelly has 15 years of experience providing children, adolescents, adults and their families with specialist mental health support and interventions. Kelly has primarily worked within Child and Adolescent Community Mental Health Services providing assessment, case management and Therapeutic interventions for severe and complex mental health concerns for young people aged up to age of 18 years. Kelly also has experience providing support and therapeutic intervention for adults experiencing mental ill health within Community Services and Private Practice contexts. Along with working directly with people experiencing mental health concerns, she has also provided tutoring services to the UTAS Department of Social Work in the areas of mental health and child safety.
Kelly commits to providing a wholistic and professional service, continuously advancing her skills and knowledge in evidence based therapeutic interventions. She has had extensive training with Orygen Youth Health in Victoria, focussing on identification and interventions for "high risk mental states", early and first episode psychosis and Borderline Personality disorder.
Kelly maintains a focus on recovery, developing a "meaningful life" and is passionate about assisting people with developing self-management skills and strategies. Kelly uses evidence based therapeutic interventions including Cognitive behaviour therapy, Dialectical Behaviour therapy, Solutions focussed, Cognitive Analytical therapy, Relational and Integrated therapies.
Patricia is a Registered Psychologist holding degrees with Deakin University, and University of Tasmania. She holds full registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and is a member of the Australia Association of Psychologist Inc. (AAPI), and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing Association Australia (EMDRAA).
Although Wendy Gall joined the Health Hub team very recently, she comes with a wealth of experience, having worked in Launceston for many years.
Her experience includes work as a School Psychologist, within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, as an Employee Assistance Provider and in Private Practice since 2013.
Wendy works with clients of all ages and has a keen interest in helping children and adolescents. She has experience working with anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma, depression, and relationship/interpersonal issues. Wendy is also experienced in working with couples.
Wendy's areas of special interest include anxiety (all ages), selective mutism, and promoting positive parent/child relationships.
When not at work, Wendy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking and cake decorating.