Our Team

Michelle, the founder and Director of Outlook Psychology Practice, is a dedicated psychologist with extensive experience delivering mental health care in very remote, culturally rich Indigenous communities. Raised in Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Michelle credits her upbringing in this tight-knit and diverse region for shaping her compassionate, culturally informed approach to psychology. Her father, an Army Veteran, worked at the local refinery, while her mother served in Human Resources for the Government, instilling in Michelle a strong sense of community and service.

After completing high school at Nhulunbuy High School, Michelle pursued her passion for psychology at James Cook University in Queensland, where she earned a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) in 2007. She returned to the NT to complete her internship with the Department of Human Services, gaining invaluable experience delivering psychological support across East Arnhem Land. This period deepened her understanding of the unique challenges faced by some of Australia’s most vulnerable individuals.

In 2016, Michelle founded Outlook Psychology Practice in Nhulunbuy with a vision to provide high-quality, accessible mental health services to the region. The practice has become a vital resource for the community, offering culturally sensitive interventions and therapies tailored to individual needs. These include evidence-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and mindfulness techniques.

Michelle’s commitment to cultural competence is further demonstrated through her accreditation by Dr. Tracy Westerman to administer the Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist (WASC), a specialized tool for assessing mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, suicidality, and cultural resilience.

In 2023, Michelle relocated interstate but continues to lead the practice on a Fly In, Fly Out (FIFO) basis. This arrangement allows her to maintain her deep connection to the community while ensuring that Outlook Psychology Practice remains a cornerstone of mental health care in East Arnhem Land.

Michelle’s passion for fostering mental health resilience, combined with her expertise and cultural understanding, ensures that Outlook Psychology Practice continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those it serves.

Hi, I’m Rosalee.  I have lived in the NT and the Kimberley in WA for nearly 20 years and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!  I’ve worked for government and non-government, with children and adults, working in child protection and counselling with all sorts of people including Aboriginal people in remote communities.  I engage with people to learn about their circumstances and then apply an intervention that may suit. I have worked with survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence, returned service personnel, urban and remote Aboriginal people…in fact, people from all walks of life, ages and issues impacting on their well-being.  More often than not, I work with everyday people who have experienced extra-ordinary events or circumstances in their life.  Listening, evaluating, helping people to work with their strengths and working together towards better outcomes is my speciality.

Ely is an occupational therapist and senior mental health clinician.  She moved to East Arnhem Land with her husband and children in 2023 and is enjoying exploring this new part of the world.

Ely is committed to creating a safe, supportive therapeutic space for individuals to achieve better overall health and wellbeing.  She utilises a mixture of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), strengths-based, trauma-informed and sensory-informed approaches where client-centred work can occur and people can reach their personalised recovery goals.

Ely has extensive experience across the mental health sector working with children, young people and adults from diverse backgrounds.  She has worked in hospital, emergency response, rehabilitation and community settings.   Ely has spent the most recent part of her career working with people experiencing body image and eating disorders and is accredited to provide therapy specific to these challenges (CBT-E and SSCM).

She has a passion to see people move beyond their diagnosis or current challenges to be able to thrive.

Werner is a Clinical Psychologist with 30 years’ experience gained in varied contexts working in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. The title of his doctorate is Resiliency in single-parent families affected by HIV/AIDS.

As a clinician Werner has worked in private practice and public health environments, including infant and child mental health, child and family mental health services, adult community mental health and -outpatient settings; as well as experience in management.

Therapeutic modalities that Werner is trained in include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, Rogerian Client Centered Therapy and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT). Werner incorporates neuropsychologically informed body-based interventions supported by evidence-based theories such as Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, with emphasis on mindfulness meditation, yoga, breathwork and whole-body movement exercises. Werner has a professional and personal interest in participation in endurance and extreme sport in marine and aviation environments.

Lauren completed her psychology degree in South Africa and her Masters internship in Zimbabwe. She also trained in family therapy and volunteered as a counsellor at a hospice and bereavement centre for three years in Zimbabwe.

Since moving to the Sunshine Coast, in 2002, she has worked as a psychologist at Lifeline and Focus and moved into private practice in Coolum Beach in 2006. She also provided therapeutic services to Queensland Ambulance and ran their Mindfulness and Wellbeing programme. She worked at Bloomhill Cancer Care for a year.

After twenty years as a psychologist on the sunshine Coast Lauren, and her husband, Werner, decided it was time to make an adventurous move both, in their lives and in their careers, and are excited to become part of the team at Outlook and in Nhulunbuy. We are open to what comes our way and to living and learning in the community.

Trauma informed care, EMDR, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are the basis for Lauren’s approach, along with compassion focused therapy and neuroscience. She is also trained in psychodynamic therapy and polyvagal theory. “I find that this combination in treatment allows clients to live well with gentleness and acceptance in most circumstances and improves their sense of mindful awareness and agency. This facilitates moving through challenging and often traumatic situations with more ease and skill, self- compassion and acceptance. I also find that neuroscience psychoeducation allows people to better understand what happens in their brains during times of stress, trauma or anxiety, for example, and how the techniques we use impact, soothe and calm the brain and thus the body.”

Lauren is passionate about her work. “It brings value and meaning to my daily life. I feel honoured that people are often willing to trust and share so much of themselves and their journeys and to go to tough places with me. Therapy is not always easy but I truly believe it makes a difference and this is what gets me into the office every weekday. We certainly aren’t the experts in other people’s personal experiences but we are willing to be there with them”

Meet Rebecca (Bec), our dedicated Practice Manager at Outlook Psychology Practice, bringing over 25 years of administrative expertise in education and mental health services. Having established deep roots in Nhulunbuy since 1985, Bec’s personal and professional growth flourished in this vibrant community and she has found fulfilment as part of the Outlook Psychology Practice team.

Recognised for her diligence, warmth, and empathy, she ensures that every client’s needs are met with care and precision. Rebecca strives to foster an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Reach out to Bec for assistance on your path to improved mental health and wellbeing.