Meet our Allied Health staff

Zara (She/Her)
Counsellor
Zara is a Level 2 Registered Counsellor at Left of Centre Therapies who has an area of interest in working with children, adolescents, carers, and women collaboratively to overcome life’s challenges, improve relationships, and to overcome trauma related mental health concerns.
Zara has completed her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, her Diploma of Counselling with advanced majors in Abuse Counselling, Relationship and Conflict Resolution, and Introduction to Expressive Therapies. She is a Registered Circle of Security facilitator, and a Triple P facilitator. Zara is currently completing her Bachelor of Counselling through Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors.
Zara has been working in the child protection industry since 2014, she began practicing as a clinician in 2018, prior to joining LOC her background has been supporting children and their carers who are subject to child protection orders. She has a strong passion for the welfare of all children with a strong drive to support a healthy carer-child relationship, inclusivity, and to support those most vulnerable in our communities to build safe connections, positive attachments, and to live meaningful and fulfilled lives.
Zara practices from a strength-based framework and utilises techniques from a variety of therapies with a particular interest in Expressive Therapies and integrating other modalities depending on the client’s development needs and personal interests to work towards individual client goals. She is warm, gentle and works from a person-centered approach, with a strong focus on the client-therapist relationship as the basis for all therapeutic work.
Zara spends her free time in the garden, getting out to explore new places, or reading a good book. She enjoys comedy, spending time with loved ones, and being near the water.
Availability: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Jodi (She/Her)
Counsellor
Jodi has a Diploma in Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC) and is currently studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science and Counselling at the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP).
She has extensive experience with neurodiverse teens and adults and LGBTQIA+ clients through previous work as a mental health support worker.
Jodi uses a person centered, eclectic approach to therapy, tailored to suit individual clients’ needs and draws from DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), SFT (Solution Focused Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), and Narrative Therapy.
She is a dedicated mum of two children who are both neurodivergent and one LGBTQIA+, and is passionate about advocating for these communities. She loves animals of all kinds and has 2 cats she hand raised named Dora and Dudley, 2 dogs named Roscoe and Charli, and Spike the bearded dragon. In her spare time she loves hanging out with her family, listening to music and audio books, and spending time in nature.

Melissa (She/Her)
Speech Pathologist
Melissa Maddox is a Speech Pathologist at Left of Centre Therapies.
Dobby (Good/Boy)
Service Dog
Dobby is Mel's Assistance Dog. If you see Dobby in the clinic, please be aware he is working and as tempting as it is, please do not pet him.