Team

Nigel Denning
Director & Counselling Psychologist
Nigel is a Counselling psychologist in private practice. He works with individuals, couples and families.
Nigel sees therapy as a joint and cooperative enterprise where he uses his skill set to your benefit, rather than trying to fit you into a theory or approach. He has extensive experience with individual and corporate clients and draws on a strength and awareness based philosophy to client work.
Nigel has studied in Australia and overseas with many of the current leaders in psychological research and theory such as Dan Siegel, John and Julie Gottman, Les Greenberg, Alan Schore and the late Michael White.

Linda Tilgner
Director & Counselling Psychologist
Linda is a registered Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Fellow of Australian Catholic University.
Linda provides therapy for a range of concerns, in a collaborative manner, based on a full assessment of client needs and goals. Linda works with (in no order of preference): adjustment and life transition difficulties, anxiety and stress, eating disorders, grief and loss, personal development, relationship difficulties/couples counselling, trauma and PTSD. Linda is trained in a number of therapeutic approaches and together with the client will tailor therapy for best fit.
In addition to individual and couples’ therapy, Linda has over 10 years’ experience in running therapeutic groups.
Linda is an AHPRA registered supervisor, providing supervision to provisional and fully registered psychologists and psychotherapists. In addition to supervision, she provides professional training to practitioners and psycho-educational programs for the general public.
Linda was actively involved in the APS College of Counselling Psychologists Vic Committee for 9 years and has provided professional consultancy to a range of agencies.

Edward Croger
Psychologist
Ed is a registered psychologist (Master of Clinical Psychology) and a Member of the Australian Psychological Society.
Ed is passionate about his work and has a warm, person-centred style. He seeks to genuinely understand the people he works with before collaboratively setting goals and developing a plan for therapy. He utilises an integrative therapeutic approach, drawing from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based approaches and psychodynamic psychotherapy (PDT).
Ed has experience working with a range of psychological and emotional difficulties including depression, anxiety, stress, sleep issues and trauma as well as supporting people with existential and relational issues. He has additionally worked within the community mental health sector and university counselling settings.

Jake Douglas
Psychologist
Jake is a registered Psychologist (Master of Professional Psychology) and a Member of the Australian Psychological Society.
Jake adopts a warm, person-centred approach to his work, and emphasises creating a safe and compassionate environment where one can feel heard. He seeks to work collaboratively to set goals and takes an integrative approach to therapy, combining various evidence-based techniques to provide an intervention tailored to the people he works with. He draws from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), schema therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches.
Jake has experience working with adults with a range of difficulties including depression, anxiety, stress, interpersonal relationships, sleep disturbance, trauma, and existential concerns.

Daniela Petrovic
Psychotherapist
Dani is a Psychotherapist working with adults and is registered with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). She works from a person-centred approach and provides trauma informed therapy. Dani works in a collaborative manner with her clients to reach their goals. She uses a range of evidence-based practices and uses an integrative model of care, going beyond symptom management, addressing the root cause of the issue.
Dani has an interest in working with anxiety, depression, developmental trauma, PTSD, stress, life transitions, low self-esteem and confidence, relationship and intimate difficulties, grief /loss, sexual difficulties and women’s issues.
Dani is now taking on new clients and provides Psychotherapy without the need of a GP referral or Medicare card.

Sophia Robinson
Psychotherapist
Sophia is a psychotherapist in private practice who works with individuals and couples. Using a range of evidence-based approaches, Sophia works collaboratively with a relational focus to accommodate the individual needs of her clients. She hopes to create a safe and supportive environment for clients to engage in meaningful personal exploration. Working with an awareness of both mind and body, Sophia believes strongly in the client’s innate capacity to create lasting personal change.
Sophia works with people seeking support for a range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relational difficulties (including attachment repair), sexual identity and gender, personality disorders, high control groups, grief and trauma.

Isabelle Ruiz
Psychotherapist
Isabelle is an ACA accredited psychotherapist who’s compIeted a Bachelors of Integrative Psychotherapy at the Ikon Institute of Australia and has training in Adult Attachment Repair, Gottman Couples Therapy, and Psychedelic Integration.
Isabelle’s practice is delivered interpersonally and is well suited for people with developmental and/or relational trauma and neglect. She is warm in her approach and endeavours to create a collaborative and attuned therapeutic relationship, one which prioritises an experience of feeling safe and understood. She holds a strong perspective that psychotherapy has dynamic potential for change and well-being, with this perspective continually being reinforced through her own journey, research and training.
Working across many different issues, Isabelle can assist with relationship and intimacy concerns, grief and loss, emotional distress, chronic illness and pain, existential concerns, trauma, anxiety and depression.
Her services are available for couples, adults of all ages and is suitable for queer people.

Cristina Jiménez
Psychotherapist
Cristina is an ACA accredited Holistic Counsellor and Psychotherapist. Her approach is authentic and compassionate, and works with both the body and the mind. She aims to create a sense of deep safety and trust, bringing her warmth, empathy, and presence to each encounter. Cristina works reciprocally with her clients to foster change, and brings a tenderness and holding that enables people to feel supported and encouraged.
Cristina, who is also fluent in Spanish, works from a culturally diverse practice and welcomes all people, including those from the LGBTIQ+ community. She offers individual counselling for adults experiencing depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, interpersonal relationships, sexuality and intimacy, existential issues, emotional difficulties, and self-exploration.
Additionally, Cristina is a Dance Movement Therapist. Her extensive experience as a dancer and a movement therapist has refined her ability to access the somatic level of the body. She has witnessed the capacity to access and heal trauma directly through the subtle cues and answers found within the wisdom of the body.

Traill Dowie
Psychotherapist
Dr Traill Dowie is the Chair of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Panel for Trauma Standards & Practice, he is also the Head of Faculty (acting) at Ikon Institute Australia, and is a practising psychotherapist, supervisor and public speaker. Traill has been involved with counselling and psychotherapy for the last 20 years. Traill holds a PhD in Psychiatry and holds a PhD in Philosophy (social theory). Traill holds qualifications in psychology, philosophy, sociology, history of ideas and Jungian psychology. Traill also holds masters degrees in counselling and psychotherapy as well as mind and society. He has extensive knowledge of European philosophy and psychotherapy, including existential and phenomenological systems. As well as this Traill holds qualifications in transpersonal counselling and art therapy. Traill has a particular interest in integrative practice and the treatment of trauma. Traill also has extensive teaching experience in counselling and psychotherapy.

Virginia Golding
Clinical Social Worker
Virginia has over 20 years’ experience as psychotherapist working with Individuals, couples and adolescents and in corporate and organisational coaching and psychology, as well as in management and supervisory roles. Virginia feels strongly that in order for clients to gain the most from counselling, they experience experience a safe and compassionate space to express themselves to work though challenges, while also finding ways to support clients to enjoy the experience of personal growth and change that occurs in sessions.
Virginia supports clients to develop helpful strategies and skills which they can take away from sessions and bring into their lives to create the positive changes they want and to better deal with relationship and life challenges. Virginia’s therapeutic approach also focusses on supporting clients to develop skills in self-reflection and greater self-awareness. Virginia offers support for relationship issues, (intergenerational family, parenting and couples) trauma and complex trauma, grief and loss, workplace issues, generalised anxiety and depression and health related concerns. Virginia has a special interest in supporting clients who would like to explore the spiritual dimension of their lives, along with end of life and existential concerns and in psychedelic assisted psychotherapy and integration.
Virginia has training in a number of different therapeutic methods and approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; EMDR modality (Radical Exposure Tapping), Emotion Focussed Therapy, Somatic therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Family Systems, Positive Psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and TFCBT. Virginia also has a keen interest and training in eastern philosophy and meditation and mindfulness-based approaches.

Mary Lanier, Ph.D
Holistic Counsellor
Dr. Mary Lanier is an AHHCA accredited Holistic Counsellor with over thirty years of experience in counselling, training, and development. She is culturally sensitive, having worked in the United States, France, England, and Australia with individuals and families of diverse backgrounds, and with executive coaching in business.
The most important aspect of Mary’s work is having the client feel safe, heard, and in an environment that fosters the possibilities for change. Her empathy and understanding come from a lifetime of work with extensive training along the way. She has worked with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, eating disorders, illness, difficulties with intimacy and end of life decisions.
Mary is trained in Somatic Therapy, Hypnosis, Psychodynamics, Family Systems, Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Integration, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Adult Attachment Repair, and other therapeutic modalities. She believes that each client needs to be met at their map of the road and finds the best way to work with every individual to help them heal and be supported through that process. She brings a mixture of modalities and a warm, loving presence to each session, creating a safe space to explore life’s challenges.
Also having trained over 30 years in several forms of meditation, Mary has a spiritual focus to aid individuals in asking their deeper questions and exploring end of life concerns in a meaningful way with psychedelic assisted therapy and integration.

Dr Fiona McGlade
Psychiatrist
Dr Fiona McGlade, MBBS, FRANZCP, MPM, Diploma of Applied Medicine (Infant Mental Health), is a psychiatrist with over twenty years of experience in Victoria and Western Australia in both urban and rural settings. She started her psychiatry career as a Consultation-Liaison psychiatrist delivering psychiatric opinion and care within the general hospital wards. After commencing her private practice, she worked as a consultant on the Parent/Infant ward at Albert Road Clinic for ten years. The work with parents and infants has further developed her understanding of the critical role played by early life relationships and experiences in the subsequent development of psychological health throughout the lifecycle. She carries this psychological understanding into her current work with adults and applies its principles into her work with understanding the impact of trauma and the development of complex personalities.
In her private practice, she mostly works with adults struggling with mood disorders, anxieties disorders, trauma issues, relationship issues, addictions and work-place stress. She remains available to provide care and support to parents and infants who may be struggling at this vulnerable and challenging stage of life. She also accepts referrals of Veterans from DVA.
Fiona has experience and special interests in Indigenous Health and Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health. She has a current appointment as psychiatrist to the Victorian Doctors Health Programme, where she provides assistance to doctors presenting with issues pertaining to mental health or addictions.

Daniel P. Brown
Consultant International Psychologist
Not available for appointments.
Dr. Daniel P. Brown Ph.D, is a consultant psychologist and advanced training provider to Integrative Psychology. Dr. Brown is an Associate Clinical Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School. As an academic and researcher he has served on the Harvard Medical School faculty for over 38 years. In the 1980’s he was Director of Training and then as Chief Psychologist at The Cambridge Hospital. Dr. Brown’s clinical research has focused on assessing attachment disorders in adults and on developing psychotherapeutic and hypnotherapeutic protocols to treat attachment pathology. He is the winner of the 2018 ISST-D Pierre Janet Writing Award for his work on The Three Pillars treatment method with David Elliot.
Dr. Brown was an expert witness and consultant on trauma, memory, and children’s testimony regarding sexual abuse, and testimony before of International War Crimes Tribunal for the Prosecution of war criminals of the former Yugoslavia that was upheld on appeal. He was also the winner of the 1999 Manfred S. Guttmacher Award from the American Psychiatric Association for “outstanding contribution to forensic psychiatry”.
Dr. Drown is an accomplished Indo-Tibetan concentration and insight meditation teacher and runs regular week-long meditation retreats.
Dr. Brown is also an author of 24 books on; hypnotherapy, Hypnosis and Behavioural Medicine, attachment repair, affect development, self development from a cross-cultural perspective, Memory, Trauma Treatment and the Law, as well as four books on meditation (Transformations of Consciousness with K. Wilbur & J. Engler), psychotherapy and meditation, contributed to two books of East-West dialogues in psychology with H.H. The Dalai Lama.