Psychology

At Easy Access, we’re here to support you through life’s challenges with compassion and expertise. Our services are designed to meet the diverse needs of children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. From therapy sessions addressing depression, anxiety, grief, and relationships to parenting skills, we provide tailored care to help you thrive.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply need someone to talk to, reaching out to a caring psychologist can make all the difference.

 

For Individuals Of All Ages, Our Psychology Services Include

Emotional Regulation

Learn practical strategies to identify, understand, and manage emotions, reducing stress, frustration, and anxiety in daily life.

Early Intervention

Early intervention services that focus on working alongside families through the child’s own personal developmental journey, providing advocacy to relevant people along the way.

Behavioural Support

We develop personalised plans to address behavioural concerns, such as managing impulsivity, improving focus, and fostering positive habits.

Social Skills Development

We provide guidance to build and strengthen skills for effective communication, conflict resolution, and creating meaningful relationships.

Coping Strategies

Learn evidence-based techniques to manage stress, anxiety, grief, and other challenges while building resilience and adaptability.

Parenting Support

We provide guidance for parents and caregivers on managing family dynamics. Increasing understanding of why a behaviour is occuring, and fostering a positive home environment and harmonious family relationships.

Mental Health Assessments

We can conduct comprehensive evaluations to identify and address conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, Autism.

Personal Growth and Resilience

We support clients in identifying their strengths, setting achievable goals, and building self-esteem to create lasting change.

Therapy To Suit Your Lifestyle

In-Home Therapy Sessions

Receive personalised therapy in the comfort of your own home, designed to fit seamlessly into your daily routine.

Office Appointments

Access personalised therapy at our Nerang, Mullumbimby, and Lismore offices, thoughtfully designed to create a welcoming environment where your well-being is our priority.

School-Based Therapy

Our therapists collaborate with educators and stakeholders to provide targeted support for children within their school environment.

Meet Our Psychology Team

Shannan Connell - Director & Psychologist

Shannan has been working as a psychologist since 2008, after graduating from Griffith University with First Class Honours. Shannan began working in the field of disability and supporting families with complex needs for the QLD government, before then moving to a behavioural intervention clinic. Shannan has always had a passion for working with individuals on the Autism spectrum and made this her area of focus when opening her own practice in 2013. Shannan has had extensive experience working in the home and school settings. Over the years of practice she has naturally evolved from working in the home setting physically to virtually, finding it to be more effective and flexible in many ways.

Shannan is registered as a Board-Approved Supervisor, enabling her to mentor and provide supervision to psychologists and provisional psychologists. Shannan is no longer taking on new referrals and focuses on supervising graduate psychologists on the team.

Shannan is a dressage enthusiast, spending her time outside of psychology; training, coaching and competing. Shannan loves spending time at home with her family and animals.

Jonathan Shai - Psychologist

Jonathan is a registered psychologist with experience working with diverse population of clients. Jonathan is working towards being a Board Approved Supervisor and plans on supervising graduate psychologists from 2025.

Jonathan has supported individuals experiencing Autism, depression, anxiety, mental health concerns and personality disorders. Jonathan believes that a key to effective therapy is having a genuine interest in the people he works with while offering a non-judgmental space. His approach is based in empathy, using principles from Acceptance Commitment Therapy, mindfulness and CBT. Jonathan completed his Bachelor of Psychological Science at Griffith University, and his Graduate Diploma in Psychological Science at Bond University. Jonathan has been working in the mental health public sector since June 2018, supporting people around their illness to improve their quality of life.

Jonathan operates from our Mullumbimby and Lismore office, or via telehealth (any location), school and in home appointments from families located between tweed heads and Lismore. Jonathan has a waitlist.

Kate Dillon - Psychologist

Kate is a  registered psychologist who began with us in 2020, experienced with children of all ages. She has a keen interest in people from all walks of life, experiencing a range of mental health concerns, trauma, and those with developmental disorders.

Kate completed her undergraduate degree at Griffith University in Mt Gravatt in QLD and honours year at the University of the Sunshine Coast, having two girls along the way. She grew up in the Northern NSW and has recently returned with her young family to the area.

Kate offers unconditional positive regard to all her clients, and approaches the therapeutic relationship with empathy, care and a genuine interest in the lives of all of her clients. Her tools are based in ACT, CBT and mindfulness. She also has an interest in Narrative Exposure Therapy, Positive Psychology and the facilitation of group therapies and workshops.

In her free time, Kate loves to attempt to garden, hang out with her young girl and horse, cook new recipes, learn Auslan and walk on the beach.

Kate is available for school and home visits in the Lismore area, and Telehealth appointments, Tuesdays,  Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Ben Shine Clinical Psychologist

Ben Shine (Clinical Psychologist) BSc, BSc (First Class Honours), MSc, PGDipClinPsyc

Ben graduated as a clinical psychologist from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand in 2024 after completing his studies and placements in areas of child and family health, correctional psychology, and a year-long internship in adult mental health in a non-government multi-disciplinary team.

Ben has experience working with a variety of clients across the lifespan with diverse presentations. He has experience in assessment and diagnosis of various difficulties including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood and anxiety related disorders, trauma disorders, and personality disorders. He also has experience in supporting diverse presentations through clinical intervention using CBT, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and metacognitive therapy (MCT).

Ben loves to engage and interact with different people and believes that he can get along well with people from all walks of life. Ben is a firm believer than genuine connection and the therapeutic relationship is a key contributor to the success of therapy and prides himself on his ability to establish and maintain this connection.

Ben is passionate about learning and is always looking to improve and expand his knowledge and understanding of the psychological techniques to inform evidence-based best practice. Ben is available at our Nerang office and via telehealth.

Rulan Cadiogan - Provisional Psychologist

Rulan is a provisionally registered psychologist, due to receive her general registration this year. Rulan completed her honours year at Monash University. She enjoys working with all age groups and has experience coaching and working with younger aged children. Rulan takes a holistic approach to her practice, using a variety of evidence based modalities when working with clients. She encourage self-awareness in overcoming problems and working toward goals.Rulan works collaboratively with clients to underline their resilience and unique strengths. Rulan’s practice is supported by techniques such as Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, and motivational interviewing. She uses these to explore individual and environmental constraints to client wellbeing.Rulan values being part of the Northern Rivers community, and is an active member of several community organisations. Outside of work, Rulan enjoys playing and coaching soccer and exploring all that the Northern Rivers has to offer with her family.She is available for appointments from Monday – Friday in the Northern Rivers region.

Sarah Volaric - Provisional Psychologist

Sarah is a provisional psychologist and completed her Masters of Psychology at Curtin University. Sarah is due to receive her general registration this year. During her studies Sarah completed her placement in a private practice, gaining experience working with individuals across the lifespan and with various presenting concerns.

Sarah focuses on working from a person-centered perspective, and believes in establishing a strong therapeutic relationship. She focuses on providing a safe and collaborative space for individuals to express themselves and to explore their individual experiences.

Sarah’s therapeutic approach is guided by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and incorporates techniques from ACT, mindfulness, and emotion regulation. Her areas of interest include emotion regulation, anxiety disorders, depression, mood difficulties and low self-esteem.

In her spare time, you will find Sarah enjoying a walk in nature with her dog or by the beach.

Sarah is available for school or home appointments in the Lismore region. Additionally, she welcomes clients to the office in Lismore or Mullumbimby from Monday to Thursday for in-office appointments. Sarah currently has ability to take new referrals.

Gene - Provisional Psychologist

We are excited to announce that Gene will be joining the Easy Access Psychology team in 2025 as a Provisional Psychologist. Gene first joined us as a student on placement, where he demonstrated exceptional dedication, empathy, and a genuine passion for helping others. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the team and look forward to the valuable contributions he will make in supporting our clients and community in 2025.

Eesha- Provisional Psychologist

We’re delighted to share that Eesha will be joining the Easy Access Psychology team in 2025 as a Provisional Psychologist. Eesha originally came to us as a student on placement, where her compassion, professionalism, and enthusiasm for supporting others truly stood out. We’re thrilled to have her officially on board and look forward to the positive impact she will bring to our clients and community.

Tailored Support

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Sensory Processing

Cognitive Functioning

Daily Living & Social Skills

Social Skills Groups

Early Intervention

Workplace Support

School Readiness

Play-Based Support

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Assessments

Assessments

Discover the power of understanding with our Psychology Assessments.
These assessments offer valuable insights into daily challenges and strengths, helping shape tailored therapy plans designed to empower you or your loved ones to thrive.

WAIS

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WISC

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WIAT

MIGDAS

The Conners Rating Scale

Mental Health Resources

Student Placements

At Easy Access we have a strong culture of providing opportunities to students and graduates to learn from our established multidisciplinary team. We welcome any Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Psychology students/ new graduates to reach out and see if a placement can be arranged. We have a team of very experienced therapists who love to share their knowledge with those new to the field. Enquire below for student placement opportunities.

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