PRACTITIONERS

As an experienced psychologist, Julie has worked extensively with creative people. Also through her doctoral research into creativity and mental health, she is at the forefront of our understanding of how to be both healthy and creative.

Her work encompasses both private practice and consultancy. In her practice, she regularly sees creative artists and their partners who are experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship and related issues. From this experience, she has developed the successful Building Mental Resilience group program for Creative Artists. Through Zebra consultancy, she trains, advises and mentors creative organisations and organisations that want to attract the creative, on how to retain and foster a healthy creative environment. This has included work with APRA (Australian Performing Rights Association) and AMIN (Australian Music Industry Network through CONTROL), School of Life, Vivid Sydney 2013 Ideas and Pacific Hills School, creative arts department. Waleed Ally has also interviewed her for the Melbourne based drive time program and more recently Triple M’s “The Grill Team” spoke with her following Robyn William’s death on “Living with a Creative Mind”.

This work with creative people draws on over 27 years experience as a psychologist in both private practice and organisations. She was the first to develop and establish a hold up support program in a major Australian bank. In addition to this ground-breaking work, she established relocation programs and stress management training for bank staff. She then moved to the NSW health system and worked as a staff psychologist for a major hospital in Sydney as well as psychologist within the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service, establishing her credentials as an experienced practitioner of trauma related mental health issues.

Since then she has been involved in EAP work for a number of organizations and specialised in issues of trauma, loss and organisational change. From there she moved on to establish an accredited training college and was for 15 years its Principal, where she developed and delivered training in community services and counselling – focusing on communication training and interpersonal skills. This is where her passion for understanding the creative mind fully developed as she was frequently providing services for creative artists in training.

She is the principal practitioner at Zebra Psychology and also a director of the Zebra Collective, both of which aim to assist those in the creative industries and businesses to work for innovation and longevity. She is co-author of the book Living With A Creative Mind. Her private psychology practice is currently located at Zebra Psychology in Neutral Bay, NSW.

Mitchell is a psychologist with more than thirty years of counselling experience working with younger and older adults as well as couples. He is a Registered Psychologist and a member of the Australian Psychological Society.

Mitchell’s early experience was with Lifeline in a variety of roles including as a counsellor, trainer and in a management role.

In 1987 Mitchell was appointed as one of the first state funded counsellors working with people with gambling problems and their families. He is well known for developing the ‘Cycle of Problem Gambling’ which is used widely in assessment and treatment for problem gambling.

Mitchell spent fourteen years working in the problem gambling field as a counsellor, counsellor trainer and community educator. With a strong media presence and as president of the NSW Council on Problem Gambling he worked to bring about a greater community awareness, recognition and understanding of problem gambling.

In 2001 Mitchell commenced in private practice as a psychologist in Eastwood, more recently in Epping, and now with Zebra Psychology in Neutral Bay.

Mitchell works with people with a wide range of needs and issues including anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, grief, PTSD, relationship issues and problem gambling. He also has a particular interest in work related issues including workplace stress, bullying, burnout and work related psychological injuries.

Mitchell uses a range of evidence based psychological approaches which includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Schema Therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based therapy used for treating post traumatic stress.

Keren is a Registered Psychologist and Counsellor. She works with clients across a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, work-related stress, self-esteem issues and trauma. She has a particular interest in working with grief and loss.

Since qualifying as a Psychologist over twenty years ago, she has been involved in a range of roles. She has been in private practice for the past seven years, working with both self-referred and GP-referred clients with a wide range of issues. She has also worked in the public mental health system, with children, adolescents and adults, and for Centrecare Relationship and Family Counselling Services.

As a counsellor, she uses a range of ideas and techniques, working creatively, and in a way that is flexible and respectful. Her therapeutic approach addresses both thought patterns and emotional processes. She draws on aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focussed Therapy (EFT), Solution-Focussed Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in order to achieve the best outcome for clients.

Keren has been teaching both first and second year of the Diploma in Counselling for the past seven years, and is passionate about helping people learn how to listen in a way that brings healing. She is also involved in conducting Anxiety Workshops for adolescents.

Her qualifications are Masters in Psychology and Diploma of Clinical Psychology. She has registration as a Psychologist (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and as a Counsellor (MACA, Australian Counselling Association). She is also a qualified Assessor and Trainer within the VET Education Sector.

Keren lives on the northern beaches of Sydney and loves the beach and down-time with her family. She is passionate about bringing her skills, knowledge and life experience to the journey into wellness.

Shannon is a Registered Psychologist and has also worked as a professional actor. She is uniquely placed to both empathise with, and empower, creative artists.

Shannon initially completed a BA in Performance at Theatre Nepean and she was involved in a number of professional acting productions. As such she gained a unique understanding of performance anxiety, the challenges and stresses of working as a performer and creative artist and other issues of wellbeing for performers. During completion of further study for registration as a psychologist she was an integral part of the research into creativity and mental health developed by Julie Crabtree, Director Zebra Psychology. This gave Shannon insight and understanding into what drives mental illness in performers and creative artists and how to develop resilience.

Over recent years she has also worked to assist those seeking employment within the Department of Human Services and she has strong vocational skills. Much of her experience involved providing clients with assessment and counselling around anxiety and mood disorders, substance use, stress, and relational and family difficulties. In that role she implemented & evaluated therapeutic mental health and vocational groups to increase employability. She has also co-facilitated therapeutic groups aimed at building resilience in children, adolescents and creative individuals.

Shannon predominantly utilises Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy and supportive counselling along with motivational interviewing, psycho-education and mindfulness techniques. Shannon deeply values people and is passionate about working with them to increase their resilience, focusing on their strengths and growth, and she brings both humour and warmth into the counselling space.

Chris has worked as a Counselling Psychologist, educator, consultant and clinical supervisor for 43 years. He developed and managed an Employee Assistance Program within NSW Health for the last 34 years. Chris previously worked for 9 years as a Psychologist and trainer for Sydney Lifeline. He has extensive experience providing consultation, supervision and training for a wide range of health, professional and community organisations. Chris specializes in the areas of: Solution Focussed approaches with individual and organizational difficulties; early intervention and management of trauma and cumulative stress; management of Vicarious Trauma and Burnout; spiritually sensitive counselling; management development, and systemic approaches to developing and enhancing well being. He works in a range of evidence based modalities, informed by the principles and practices of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

Jeff is not a psychologist and is not qualified to offer therapeutic services. He does offer one-on-one and small group coaching sessions that address holistic strategies for creative well being. Dr Jeff Crabtree is a speaker, author, researcher, filmmaker and multi award winning songwriter and music producer. His doctoral research was the first ever investigation of workplace and sexual harassment in the Australian and New Zealand music industry.

With Julie, (a registered psychologist) he is the author of Living With A Creative Mind - an operating handbook for creative people, which has been translated and published in Japan. He is the Managing Director and founder of the Zebra Collective: an online mentoring and training service built on a combination of their research and experience in the effective management and leadership of creative people. Zebra Collective not only delivers their latest ideas, but also curates exclusive interviews with world class creatives. Jeff is an in demand speaker and consultant in the field of creativity and harnessing the creative workforce.

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Living With A Creative Mind

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