Process

Find out more about how we work, how we can help your family and what to expect from the process. Read more here for an overview or please call us if you have other questions.

Rewiring Brains with Neurofeedback

New and exciting developments are occurring in the modern world of Neuroscience, which means that the possibilities for helping children are so much greater. We are dedicated to being at the cutting edge of these developments and have integrated new tools ..

Find Out More

Children's Behaviour Issues

It can be overwhelming and stressful for the rest of the family when a child has challenging behaviours. Find out how we can help your child learn more positive behaviours whilst helping you develop some new parenting...

Emotional Issues

Children are generally very resilient to life's knocks but sometimes they need support from professionals for emotional issues that cause them to be unhappy or hold them back in life. Find out more about the counselling services we offer to help your child reach their full potential...

Learning Disorders in Children

As experts in psycho-educational issues, Directions provides educational assessments to diagnose learning disorders and giftedness. We also provide counselling for the full range of educational difficulties.

Find Out More

Welcome to Directions

(Learning, Behavioural & Emotional Resolutions)

As a psychologist practice based in Townsville, North Queensland, we specialise in the emotional wellbeing of families and children. Is your family struggling with challenging behaviours or changing circumstances? Do you have concerns about your child or teenager’s performance at school? Learning about and dealing with the world around them can be difficult and confusing at times for children. Sometimes children, and their families, need a little extra support.

Learning Disorders

Dyslexia is a fairly common condition affecting approximately 10 per cent of the population. Unfortunately many children may not be diagnosed until Grade 3 or 4, which makes their early years in school difficult and affects their self-confidence.

Dyslexia is caused by differences in the ways the brain works and is not related to IQ, in fact, many dyslexics are highly intelligent and creative.

Emotional and Behavioural Challenges

Anxiety is one of the most common disorders in childhood and the many who seek help from a psychologist will be diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Neurological and Developmental

Autism is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s).

Children with Autism may appear to have unusual behaviours, emotions and ways of dealing with the world around them but it is important to remember that these are due to neurological differences in the way their brains work, not through choice.

Neurofeedback

Neuroscience now views the brain as a dynamic organ that is capable of changing and regenerating itself.

This means we can literally ‘retrain’ or ‘rewire’ the brains of children with learning disorders or developmental delays to work more effectively. The technique that psychologists now use to do this is called Neurofeedback.

Groups and Workshops

“Fear Fighters” to help the anxious and sensitive child

“Dragon Tamers” to gain anger management techniques

“Relationship Guru” to help build Relationships and Friendships

PEERS : Evidence Based programme teaching explicit social skills for Children and Adolescents

Jutta Dempsey

Bachelor of Education (Uni)
Graduate Diploma of Psychology

Jutta is a Registered Psychologist and Registered Teacher with over 40 years experience. As a teacher and guidance counsellor and child therapist, Jutta established Directions, the first child directed practise in Townsville, over 30 years ago because she became acutely aware of the lack of services available in for children with learning and behavioural difficulties.

Chelsea Corbett

Bachelor of Psychology

Chelsea Corbett is a is a Registered Psychologist, with over 9 years of experience working with challenging young people. From a cattle family, she brings a unique understanding and genuine authenticity to her therapy with children and adolescents, together with a determination to improve their wellbeing within the home, school and community.

Anna Quenault

Bachelor of Science
Graduate Diploma of Psychology

Anna Quenault is a Registered Psychologist with over 5 years experience with Directions having previous experience in various counselling and mentoring roles. Anna is passionate about psychoeducational education for children and adolescents, and parental management.

Shane Davison

is a Psychology Graduate from rural Queensland who has worked in Education and Disability Support roles both in Australia and overseas. He is excited to complete his provisional internship from the experienced staff at Directions. He has a passion for understanding early childhood development and interventions for Oppositional Defiance Disorder and anger management.

Kelly Bell

is a Psychology (Honours) Graduate from James Cook University who has experience working with children, adolescents and adults. She is a thoughtful and empathetic psychologist determined to completed her provisional internship at Directions. Kelly has a passion for helping children and their families achieve their best by providing evidence based strategies to navigate a wide range of neurodevelopmental and mood disorders including Autism, Anxiety, Depression, Specific Learning Disorder & ADHD.

Leena Coutts

Office Manager

Leena Coutts has extensive experience in Reception and Administration and considers her role to make the children, adolescents and families to feel welcome and their wellbeing a priority whilst accessing our Psychological Practice. She is an experienced mother and grandmother in her private life and this enables her to provide a practical and considered approach to organising the daily functioning at Directions.