
Our Team
Kate Bartlett
PSYCHOLOGIST & DIRECTOR
*Please note, Kate is located at our Gold Coast Office. She continues to accept ACT clients via telehealth.
Kate is a psychologist with a special interest in working with mothers and their families in the perinatal period. She has a 18+ years of experience working in various settings, having worked for many years in Mental Health, Justice Health, Alcohol & Drug Services. She has worked for the Perinatal Mental Health Consultation Service, the Adult Mental Health Day Service as well as within the Maternity Unit at Calvary Public Hospital. She brings to the practice experience working in both public and private inpatient psychiatric settings and has previously worked in private practice.
Kate founded Brighter Beginnings from a passion in supporting women and families experiencing perinatal mood disturbance (depression, bipolar disorder), birth trauma, anxiety, issues with parent- infant bonding and attachment, adjustment to parenting and perinatal grief and loss.
In addition to working with clients in the perinatal period, Kate is experienced in providing assessment and support to those clients undertaking weight loss journeys, including bariatric surgery..
Kate is experienced in a range of therapeutic modalities including Emotional Focussed Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapies. She is also trained in the Circles of Security Parenting program, is a trained Marte Meo practitioner and is trained in the use of Eye Movement Desensitisation Therapy (EMDR Therapy) with select clients.
As a mother of 3, Kate brings an awareness of the impact of perinatal distress and its effects, not just on the mother-infant relationship, but on the wellbeing of the entire family. She has also undertaken doula training and is able to provide birthing education and planning.
Rechelle Carroll
MENTAL HEALTH ACCREDITED SOCIAL WORKER
Rechelle is an accredited mental health social worker with over 15 years of experience. She holds a special interest in perinatal mental health and is known for her warmth, compassion, and sensitivity. Rechelle provides a range of focused psychological strategies using a strength-based, client-centred approach. Rechelle’s empathy and passion are evident in her commitment to supporting women and their families through the unique challenges of pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood.
Rechelle works with individuals and families across the perinatal period, addressing trauma, mood disorders, grief and loss, and perinatal-specific conditions such as perinatal anxiety and depression.
A mother herself, Rechelle brings a holistic, non-judgmental perspective to her practice, helping parents navigate the emotional and psychological transitions of pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. She has worked in a variety of mental health settings, including public mental health, private practice & the Gidget Foundation.
Rechelle’s therapeutic approach is grounded in evidence-based practices that are tailored to the specific needs of perinatal clients. These include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Attachment Theory, Trauma-Informed Care, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, and Polyvagal Theory. Her work focuses on helping clients manage the emotional and physical impacts of the perinatal period, creating a safe, supportive environment for healing and growth. She fosters resilience and emotional well-being, as her clients navigate the transformative journey of parenthood.
Jasper
WANNA -BE THERAPY DOG
Our beautiful Jasper (affectionately known as Jazzy) is a Bichon Frise and our resident wanna-be therapy dog. Jasper has been part of the Brighter Beginnings family since October 2019.
Jasper is extremely affectionate and seeks cuddles from those that will willingly (or unwillingly) offer them up. Not a fan of the term “stage 5 clinger”, Jasper prefers to describe himself as more of an “enthusiastic sidekick”. He is great with kids, thriving from the attention offered. While he can be well behaved at work, there still a whole lot of crazily cute and cheeky puppy behaviour to be witnessed by this little Jekyll & Hyde.
Semi- retired and recently relocated to the Gold Coast, Jasper is still available to our Canberra clients. Being a virtual therapy dog is a tough gig, but he's up to the job!