Our Team

Photo of Alana Howells

I work with:

  • Children

  • Adolescents

  • Adults

  • Couples

Alana Howells

I am a clinical psychologist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist with over twenty years of experience across private practice, psychiatric settings, clinical management, tertiary education, and the community sector.

Throughout the first decade of my career, I worked extensively with children, individuals, and families who had experienced trauma, abuse, or other relationship difficulties, along with managing a community therapy service and providing supervision. Since that time, I have focused on working with adults, couples, adolescents, and children in private practice, as well as teaching Psychology and Counselling at postgraduate level. I am a Board-Approved Supervisor, and provide supervision for the Clinical Registrar Program as well as for early career and more experienced psychologists and psychotherapists.

Currently, I work primarily in private practice, whilst also providing group and individual supervision in university settings.

Please go to my website www.alanahowells.com.au for further information about me and my approach. To make an inquiry, please contact me directly via email (alana@aurorapsychology.com.au) or phone (0432 711 060).

Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist

Location: Ascot Vale (from October 2026)

Areas of interest:

  • PTSD, complex trauma, and other traumatic experiences

  • Therapy for therapists

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Chronic health problems

  • Self-development

  • Disordered eating

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Difficulty managing emotions

  • Helping people to process difficult past events

  • Child therapy

  • Parent counselling

  • Supervision

Available times:

  • Mondays

  • Tuesdays

  • Thursdays

  • Fridays

Charu Goel

I work with:

  • Adolescents aged 16 years and over

  • Adults

Charu Goel

I am a registered psychologist with a postgraduate degree in Clinical Psychology.

I have worked in not-for-profit for many years as well as in private practice, and have had experience working in a hospital setting. I have worked with adolescents and adults from diverse cultural backgrounds and have counselling skills in working with a range of issues. I have knowledge of trauma-informed recovery models and experience in the delivery of evidence informed practice in trauma recovery.

Primarily working within a psychodynamic psychotherapy framework, my approach involves helping clients  ‘make meaning’ of their problems such that they feel empowered to make creative choices in their life and find a sense of agency.

I am trained in various other counselling approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and client-centred approaches, which I utilise to suit the needs of my clients. 

More recently I have provided supervision to counsellors working with refugee communities who have experienced torture and other traumatic events, providing advice and clinical direction in high risk and complex cases. I have been involved in providing individual and group supervision, reflective practice, professional learning, and specialist consultation to counsellors in trauma-informed practice. 

I have also been involved with teaching psychology at universities and psychoanalytic research work.

Psychologist

Location: Doncaster

Areas of interest:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Complex trauma

  • Childhood abuse and neglect

  • Attachment wounds

  • Grief and loss

  • Life transitions

  • Self-esteem

  • Personality disorders

  • Relationship issues

Available times:

  • Tuesdays 10am to 1pm (Telehealth)

  • Fridays 2pm to 7pm

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Dorothy Minca

I work with:

  • Children

  • Adolescents

  • Adults

Dorothy Minca

I am a mature person and have worked in a number of diverse settings. I have been a registered psychologist for 21 years. Prior to this, I was a primary school teacher. After completing my psychology course, I worked in a not-for-profit organisation in substance abuse education and treatment. In this setting I worked with both adults and young people in withdrawal units as well as running groups, providing individual counselling and working with families. I also ran training for staff and supervised student placements during this time. I have worked in private practice for more than 15 years. 

I enjoy helping people work through issues that are causing difficulties in their lives. It is very rewarding to see clients making positive changes in their lives, being able to help them learn new ways of being in the world and improving their relationships. I am committed to ongoing professional development.   

I am experienced in working with a wide range of mental health presentations, using a variety of therapeutic modalities to meet individual needs.

Psychologist

Location: Doncaster

Areas of interest:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety and stress

  • Addiction and recovery

  • Grief and loss

  • PTSD and trauma

  • Life transitions

  • Self-esteem

  • Play therapy

Available times:

  • Tuesdays 10am to 5pm

  • Wednesdays 11am to 6pm

  • Fridays 10am to 5pm

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Jessica Pienaar Law

I work with:

  • Adolescents

  • Adults

Jessica Pienaar Law

I am an experienced clinical psychologist who has worked in private and public health services (general and psychiatric), the emergency service sector, schools and universities, as well as in private practice. As a result of these experiences, I am passionate about supporting clients develop self-awareness and skillfulness in coping with life stressors. I have a particular interest in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for emotion dysregulation and recovery from trauma. I have experience working across the lifespan (children, adolescents, adults and older adults) and am committed to supporting families managing complex life challenges.  I have found that accurate assessment and collaborating with clients on treatment plans strengthens recovery.

I have a strong commitment to ongoing professional development and have experience in a range of evidence-based interventions. In addition to my work at Aurora Psychology, I continue to be involved in academic teaching and am an AHPRA board-approved supervisor for provisional psychologists, as well as the clinical registrar program. 

I am trained in a range of treatment approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Mindfulness, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Existential Psychotherapy.

Senior Clinical Psychologist

Location: Doncaster

Areas of interest:

  • Emotion dysregulation and Borderline Personality Disorder

  • Trauma and post-traumatic stress

  • Chronic illness and pain

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Bipolar Disorder

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Adjustment to stressful life changes 

  • Body image issues

  • Disordered eating

  • Parenting

  • Job or study dissatisfaction

  • Drug and alcohol issues

  • Sleep problems

  • Cognitive and educational assessments

  • Learning difficulties

  • Self-development

  • Clinical supervision

Available times:

  • Mondays 2pm to 4pm

  • Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm (Telehealth; for existing clients only)

  • Thursdays 8:30am to 6pm

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Olga Roumanos

I work with:

  • Adolescents aged 16 years and over

  • Adults

Olga Roumanos

I am a psychologist experienced in working with adolescents and adults. I offer a warm, compassionate and safe space for therapy. I aim to prioritise clients' needs and collaborate with them in therapy.

I predominantly use interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy in my work, but also incorporate body-based interventions, compassion-focussed therapy, psychodynamic therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. I enjoy assisting clients to develop insight into their difficulties, understand how the past is impacting them in the present and connect with their emotions, mind and body. I aim to help clients strengthen the relationship they have with themselves and others.
I recognise the existence of gender inequality and social injustice in therapy, so I work from feminist, systemic and trauma-informed frameworks. I am culturally sensitive and informed. I am passionate about helping clients develop knowledge and insight into their difficulties to assist them in gaining a sense of control and empowering them to make informed decisions in their lives.

Psychologist

Location: Doncaster

Areas of interest:

  • Depression/ low mood

  • Anxiety disorders

  • Interpersonal/relationship difficulties

  • Life transition/ adjustment difficulties

  • Work or study stress

  • Family of origin issues

  • Trauma

  • Domestic/family violence

  • Grief/loss

Available times:

  • Mondays 12pm to 7pm

  • Thursdays 3pm to 5pm (Telehealth only)

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Rosemary Gonella

I work with:

  • Adolescents

  • Adults

  • Couples

Rosemary Gonella

I am a qualified psychotherapist with many years of experience in the helping professions.

I am skilled in supporting those who have experienced various life matters such as anxiety, depression, family and relationship issues along with grief and loss, life transitions and trauma. I work with individuals, couples, adolescents and have worked in many different fields from crisis to complex presenting issues.

I have experience utilising many different therapeutic methods including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Motivational and Solution Focused approaches, especially Trauma-Informed methods. Throughout your time with me, we will work together to enable you to reach your goals where the focus is on empowering you in a holistic, person-centred approach.

I am known to be kind, compassionate and non-judgemental.

I have a Masters in Clinical Counselling and an Accreditation in Mental Health Social Work.

I am able to provide services under a Mental Health Care Plan, or privately billed, depending on your preference.

Mental Health Social Worker and Psychotherapist

Location: Doncaster

Areas of interest:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Trauma

  • Grief and loss

  • Family violence

  • Borderline Personality Disorder

Available times:

  • Wednesdays 10am to 5pm (Telehealth only)

  • Thursdays 10am to 5pm

  • Fridays 10am to 5pm

Book now