Our Team

Sandra Ifrah (Director / Principal Psychologist)

Sandra Ifrah is the Director and Principal clinician at the Family and Trauma Centre. As a registered psychologist with over 15 years of experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the practice, specialising in the treatment of mental health conditions, the administration of neuropsychological assessments and the use of psychometric tools. Sandra’s experience stems from working many years in both the public and private sectors supporting clients experiencing various presentations and challenges, with one common goal – enhance quality of life.

As an experienced speaker and presenter, Sandra is also passionate about raising awareness for mental health, where she facilitates workshops and professional development to the community and to other professionals. She is a coach and mentor for other clinicians as well as a lecturer and clinical student supervisor at one of Melbourne’s top and reputable universities.

Judith David – Psychologist

Judith David is a clinical psychologist and member of the Australian Psychological Society and the APS college of clinical psychologists. Judith has extensive experience in working with adults and young people presenting with a range of complex psychological difficulties. Judith currently facilitates our parenting and TEEN TRIBE group programs with great success as she has over 15 years experience running groups for kids and adults in various settings.

Judith particularly enjoys working with adolescents and families experiencing a variety of difficulties including parent-child relationship problems, complex behavioural difficulties, mood and anxiety difficulties and eating problems. Judith practices cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Elena Manning – Psychologist

Elena is a registered Psychologist with many years’ experience assisting people manage life stressors and challenges. Elena’s experience stems from years working in various setting to support people struggling with mental health. She utilizes a range of approaches, tailored to meet the individual’s needs, and recognizes that everyone has strengths and capabilities that that can be built on. 

Elena has significant experience in helping people recover from traumas, anxiety, depression, grief, chronic illness  and life transitions such as relationship breakdowns, retirement and job loss. Elena uses compassion, acceptance and trauma-informed approaches to help people break down any barriers to recovery and achieve some lightness and balance in their life. 

Lital Fee – Psychotherapist / Family Therapist

Lauren Cariss  – Psychologist

Lauren is a registered psychologist with experience working in private practice, and educational and forensic settings. Before becoming a psychologist, she previously worked as a registered nurse predominately in community settings. 

Lauren has worked with a range of issues, but has interest in anxiety disorders, panic, stress, separation, reduced self-esteem, relationship issues, family violence, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, and healing from relational wounds from childhood. Lauren uses a person-centred approach toward establishing a supportive environment for her clients. She likes to draw on the client’s strengths and create a climate that fosters empowerment and change. Lauren makes use of therapeutic approaches that include trauma informed Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Emotional-Focused Therapy and EMDR.

Brent Caldwell  – Provisional Psychologist

Brent’s experience is with adolescents and adults presenting in crisis as well as persistent difficulties. Brent also works with couples and families to provide therapeutic support, conflict resolution and promote healthy communication and connection. He draws on Emotion-Focused Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, depending on the client needs. Brent is passionate about collaboratively helping clients explore issues and build skills at their own pace based on their own goals, strengths, and sensitivities. He has an interest in grief and trauma.

Brent is a warm and compassionate therapist who is dedicated to empowering his clients to gain insight into their behaviour to improve their mental health and well-being.

Carly Dober – Psychologist

Carly is a Registered Psychologist who has worked with people of various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds in both specialist physical health services (justice, family violence), schools (from Prep to Year 12) and specialist mental health services (adult residential services). She has also helped to facilitate group wellbeing programs for individuals and has co-facilitated group workshops focused on teaching people practical skills to manage distress.

Carly works with people of all ages and life stages. She uses a person-centred, strength-based approach in the working relationship. Carly has a strong focus on the holistic model of health and works with people’s values to try to explore what a meaningful life is to them. Carly has a focus on equipping her clients with psychological skills and strategies drawing from the most up-to-date evidence-based therapeutic models so that the clients she sees are able to thrive and succeed with what life throws their way.