Eating Disorders Queensland

Lisa Kelly

Peer Support Worker

The peer support worker role seeks to complement other therapies and offer a safe, compassionate space to connect with a peer who understands the struggle involved with overcoming an eating disorder. Lisa has a lived experience of eating issues and trauma, and holds knowledge and understanding around the difficulties associated with the journey towards recovery. Since having overcome these experiences she has volunteered as a mentor, recovery group facilitator and speaker within the Eating Disorders Qld space for many years.

One of EDQ’s most important values is that recovery is possible and Lisa is committed to empowering those in recovery by providing non-judgemental, compassionate support to break the shame and stigmas associated with having an eating disorder. Lisa values all individuals as experts of their own experience and seeks to reduce the isolation that is a key issue in the eating issues community. A life that isn’t dictated by an eating disorder is possible and Lisa is passionate about supporting individuals on their journey to recovery. A visual artist and musician in her own time, Lisa has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and is currently completing her Masters in Social Work.

Mary-Ann Kissane

Carer and Family Coach

Mary-Ann has a Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Counselling) and works as a Carer and Family Coach at EDQ. Mary-Ann has worked in the field of eating disorders for 6 years including short term support and group facilitation for people with eating disorders as well as carers, families and friends. For the past two years, Mary-Ann has supported carers individually and in a group setting, to help them improve their understanding of eating disorders and ways they can support their loved one.

Mary-Ann’s work is informed by Professor Janet Treasure’s work, and she is passionate about helping families work towards a collaborative approach to recovery. Mary-Ann particularly enjoys facilitating the family skills workshop. Mary-Ann enjoys spending time with her family, being in the outdoors and by the water.

Melissa Marks

Carer and Family Coach

Mel works in EDQ’s Family Carer program as a Coach and is an experienced and accredited counsellor with over 24 years’ experience working in the non-for-profit sector. She holds a Masters in Mental Health specialising in art therapy and has worked across three Australian states and territories. Mel has spent the past 10 years working with both consumers and carers exclusively in the field of eating disorders. Prior to this Mel was a youth and family counsellor working with at risk young people and their families. Mel has an eclectic and integrated approach to counselling and practices from a strength based, client-centred framework. Mel is also an educator and speaker and is passionate about playing a role in the prevention and early intervention of eating disorders and improving body image and self-esteem for all people.

Mel has been happily married for over 19 years and is the mother of two children, a dog and five chickens. Mel enjoys singing, playing the guitar and writing music as well as painting, sculpture, photography and dance. Mel enjoys spending her time with her friends and family and traveling at any and every opportunity.

Emma Trappett

Senior Practitioner- Clinical and Carer & Family programs

Emma is a registered psychologist with AHPRA and holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science. Emma has worked in the field of mental health for the past 6 years with children, adolescents and adults providing assessment and therapeutic support. Emma started her career working as a support counsellor in eating disorders for families and carers and Emma has continued to work with eating issues in youth support and private practice alongside anxiety, depression, complex trauma, autism etc.

Emma is passionate about increasing awareness and understanding that any individual can experience an eating issue. Emma believes recovery from an eating disorder is possible and hopes to see increasing access to eating disorder services. She further hopes to be a part of reducing shame, isolation and stigma that surrounds eating issues and mental health and help individuals create a positive, compassionate relationship with their body, mind and whole self. Emma’s framework is collaborative, strengths-based and person-centred. Emma’s goal is to help each individual feel safe and supported on their recovery journey. She works from a range of approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Expressive Therapies. Emma enjoys spending time with her family, friends and dachshund, listening to music, road trips and sitting by the water.

David Langford

Eating Issues Practitioner/Community Table Facilitator

David is an early career Social Work Clinician who recently completed a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) and a Bachelor of Social Work. David’s framework is underpinned by the Feminist perspective, cultural sensitivity, trauma-informed practice and a person-centred approach. This positions the client at the centre of their recovery journey. David takes a holistic approach when working with clients experiencing eating disorders.

David truly believes that recovery from an eating disorder is possible. And while recovery is something only the individual can do, they don’t have to do it alone. Through establishing meaningful connections David helps to facilitate the recovery journey. He is passionate about reduce the experience of isolation, and shame and stigma associated with mental health concerns, including eating disorders. David enjoys being part of the vibrant eating disorder community. Acknowledging that everyone is different and comes with their own inherent strengths, which can be utilised within recovery.

As a practitioner in the Individual Clinical stream of EDQ’s services, David works with clients in one-on-one and group settings. He takes an eclectic approach utilising Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment Theory, Solution-Focused Therapy, Crisis-intervention and theories of Grief and Loss. In conjunction with the client, David adapts his approach to suit their recovery journey. David helped to develop the meal wellbeing program ‘The Community Table: recovery through connected eating’.

David enjoys spending time with his family and connecting with friends. He has a broad taste in music and likes to sing along, albeit off key at times.

Emily Stanley

Eating Issues Practitioner/Peer Mentor Program Coordinator

Emily is an accredited counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association and a practitioner in the Individual Clinical stream of EDQ’s services, Emily gained experience working as a case worker and counsellor in the areas of foster care, refugee and asylum seeker support, community development, disability services and youth support, prior to joining TEIC in a locum position in 2017.

Emily is passionate about reducing stigma and increasing understanding of mental health, specifically around eating issues. Emily takes a blended approach to her practice which respects and honours the client’s experience and strengths.

Emily is very close to her family and loves spending time and laughing with them. She also enjoys music, painting and travelling.

Nat Scales

Eating Issues and Yoga Practitioner/Group Facilitator

Nat is a practitioner in the Individual Clinical stream of EDQ’s services, (Masters of Counselling), who has been working as a counsellor and case worker for over 10 years in the areas of homelessness, mental health, women’s services and eating issues. She also is a qualified yoga teacher for both adults and kids. Nat see her work as an exploration with people to enquire and find healing, freedom and contentment in their lives. She works from a range of approaches and values the therapeutic relationship as restorative and a place for change.

Nat enjoys spending time with her family and animals (2 dogs, 2 cats and 3 chickens), camping and road trips to the Outback, playing football and being by the water.

Belinda Chelius

General Manager

Belinda is a skilled, dedicated, culturally sensitive and passionate feminist Senior Social Work Clinician, who holds a BA (Health Sc & Soc. Services), MSocWK degree. She has practiced in the field of Complex Mental Health, Dual-Diagnosis (Alcohol and/or Other Drugs), Trauma (Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence), and Eating Issues for over 17 years in the not-for-profit sector.

Belinda is experienced in leading teams in these complex areas, as well as navigating ethical and service delivery issues in a proactive and creative way within the boundaries of service and funding agreements and AASW practice standards. A natural progression of her career has been to move into a broader systems reform practice, pinpointing service delivery gaps for clients and implementing reform initiatives. She has achieved this due to a strong natural ability to connect with various inter-disciplinary sectors and has developed substantial interagency connections with links across the NGO sector, public mental health sector and primary health care.

Belinda is a mother to two extraordinary young women, has been married for 28 years, and values spending time with her family. She has deep spiritual connections and is an avid paddle boarder.

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