The Team
Who We Are
Adam Hart
Founder & Clinic Manager
My name is Adam Hart, and I'm thrilled to be the clinic manager at Positive Steps since its opening in November 2020. With a diploma in counselling, my primary role is to ensure our wonderful clients receive the utmost care and support across all aspects of their therapy journey.
As a dedicated and kind-hearted individual, I genuinely enjoy working with people and supporting them through their healing process. I take great care in matching our clients with the right therapist to ensure they receive personalised care and guidance to achieve their therapeutic goals, whether it's healing from trauma and anxiety or working towards personal growth.
In addition to overseeing all operations and maintaining the quality of service at our online clinic throughout Australia, I also focus on building strong industry connections. If you're interested in exploring our therapy options or would like to set up a free consultation, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email or our clinic's phone number. I look forward to speaking with you soon!
Education
UK Diploma of Counselling level 7
ICF Development & Life Couching
Skills & Oversee
Counselling Psychology - Operations Management - Customer Support & Care - Business Development
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Lahra Sheppard
Clinic Supervisor - TRAUMA & ANXIETY THERAPIST
My name is Lahra, and I am a counsellor and Clinic Supervisor at Positive Steps, passionate about supporting people through change, healing, and the difficult experiences that life can bring.
I have over 8 years of experience supporting people through a range of areas including anxiety, depression, trauma, domestic violence, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, and mental health conditions. I also have a strong interest in addiction support, where I facilitate a recovery program that provides both knowledge and ongoing support for individuals and their families.
I’m passionate about creating genuine connection and supporting people in a way that feels safe, understood, and tailored to their individual needs. I take a holistic and flexible approach to therapy, drawing from a range of evidence based approaches such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Person Centred Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and mindfulness based strategies while also supporting people to work towards their goals at a pace that feels right for them with choice and control always remaining with the individual.
In my role as Clinic Supervisor, I also support our therapists and oversee key areas of the service to ensure everything runs smoothly, consistently, and in a way that feels safe and supportive. This includes providing guidance in more complex situations, supporting communication and coordination, liaising with support coordinators where needed, and helping ensure each person feels supported throughout their time with us.
I believe that meaningful support comes from feeling heard, understood, and supported at the right time, and I’m here to help make that process feel a little easier.
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Jess Pope
TRAUMA & ANXIETY THERAPIST
Jess is a compassionate and empathetic therapist who practices trauma- informed, client led strategies to support her clients to achieve their goals.
As a trained social worker, Jess believes her clients are the experts of their own lives and aims to support this expertise through non-judgemental, empowering
practices that focus on her clients’ strengths and their right to choice, control and dignity
of risk.
Jess has worked with people from a range of backgrounds, including people who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and Aboriginal/Torres Straight Islander communities, as well as those who identify with a range of mental and physical diagnoses.
Jess is passionate about her work and as such she is devoted to continuous learning and development to ensure her approach to supporting clients is informed by both traditional therapeutic interventions and the latest research and methodologies.
Jess has completed a Master of Social Work at the University of Melbourne as well as formal studies in Trauma
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Sam Marcroft-Bache
TRAUMA & ANXIETY THERAPIST
Sam is a Psychosocial Support Therapist / Trauma and Anxiety Psychologist at Positive Steps Clinic, bringing substantial knowledge and experience to her role. Sam has a 1st Class Bachelors of Science degree with Honours in Psychology as well as extensive training, both practical and theoretical, which has equipped her with a diverse and comprehensive foundation in understanding the complexities of mental health. The approach Sam takes to therapy is deeply rooted in respectful, trauma-informed practices allowing her to provide compassionate and effective support to clients.
Sam has a wide range of experience working with individuals diagnosed with dissociative disorders, CPTSD, anxiety disorders, autism, borderline personality disorder, schizoaffective disorder as well as various other mental health conditions and has subsequently developed the ability to tailor her approach to each clients unique needs. Sam is empathetic, passionate and committed to empowering her clients to navigate their healing journey, building resilience and developing effective coping strategies.
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Clare Rantall
TRAUMA & ANXIETY THERAPIST
Clare is a registered counsellor with the Australian Counsellors
Association (ACA), holding a Bachelor of Psychology and postgraduate
qualifications in Counselling. Her work is grounded in a trauma-informed,
compassionate approach, with a strong focus on supporting people
experiencing anxiety, depression, and the impacts of trauma.
Clare takes a holistic view of wellbeing and recognises the connection between mind, body, environment, and lived experience. With a background in the fitness industry, she values movement, balance, and time outdoors
as meaningful supports for emotional regulation and mental health. She has experience working within the
juvenile justice system, supporting vulnerable young people through a trauma-responsive framework. This
work has shaped Clare’s commitment to creating safe, respectful, and empowering therapeutic relationships.
Clare is also passionate about working with horses and is currently undertaking training in Equine-Assisted
Psychotherapy, with the intention of offering this as part of a therapeutic program in the future. As a mother of
twins, she brings warmth, lived experience, and understanding to her work, and values creating a calm,
collaborative space where clients feel supported and heard.
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Vicky Williams
TRAUMA & ANXIETY THERAPIST
Vicky has a lifelong dedication to supporting vulnerable individuals as a compassionate holistic therapist with extensive
experience in mental health, social work, and mindfulness practices. She has worked with diverse populations, supporting
people with a range of mental, physical, and emotional challenges, and has a particular focus on mental health, sleep coaching, and
stress management.
Vicky is trained as a Buddhist Mindful Meditation Practitioner, incorporating mindfulness techniques into her therapeutic work, and is a certified Mental Health First Aider. As a Compassion-Focused Therapist, she employs evidence-based approaches such as motivational interviewing to empower clients and help them move towards lasting, positive change. Vicky also combines her passion for creativity with her therapeutic approach as a Therapeutic Art Coach, helping individuals tap into their inner creativity as a form of healing and self-expression. Having personally navigated disability and adversity, Vicky views these experiences as vital assets that enrich her work and strengthen her deep sense of empathy and resilience. She is committed to creating a supportive and empowering environment for each individual she works with, guiding them toward their fullest potential. Vicky believes in the transformative power of compassion, empathy, and resilience, and she continues to be inspired by her work every day. Her mission is to provide holistic support that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit, helping others live their best lives in alignment with their unique strengths and abilities.
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Sam is a Psychosocial Support Therapist / Trauma and Anxiety Psychologist at Positive Steps Clinic, bringing substantial knowledge and experience to her role. Sam has a 1st Class Bachelors of Science degree with Honours in Psychology as well as extensive training, both practical and theoretical, which has equipped her with a diverse and comprehensive foundation in understanding the complexities of mental health. The approach Sam takes to therapy is deeply rooted in respectful, trauma-informed practices allowing her to provide compassionate and effective support to clients.
Sam has a wide range of experience working with individuals diagnosed with dissociative disorders, CPTSD, anxiety disorders, autism, borderline personality disorder, schizoaffective disorder as well as various other mental health conditions and has subsequently developed the ability to tailor her approach to each clients unique needs. Sam is empathetic, passionate and committed to empowering her clients to navigate their healing journey, building resilience and developing effective coping strategies.
Kelly. M
TRAUMA & ANXIETY THERAPIST
We’re pleased to introduce Kelly, a warm and compassionate therapist who brings both
professional expertise and a deeply human approach to her work. Kelly holds a Level 5 Somatic
Trauma-Informed Diploma and a Level 4 Diploma in Integrative Counselling. With a background in
supporting individuals through anxiety, depression, addiction, chronic pain, and neurodivergent
experiences, Kelly works in a way that gently honours both the mind and the body.
Her approach is grounded in Polyvagal Theory, which helps clients better understand how the nervous system
responds to safety, threat, and connection. By working with the body’s natural rhythms, Kelly supports clients in regulating emotions,
easing overwhelm, and creating a deep sense of internal safety—an essential foundation for healing, especially from trauma.
Kelly draws on a range of evidence-based techniques tailored to each person’s needs, including Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Flash
Technique, the Rewind Technique for trauma and PTSD, and cognitive-behavioural strategies. These tools are used to help reduce distress, clear
emotional blocks, and shift unhelpful patterns.
What truly sets Kelly apart is her ability to create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel genuinely seen and supported. Her sessions are
collaborative, compassionate, and paced to suit each individual. With Kelly, clients are invited to explore how past experiences may be
influencing the present—and to build the resilience, emotional balance, and self-compassion needed to move from surviving to truly living.
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Dani Clayton
TRAUMA & ANXIETY THERAPIST
With over 10 years of experience as a therapist, Dani brings warmth, wisdom, and a
deep commitment to supporting people through life’s challenges. She holds a BA
Honours Degree in Counselling with Brief Interventions and is trained in Person-
Centred Therapy, CBT, NLP, and Solution-Focused approaches. Her professional
background spans a wide range of settings, including domestic abuse refuges, eating
disorder clinics, mental health wards, and telephone support services.
Driven by the belief that mental health is just as important as physical health, Dani is passionate about creating safe,
supportive spaces where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered. She thrives on connecting with people, learning
their stories, and staying curious about the ever-evolving field of psychology.
Outside of her professional life, she finds joy in swimming, painting, walking dogs, and spending time with her two
beloved cats. She also volunteers with her local cat charity, combining her love of animals with her desire to give back.
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