Monique Toohey Assoc MAPS
Founder / Managing Director
Senior Consultant Psychologist (Educational & Developmental)
Project Management Consultant
Monique holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree (Family Studies), and then pursued her Master in Psychology (Child and Family) at ACU National and a CertIV in Workplace Training and Assessment. Monique has been working within the Private Education Sector and the Community Development field for 14 years in the roles of Adolescent Counsellor & Psychologist, Community Educator and Trainer. Delivering training seminars in Melbourne, Sydney and Indonesia. She is an experienced trainer delivering capacity building courses on mental health for Muslim women and seminars on a variety of Mental health and personal development related topics. Monique’s interest in multicultural mental health extends beyond Australian shores, as she has worked internationally delivering Intercultural training in Indonesia for Australian & Indonesian Aid and Development teams and Trauma Counselling Training for Indonesian community workers Post 2004 Tsunami.
Monique has held project management consultant positions, coordinating a range of different projects for non-profit organisations, at both State and National levels.
Monique was selected as a delegate in both the Australia-Indonesia Institute Muslim Leaders Exchange Program in 2005 and the Australia-Malaysia Institute Muslim Leaders Exchange Program in 2008 and is a 2009 Asialink Leaders Program Alumni.
As a Psychologist she specialises in working with children, adolescents, women and families. She has a keen interest in Multicultural and Muslim Mental Health.
“The way she empowers her staff results in people performing above expectations and taking on roles that others wouldn’t have thought them capable of.” Mark Dobson – Author of Rise Above and Back Off Bully / Performance Consultant – Innate Solutions
“Monique’s expertise providing psychological services to Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities, with a particular focus on young people is hard to find. Monique has demonstrated herself to be a thoughtful, creative ‘lateral thinker’ with a knack for developing the potential in those around her and inspiring particularly the youth around her”. Jonathan Parker – Consultant Psychologist (State & Independent Schools)
Monique attained a Black Belt in Tae Kwondo at age 15 and in the same year secured a position as a Sales Merchandiser for a Multi-national company, making her the youngest employee in this position. Monique now re-enters the business world as founder of Nasihah Consulting.
Rizal Abu Bakar PhD Candidate MAPS
Registered Consultant Psychologist (Clinical)
Rizal is a Registered Psychologist who holds a Master of Counselling Psychology and is currently completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at The Australian National University (ANU). He is a full member of the Australian Psychological Society. Rizal is experienced in providing counselling and clinical psychology services for a broad range of common psychological issues, particularly anxiety and depression. He utilises an empowering client-centred approach with evidence-based treatment including CBT, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Mindfulness based Intervention, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Motivational Interviewing. In addition to the above-mentioned best practice treatments, Rizal also uses Islamic based intervention to enhance treatments.
Rizal has fluency in Indonesian, Malay & Brunei.
Sarah Novotny MAPS
Registered Consultant Psychologist (Educational & Developmental)
Having completed a BArts (Monash), PGrad Diploma Psych (ACU), MPsych (ACU), Sarah has extensive experience providing Psychological Services to Adolescents and families within the Catholic Education Sector.
“Most people, at some point in their life, will have issues or difficulties that could be helped by the process of talking through their thoughts and feelings. Throughout counselling clients are assisted to develop insight, skills and strategies for improving and maintaining mental health and well-being. I use evidence based strategies including cognitive behaviour therapy and solution focused therapy to empower clients of all ages. I have a particular interest in working with children adolescents and families. I have many years experience providing counselling and assessment services within a secondary school setting and have a proven strength in engaging adolescents in the process of change and healing. I also have considerable experience in diagnosing academic ability and in developing realistic and helpful strategies to assist students to achieve their individual potential within the classroom.”
Dr. Senem Eren
Life Coach, NLP therapist & Clinical Hypnosis
Senem is a dedicated life coach who holds provisional registration as a Psychologist who is passionate about empowering people to build on their unique strengths and experience their life with purpose. She has been working as a psychological researcher since 2005 and has recently completed her PhD at Melbourne University, examining the emotional responses of children who have experienced a head injury. Senem has completed a Bachelor of Science (Melbourne University), Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (La Trobe University) and a Cert IV in Life Coaching. As a public speaker and trainer, she has delivering numerous seminars and workshops in both Melbourne and Turkey. Senem has been awarded over $95,000 in awards and scholarships for her work as a PhD scholar and has presented extensively at both national and international conferences. Her research has also been published in several internationally renowned journals.
Senem has passion for people and living a life full of positivity. Her zest, enthusiasm and bubbly personality is contagious and assists her clients in building self-esteem and courage to live a life filled with purpose.
Senem has fluency in Turkish.
Maryam Bekris
Administration Support
You will no doubt speak with Maryam when you call us. You will her friendly and down to Earth voice when you make your first appointment and when she rings to remind you of upcoming appointments. Whether it’s a laugh or a cup of tea, Maryam will make you feel right at home when you visit us at Nasihah Consulting. Being a mum of 3 and previous administration experience in not-for-profit organisations, her lively approach in our reception area is refreshingly vibrant.
Maryam has fluency in Greek & is a fabulous cook.
Lutfiye Akin
Administration Support
Lutfiye has a passion for Education and red chillie peppers and has over 20 years of experience in the workforce first 11 years in the Public Sector as Admin / Receptionist, Exams Officer, Qualified INAATI Accredited Interpreter/Translator & the second half raising 5 children. She is a very active volunteer within the not-for-profit and Independent education sector. She currently serves as a President of Parents Committee.
Her ultimate goal is to be a good mother and continue to be active in the community as well as upgrade her education to keep up with the ever challenging and changing world.
Lutfiye has fluency in Turkish.