About us
Dr Cristina Cacciotti Saija - Clinical Director
PhD, M.Psych (Clinical), PGDip Psych, BA Psych-DipEd
Dr Cristina Cacciotti Saija is an experienced clinical psychologist with expertise in child and youth mental health as well as family intervention. Cristina has worked with a wide range of complex mental health conditions, including severe anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, emotional dysregulation as well as perfectionism and psychotic illness in both young people and adults.
Cristina completed her PhD at The University of Sydney examining social cognition and social skills interventions for young people. She runs her private practice at Uspace (a specialised youth mental health facility) located at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Darlinghurst and is currently expanding her services to the inner west.
Cristina is passionate about early intervention and providing young people with skills to manage their psychological wellbeing. Cristina is committed to adopting a systemic approach and acknowledging the importance of dialogue between the individual, their family and sometimes the school environment to improve positive outcomes. Cristina is particularly interested in helping young people navigate modern day pressures commonly known to impact psychological wellbeing. Some of these include body image and self-esteem, social evaluation concerns, peer relations, social media use and academic performance as well as gender and identity issues.
Clinically, Cristina has worked in both private and government settings delivering individual and group-based interventions to youth and adult populations. Cristina has held positions as a senior clinical psychologist and researcher at Headspace Camperdown and the Brain and Mind Centre at The University of Sydney. Cristina also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary) with sound experience as a school teacher in the NSW education system. Cristina has lectured on postgraduate training programs at The University of Sydney and is registered as a primary supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA).
Nicole Lee - Consultant Psychologist
Nicole is a skilled psychologist who has specialised working in the fertility industry for the last 10 years with individuals and couples including with the LGBTQI+ community. Nicole has also worked with a wide range of mental health issues including life and work stress, anxiety (generalised/ panic attacks), depression, sleep/insomnia, drug and alcohol, loss and grief, pregnancy (antenatal and postnatal), gender and identity issues, fertility treatment options including IVF, the use of donor gametes and other parenting pathways including adoption and foster care. Nicole has worked in both a hospital setting and private rooms.
Nicole completed her degree at Macquarie University with both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. Nicole conducted qualitative research at Macquarie University with adoptees on the psychosocial aspects of adoption, attachment and spoke at the National Adoption Conference. Nicole is a registered psychologist with AHPRA and a member for the (APS) Australia Psychological Society.
Nicole is passionate about forming genuine bonds with people. Nicole has an open, warm and approachable nature and practices in an empathetic, non-judgemental manner. Nicole loves supporting clients throughout their life so that they can live a full and best quality of life. Nicole acknowledges the significance of this work and feels it is a privilege to witness and be a part of one’s life.
Sidra Hameed - Consultant Psychologist
Sidra is a warm and compassionate Clinical Psychology Registrar who strives to create a safe and supportive environment for those she works with. Sidra works with kids, adolescents and adults and has experience working with a range of different mental health conditions, including mood disorders, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, PTSD, OCD and psychosis. Sidra has had experience working in a range of different settings, including outpatient and inpatient settings such as psychiatric hospitals, as well as children, adolescents and young adults in non-government organisations.
With her background working as a School Psychologist for the Department of Education, Sidra is skilled in conducting psychometric assessments, particularly in assessing Specific Learning Disorders such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, ADHD and Intellectual Disability. With her knowledge of the school system, she is skilled in liaising with your child's school (and other therapists!), and providing useful and meaningful recommendations to best support your child's learning and overall well-being. Sidra is also able to provide psychometric assessment and ADHD assessment for adults who would like greater insight into their identity.
Sidra has qualifications from the University of Sydney, and University of Western Sydney in Clinical Psychology.