Dr Meg Scanlan
(She/Her)
Director and Clinical Psychologist
BSc(Hons) DPsych MAPS FCCLP CEDC
Meg discovered a love of psychology by accident whilst undertaking a science degree with an intended major in chemistry. She ended up with a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and has never looked back! She loves meeting new people and learning about what makes human beings ‘tick.’
Meg has had a longstanding interest in Eating Disorders. These complex conditions frequently serve as a coping strategy for something else going on in a person’s life, like low self-esteem, perfectionism, anxiety, or something traumatic that has happened to them. She finds it rewarding to help people figure out what is at the core of their difficulties and find new ways to meet their needs. Meg loves seeing people grow in self-understanding and learning how to foster a more compassionate, healthy relationship between mind and body.
Meg has been working as a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Hobart since 2012. She enjoys working with treatments like Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and MANTRA and she is Certified Eating Disorder Clinician. She is also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy and EMDR. She is able to help with other conditions including OCD, PTSD/CPTSD, Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and Personality Disorders. Meg is a Board-approved supervisor.
Outside of work, Meg enjoys singing, yoga, (very) gradual honing of her chess skills, and playing with her two Japanese Spitzes, Frankie and Luna.
Meg is available Monday-Friday.
Ms Jodie Kink
(She/Her)
Director and Clinical Psychologist
BPsych (Hons) MPsych(Clin) CEDC
Jodie has endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist and is a Board-Approved Supervisor. Jodie describes her therapeutic style as professional and evidence-based yet down-to-earth. She is passionate about working with clients to increase their sense of self-worth, self-care, and self-compassion. Jodie appreciates the importance of the mind-body connection: she uses a holistic approach to help clients tune into their own strengths, values, and intuition to optimise personal wellbeing and life satisfaction. She understands that therapy can be challenging and may put people out of their comfort zones at times, but believes that ultimately the process and outcomes are empowering and incredibly rewarding.
Jodie has a particular interest in working with people to improve their body image and their relationship with food and movement. Referrals are accepted for clients experiencing clinical eating disorders, as well as issues relating to body dissatisfaction, exercise addiction, complex eating practices, and general mental health concerns such as depression, stress/anxiety, low self-esteem, chronic pain, and interpersonal issues.
Outside of work, Jodie enjoys time with her young family, getting lost in a good book, and exploring local beaches and walking tracks.
Jodie is available Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday.
Ms Jacinta Hickey
(She/Her)
Clinical Psychologist
BPsych (Hons) MPsych(Clin) CEDC
Jacinta has a particular interest in eating disorders and body image, and is passionate about helping people make peace with food and their bodies. Jacinta also works with people experiencing other mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, and relationship difficulties. Jacinta uses evidence based approaches, including Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy-Enhanced (CBT-E), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy approaches (DBT) and Mindfulness.
Jacinta aims to provide a warm, safe and non-judgemental space. Jacinta would describe her therapeutic style as professional, but relaxed. Jacinta aims to empower people to make positive change in their life, drawing upon their strengths and values.
Outside of work Jacinta enjoys spending time with her dog and her friends, reading a good book, and listening to podcasts.
Jacinta is available on Mondays and Thursdays.
Dr Sarah Wells
(She/Her)
Clinical Psychologist
BSc(Hons) PhD (Clin Psych) MAPS FCCLP
Sarah is highly skilled and passionate about delivering evidence based treatments to those with eating disorders and their families, and to recovery. She values developing a strong and meaningful therapeutic relationship and to support her patients feel at ease in treatment. Sarah works collaboratively and with curiosity, blending her expertise as a clinician with an individual’s strengths and expert knowledge of themselves, to address shared treatment goals. Sarah is committed to providing evidence based treatment, and draws on a variety of treatment modalities. Sarah is a Clinical Psychologist with 20 years experience working with children, adolescents, adults and families – predominantly in the area of eating disorders and community mental health. In addition to her clinical work, she has been involved with the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED) and the Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED), working to promote the activities of these organisations with regard to research, prevention, treatment and advocacy in the field of eating disorders.
Additionally, Sarah has a background working with children and families, using Theraplay, Circle of Security and Tuning into Kids.
When not at work, Sarah enjoys travelling, reading, spending time with her friends and family and with her golden retriever.
Sarah is available on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Ms Georgina Taskunas
(She/Her)
Accredited Practicing Dietician
B. Health Science, Master of Nutrition and Dietetics
Georgina is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, passionate about health, nutrition, and positive body image. She grew up in Southern Tasmania and has a great appreciation for our beautiful state. She studied a Bachelor of Health Science at UTAS before moving to the ACT to complete her Masters degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Since graduating in 2017 she has worked as a dietitian in the community, at Calvary Hospital and in private practice. She is very passionate about her current work in private practice, helping people whose relationship with food has become a difficult one. She believes every BODY deserves to be well nourished and loved.
Georgina is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Ms Hayley Howells
(She/Her)
Office Manager
Hayley has worked at Balanced since day dot for us. She is the back-bone to our service, providing a warm, welcoming presence to our clients in-clinic and over the phone, and is an invaluable support to our team behind-the-scenes.
Miss Frankie and Miss Luna Scanlan
Frankie and Luna are Meg’s Japanese Spitz ‘fur children.’ Frankie is seven, and Luna is two years old. One of them will sometimes come and hang out with Meg if she knows her clients for that day like dogs. Frankie in particular loves a cuddle and/or scritches. After saying hi, she usually snoozes in the dark under the couch for the duration of the session.
(Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of pooches – you will not encounter them wandering freely around the office, nor at a first session unless we’ve checked first.)