Meet the team
We believe current weight loss programs are missing the breadth and experience of a multidisciplinary team working together to tailor a program to each individual.
No one person or speciality has the answer – it needs a whole body and mind approach.
Dr Rosemary Atkinson
Director
MBBS, DCH, BSc, FRACGP
SCOPE Certified
General Practitioner
Dr Rosemary Atkinson graduated from Sydney University with a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery in 2004. She completed her specialist training in General Practice in 2013, working in General Practice for 10 years.
Rosie developed a special interest in weight management whilst complementing her GP work by working as a Bariatric Medical Practitioner, helping patients pre and post bariatric surgery. This led to a desire to make weight management the main focus of her work. She now continues to work with pre and post op bariatric surgical care including management of all bariatric surgical procedures including the sleeve gastrectomy, omega loop and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. She assists with surgeries and is trained in management and adjustments of gastric bands.
It was during this time, caring for individuals having surgery, that she noticed a gap in care for people not going down the surgical route. Rosie underwent SCOPE accreditation to be able to offer a speciality service in medical weight management, including the use of medications.
Rosie is a member of the Obesity Management Special Interest Group for the RACGP, a member of ANZMOSS and has achieved SCOPE Certification. She is passionate about changing the current model of weight management which is loaded with stigma and shame.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family including two gorgeous kids and two precious pups!
Caroline Shannon
Director
BSc Humn Nutr, PostGrad Dip Diet. Dietitian and Nutritionist
Caroline is a highly qualified Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Nutritionist with more than 15 years working as a dietitian in the area of weight management and bariatric surgery.
Caroline understands that it is not ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to nutrition, she tailors her research-backed advice and education to suit your individual needs and circumstances.
Caroline has a special interest in the positive impact nutrition can have on womens health, including metabolism and hormones - particularaly these as women age.
Caroline is empathetic, compassionate and committed to helping people develop a positive relationship with food without dieting.
She is a member of the Dietetics Association of Australia (DAA) as well as the Australian New Zealand Metabolic Obesity Surgery Society (ANZMOSS). She has contributed to medical journals and magazines over the years.
When Caroline is not working she enjoys spending time with her partner and two young children.
Holly Rice
BPsych, Grad Dip Psych, PGDipPsych, MclinPsych
Holly is a clinical psychologist with over 15 years’ experience in mental health across a broad range of services including hospitals, private clinics, and not-for-profit organisations.
She is passionate about helping people recover from the psychological, emotional, and behavioural concerns that can prevent us from living life joyfully. Holly has a special interest in treating trauma and has a deep understanding of the various ways unresolved trauma can show up in our daily lives, such as persistent stress, anxiety, low mood, emotional dysregulation, and unhelpful coping behaviours. When treating concerns such as disordered eating, Holly considers her client’s unique life picture; she works collaboratively to understand underlying factors and develop a treatment plan that will help each client achieve their goals.
Holly has advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, an evidence-based approach for treating trauma which addresses problematic reactions to triggers and the negative core beliefs a person might hold about themselves. She is also experienced in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, and the use of mindfulness and body awareness strategies.
Holly is available every Tuesday from 12pm AEST, and offers late afternoon / early evening appointment options.
Lareena Brown
M.Psych. Clin, Master of Counselling & Applied Psychotherapy
Lareena is a compassionate clinical psychologist and psychotherapist who has been providing therapy in a wide range of NGO, hospital and private practice settings for over 13 years.
She has a keen interest in the psychology of eating, movement and body image and is passionate about helping clients to be free from the harmful culture of dieting. She is also experienced in treating trauma, interpersonal difficulties, depression and anxiety, which she believes are often part of the picture in overcoming body image and eating problems.
A member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and APS Psychology of Eating, Weight and Body-image Interest Group, Lareena’s treatment approaches include Dialetical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Having also trained as a psychotherapist, Lareena takes a holistic approach and works collaboratively with her clients to tailor therapy to each individual. Having experienced her own challenges with eating behaviours, Lareena firmly believes that the right support from a holistic team can help individuals to lead a rich life free from the tyranny of dieting and body image concerns. Lareena is a compassionate psychologist who is interested in a holistic approach to managing psychological disorders. She has worked with women of all ages and stages and has completed additional training in a health-based psychological approach to weight management.