Now welcoming two new Psychologists Lisa Bailey and Catherine Bull Limited time introductory appointments
Now welcoming two new Psychologists Lisa Bailey and Catherine Bull Limited time introductory appointments
CK Health was founded by Naturopath and Nutritionist Cody Kennedy in 2013 and is now a renowned family business in Merewether, Newcastle, helmed by Cody, her husband Paul, and supported by an incredible team of dedicated allied health practitioners and amazing front office people.
Cody is a Naturopath and Nutritionist and the founder of CK Health.
Cody has been working in the natural health industry for over 21 years. She understands the hurdles and challenges people with health problems face. Cody has spent many years studying numerous aspects of empirically-based holistic wellness (yes, she may be in the field of ‘alternative’ health, but there is nothing airy-fairy about her!). Through her one-on one work with hundreds of clients, she has witnessed the incredible transformation that these modalities can deliver.
Cody believes that you must first address the cause of the health problem in order to achieve ‘Better Health’. It’s a matter of combining the right blend of nutrition, lifestyle modifications and supplements. All of these things together create a better environment for the body to function and repair.
Cody has completed a Graduate Certificate in Evidence Based Complementary Medicine and a Bachelor of Medicines Management with Honours in Complementary Medicine. She is always interested in learning more and her keen interest in research has awarded her a Graduate Diploma in Evidence Based Medicine as well. In addition she has studied extensively under world renowned microbiome expert Dr Jason Hawrelak and is a Certified Microbiome Analyst.
She has been a member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society since 2001, the largest natural therapy association in Australia.
When she’s not consulting online from her Naturopathy clinic in Newcastle, Cody loves dreaming of her next travel adventure and playing frisbee with her energetic son.
(Books currently OPEN to new patients – please call to book)
Dr Jessica Elmasry is a General Practitioner who has recently relocated to Newcastle having graduated from the University of New South Wales in 2016 and trained across Sydney and regional and rural NSW. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, holds a Masters in Public Health and is a member of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine.
(Immediate Availability – currently taking new patients 12yrs+)
Sally has over 12 years experience working as a Registered Psychologist and brings diverse life experience to her practice. Sally works with people of all ages and with a wide range of issues. Issues may include challenges with mood, coping with stressors, anxiety and depression, grief and loss, OCD, workplace difficulties, sex, sexuality and relationship difficulties, communication skills, neurodivergent challenges, chronic pain and trauma. Sally creates an individualised approach to suit your needs.
Sally brings warmth, presence and sincerity to her work. She values the genuine relationship created in session that facilitates a safe place for clients to be themselves. Outside of work Sally enjoys bush walks, yoga and spending time with her family.
(Immediate Availability – currently taking new patients 13yrs+)
Catherine Bull is a Registered Psychologist who works with adolescents aged 13+ and adults. She supports individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, OCD, and ADHD, and uses a solution-focused approach to help clients build practical strategies for managing wellbeing and navigating life’s challenges.
Catherine has a particular interest in working with eating disorders, including disordered eating, anorexia, ARFID, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. She also supports individuals throughout their weight-loss surgery journey and works from a Health at Every Size (HAES)–informed framework, prioritising compassionate, non-judgemental, and evidence-based care.
Catherine takes a collaborative, team-based approach to care, working closely with dietitians, GPs, and other health professionals to support safe, effective, and sustainable outcomes. Her therapy is evidence-based and individually tailored, drawing on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Schema Therapy.
Catherine likes to spend time with her family and loves nothing more than going to a musical or a concert with her husband and three teenagers. At the weekend she likes to see friends for coffee, go to the movies and enjoy the sunshine whilst walking her dog.
(Immediate Availability – currently taking new patients 5yrs+)
Lisa Bailey is a registered General Psychologist with extensive experience supporting children, adolescents and families and can see children of age 5+. She has a strong background in assessment and diagnosis, including intellectual disability, specific learning disorders, ADHD and behavioural concerns.
Lisa offers practical, evidence-based therapy for young people and adults, drawing on approaches such as CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy, mindfulness-based strategies, and behaviour support planning. With a long history working in school settings and child and adolescent services, Lisa brings a calm, structured and compassionate style to helping individuals and families navigate learning, behaviour and mental health challenges.
Outside of work Lisa loves gardening and playing with her pups Apollo and Maeve.
(Immediate availability – open to new patients 18yrs+)
Dr Catherine Jones is a qualified Clinical Psychologist with 12 years experience working with young adults and adults 18yrs+ with a range of difficulties, these include:
It may be that you feel clear about what you want to work on or perhaps you feel unhappy or stuck and have a sense that your life is not going quite as you had hoped. Catherine provides a safe, non-judgemental & supportive space to work with you and think about why difficulties have arisen and how you can make changes in the here and now to help your life move forward. This consists of individualised focused therapy, actively working with you to understand the problem and guiding you to achieve meaningful, long-lasting change.
Catherine has a specialist interest in how traumatic experiences, if left unattended, have the potential to have a long-lasting effect on our physical and psychological health and can influence how we cope with chronic health conditions such as chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, and skin conditions.
Catherine is an experienced EMDR practitioner and uses EMDR to support you to identify and increase your resources and safely guide you in working through distressing memories to reduce their impact and improve your relationship with yourself and others and your overall quality of life. Catherine is also trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapies (ACT) which provide effective tools for managing unwelcome thoughts and feelings. There is a growing body of research showing that ACT is an effective approach for managing chronic health conditions.
Outside of work Catherine enjoys an Ocean swim with her swim group which sometimes includes dolphins and almost always a beautiful sunrise.
Please note Catherine does not offer formal diagnosis of ASD or ADHD.
(Telehealth – currently taking new patients)
Dr Ash Nayate is a Clinical Neuropsychologist with almost two decades of experience working with adults, children, and families. She has worked in hospitals around Melbourne, Victoria, as well as in private clinics.
Ash has a special interest in recognising and helping people who are experiencing anxiety, depression, brain based challenges and people with memory difficulties. She uses a humanistic approach in therapy and has helped many people who:
She has extensive experience with supporting people to improve their quality of life by optimising their strengths, and developing coping strategies to overcome difficulties.
Ash has also worked with people who have ADHD for many years. Once you have a diagnosis, where to from here? Dr Ash can conduct ADHD coaching sessions to help use the mind (cognition) to solve a problems or complete tasks, including help with working on flexible thinking, and self-control.
Please Note: Ash is available via Telehealth only and can be seen with a Mental Health Treatment Plan provided by your GP (Gap fees apply), via self or plan managed NDIS participants who have funding for ‘Improved daily living’, via your health fund (GAP fees may apply – please check your fund) or privately.
(Books currently closed to new patients)
Dr Jane Taylor has over 30 years’ experience as a General Practitioner, more than 20 years of which have been in alternative / integrative medicine. She also spent fourteen years as a clinical tutor at the Australian National University Medical School.
Her main areas of interest are female hormonal issues particularly transition to menopause and auto-immune hormonal issues, such as Hashimoto’s Disease and Graves Disease.
CK Health is delighted to support Jane’s services which are largely unique to the Newcastle area. You may expect your initial appointment to take an hour. To ensure that you obtain maximum health benefit where appropriate, a management plan of subsequent appointments will be offered. All patients are given a comprehensive health questionnaire to complete and return prior to your first appointment. Initial appointments must be pre-paid.
Jane’s focus is auto-immune and female hormones, she does not treat children.
Margaret is a registered psychologist having graduated with an Advanced Graduate Diploma of Psychology from Monash University (2018).
Prior to this Margaret completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science at The University of New England (2014).
In 2022 Margaret completed her training in EMDR – “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing”.
EMDR is an evidence-based treatment used in psychological therapy to help reduce the physical and emotional distress associated with past traumatic experiences.
Many people will experience traumatic events in their lives that are deeply distressing and cause physical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological harm.
This includes situations in which you have felt threatened or been unable to control your circumstances, such as being assaulted, abused, bullied, or experienced a natural disaster, an accident, a devastating sporting injury; or any situation in which your sense of safety or security was affected.
Even though the traumatic experience may have happened many months or even years ago, it can still have an impact in your daily life. You may experience post-traumatic symptoms such as intrusive memories, emotional flooding or numbing, nightmares, anxiety, low self-esteem, and have difficulty getting on with your life.
EMDR is not a new treatment, as it was developed around 30 years ago, however it has only recently been recognised as the best treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2013) and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ITSS, 2019). There is now a large body of scientific research supporting its benefits and interest in EMDR is rapidly growing in Australia and across the world.
Trauma responses have been shown to increase symptoms such as exhaustion, confusion, sadness, anxiety, agitation, numbness, confusion, and depressive symptoms.
Margaret also uses a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approach to psychological intervention with clients.
Her focus at CK Health is to “meet you where you are” and work holistically and collaboratively with you, in a calm and relaxed environment, to achieve your treatment goals.
When not at work Margaret may be spotted in a Pilates class, cycling or spending times with her family and friends.
We are very excited and grateful to have Lisa join us at CK Health.
Lisa has a wealth of experience in Allied Health and customer service leadership.
Lisa has a passion for people and is looking forward to helping you at CK Health.
We are very excited and grateful to have Carol join us at CK Health.
Carol has a wealth of experience in Allied Health and customer service leadership.
Carol has a passion for people and is looking forward to helping you at CK Health.
We are very excited and grateful to have Tessa join us at CK Health.
Tessa has a wealth of experience in customer service.
Tessa has a passion for people and is looking forward to helping you at CK Health.
Paul feels he has had many lives! He was a photographer for many years after which he became a commercial skipper and travelled around Australia and across the world.
He brings a wealth of experience to CK Health and enjoys the challenges that running a business brings. He feels proud that CK Health helps so many people with their health challenges and is excited for the future.
In his days off he spends time going mountain bike riding with is son, making time to tinker in his shed and exploring new spots to have a picnic and a swim with his family.
