Meet the Clinicians

Dr James Dickens is an experienced and approachable Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over 20 years’ experience. Since 2022, Dr James has worked as a Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for Queensland Health on the Gold Coast, Australia. Dr James attained his Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in 2024. He previously worked as a consultant for the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom (UK) whilst also running a private practice in England for more than 10 years.

Dr James graduated as a medical doctor at the University of Manchester, UK in 2002, following a successful career in business. He attained Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK) in 2007, completing higher specialist training and becoming a Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2010. He was awarded a Master of Science in Psychiatry from the University of Manchester in 2010.

Dr James is a highly qualified mental health professional with a broad scope of expertise in diagnosing and managing a wide range of mental health conditions. His approach to treatment is comprehensive and flexible, incorporating individual and family interventions with evidence-based medication management. He takes a personalised approach to treatment, carefully selecting the most applicable therapeutic modalities for each young person's unique needs and circumstances.

Areas of Expertise

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Tic Disorders including Tourette Syndrome
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Behavioural Problems
• Family Work
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Mentalization Based Therapy
• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

You can trust that Dr James will approach your care with the utmost sensitivity, compassion, and discretion. He is committed to working closely with you and your family to address any mental health concerns and will do so in a manner that is respectful, empathetic, and confidential.

Dr Solomon Shatananda is a dually trained Consultant Psychiatrist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Lifespan Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Psychiatry, having completed Dual Certificate of Completion of Training (Dual CCT) in the United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP) and currently works as a Consultant Psychiatrist with the Mental Health Intellectual and Developmental Disability Service (MHIDDS), Gold Coast Health, providing specialist psychiatric care for children, young people and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition to his dual specialist training, Dr Solomon holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Behavioural Analysis and Intervention, providing a unique combination of expertise in psychiatry and behavioural science that is uncommon in Australia. This integrated background enables him to offer comprehensive, formulation-driven assessments and insights into management strategies for individuals with complex neurodevelopmental and mental health presentations.

At SJP Child, Family & IDD Psychiatry, Dr Solomon offers two complementary specialist services: comprehensive Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for mainstream mental health presentations, and specialised Lifespan Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Psychiatry for children, young people and adults with IDD, including complex neurodevelopmental disorders and syndrome-specific psychiatric presentations.

Dr Solomon's philosophy of care is centred on compassion, collaboration and evidence-based practice. He adopts a neuro-affirming, strengths-based and family-centred approach, recognising each individual's unique strengths, aspirations and support needs. He has a special interest in supporting the transition from childhood to adulthood, particularly for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He works collaboratively with families, carers, GPs, paediatricians and allied health professionals, recognising the complex interaction between mental health, behaviour and neurodevelopmental conditions. Multidisciplinary case conferencing and shared care are incorporated whenever they would enhance coordinated patient care, ensuring practical, individualised treatment plans that promote wellbeing and quality of life across the lifespan.

Qualifications

• MBBS
• BSc Hons in Behavioural Analysis & Intervention
• PG Diploma
• MRCPsych (UK)
• FRANZCP

Caitlin is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with extensive experience supporting children, adolescents, young adults and families across a broad range of mental health presentations. Caitlin has experience working within the public and private sector utilising evidence-based interventions for young people experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional and behavioural difficulties, neurodevelopmental differences, and family challenges.

Caitlin is passionate about creating a safe, supportive and collaborative space where clients feel understood and empowered. She takes a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach and tailors therapy to each person's unique needs and goals. Her practice is guided by evidence-based practices utilising a range of modalities.

Caitlin enjoys working with children, teenagers, young adults and parents to build resilience, strengthen relationships and develop practical skills that support long-term wellbeing. She believes meaningful change happens when clients feel genuinely heard, supported and equipped with strategies they can confidently use in everyday life.

Nitai is an experienced therapist who sees children (alongside parents and caregivers), adolescents, adults, couples and families with a special interest in attachment, relationships, PTSD and complex/childhood trauma.

Nitai’s approach to therapy is collaborative, relational, evidence-based, trauma-informed, attachment-oriented, and strength-based.

He strives to create a warm, safe, and non-judgemental space, while taking a Whole Story approach to therapy, which considers the biological, psychological, relational, social, cultural and spiritual aspects of a person’s life. He places importance on people feeling understood, respected and safe to explore what matters most to them.

His relationship therapy includes couples, parent-child relationships, parent-adult child relationships, co-parenting, blended families, and siblings. Relational and attachment-based therapy is often an integral part of helping children, adolescents and adults with the presenting concerns that bring them to individual therapy.

Nitai has supported people experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD, complex trauma, childhood trauma, autism, ADHD, addiction, psychosis, disability, and complex mental health concerns. Nitai also provides autism assessments, Functional Capacity Assessments and mental health assessments.

At the heart of Nitai’s practice is helping people develop greater compassion, understanding, safety, meaning, awareness, along with attachment and emotional sense. Nurturing these can support people to gradually build closer, authentic, safer, and more secure relationships with themselves and the important people in their lives.

Nitai welcomes people from a wide range of backgrounds and communities, including First Nations Australians, LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse, and people for whom religion or spirituality is an important part of their lives.

Therapeutic Approaches

• Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples, individuals and families
• EMDR
• Parts Work
• Circle of Security Parenting
• Somatic and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
• Polyvagal Theory
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

• BSW
• Cert 4 Disability
• AMHSW
• MAASW