About Us

Maple Tree Counselling grew from the shared vision of colleagues and friends brought together by passion and professionalism. Responding to an exploding demand for mental health services during turbulent times, we seek to create a genuinely diverse practice providing counselling and psychotherapy with empathy, expertise and excellence.

Maple trees grow all over the world. They hold many meanings in different cultures: strength, resilience, protection, fertility, tolerance, honour and love. They have strong roots and grow famously colourful leaves. These are the values and aspirations we hold for ourselves and for every one of our clients.

Our vision

Engaging, listening, supporting – Maple Tree Counselling’s vision is to help individuals flourish by providing a safe and caring space in which to explore life’s challenges and opportunities to grow and heal.

Some clients call these challenges depression, anxiety, addiction, stress, trauma, ADHD, grief or codependency – the list may be endless, but many clients may just feel blocked and want change.

Whether clients are looking for ongoing psychotherapy, mental health support or the practical tools of recovery, relationships, reflection and realising potential, we aim to help them thrive.

Maple Tree Counselling operates under the key professional values of absolute confidentiality, ongoing professional development and expert individual and group supervision.

Our team

Maple Tree Counselling is a practice of partners and associate therapists that reflects true multicultural and multilingual vibrancy, and is committed to helping foster resilience and mental wellbeing across all the communities it serves.

Founded in Hong Kong, the original team comprises native Hong Kongers, long-term permanent residents and ex-patriates, delivering therapy in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Launching in Melbourne and Central Victoria in February 2023, led by founding Partner and returning Australian Simon Westcott, Maple Tree will continue to support diverse communities and ethnicities as it builds its Australian team.

Anjali Nihalchand

Co-Founder & Director — Brand, Marketing and Operations

Anjali is a Brand and Project Consultant (Pollination Projects) and a Co-founder of Maple Tree Counselling. She has worked across a wide set of industries including hospitality & travel, arts & culture, start-ups and NGOs.
Simon Westcott

Counsellor — ACT, CBT and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Simon believes in the benefits of both short-term, goal-oriented counselling and longer-term, ‘in-depth’ psychoanalytic psychotherapy. He treats clients from many different cultures with a wide variety of mental health issues.
Casey McGrath

Counsellor — CBT, ACT, Narrative and Person-centered Therapy

Casey works with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship issues. She specializes in helping clients navigate major life transitions as well as complicated career and family dynamics.
Jacquelyn Tryde

Counsellor — EFT, CBT and Mindfulness-based Psychotherapy

Jacquelyn offers therapy for adults, adolescents and preteens. She supports younger clients who experience dysfunctional family dynamics, parental separation and divorce, difficulties in acculturation, depression, anxiety, OCD, and peer pressure.
Dickie Mok

Counsellor — ACT, CBT, Motivational Interviewing and Therapeutic Game Master

Dickie believes in supporting clients through developing mindfulness and awareness, flexibility, resilience and self-compassion in pursuit of positive change.
Nicola Shannon

Counsellor - CBT, IFS and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Nicola works with adults and adolescents struggling with a sense of disconnection, uncertainty and lack of purpose. She aims to help clients identify and overcome the obstacles preventing them from thriving.
Lianne Lim

Counsellor - CBT, SFBT, Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Therapy

Lianne believes that people want the best for themselves and they have the resources within themselves to make changes. Using a person-entered approach, Lianne supports adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem, and relationship issues.
Brenton Surgenor

Counsellor - ACT, CBT, Gottman Method and Mindfulness

Brenton works with individuals and couples to find balance and wellbeing in their lives. His practice focuses on life transitions, couples counselling, anxiety, stress management and mindfulness. He creates a supportive, non-judgmental environment and is attuned to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ clients.