A bit about us
We know that each recovery journey is unique and we are here to help you on what can often be a convoluted path. By better understanding your own thoughts, beliefs and emotions, you can more adeptly face life stressors. Furthermore, through helping you foster a stronger connection with yourself, you can have stronger connections with others.
Our team includes a number of psychiatrists, a psychiatrist in training, a social worker, an occupational therapist and the administrative staff.
We look forward to joining you on your individual path to self discovery in a holistic way, encompassing care of the body, mind and spirit.
Yours truly,
The Hol-Psych team
Medical Director and Owner
Dr Nardine Elzahaby
Nardine is a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist. She has trained at Bendigo health, St Vincent's hospital Melbourne, Gertrude street clinic and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She works at Austin health and subspecializes in consultation-Liaison Psychiatry with a particular interest in functional gut disorders, renal psychiatry, psych-oncology and somatic symptoms disorders. She has a particular interest in old age psychiatry and doctors' health. In addition, she hopes to give back to the rural community.
Nardine completed a Masters degree in Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne and is, currently, a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry. She earned several awards from the Australian medical association and the Post-graduate Medical Council of Victoria. Dr Elzahaby has significant leadership and teaching experience.
Given her experience working in rural and remote areas, she has a strong understanding of the challenges faced by clients and practitioners from these regions. Nardine also sees patients under WorkCover and DVA.
Dr Chiranth Bhagavan
Dr Chiranth Bhagavan is a consultant psychiatrist with a special interest in the interaction between mind and body and working holistically with clients to address their needs. His expertise encompasses a wide spectrum of conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, functional disorders, and mental health difficulties which are related to physical illness, such as chronic diseases and medication interactions.
He completed his medical studies and psychiatry specialist training in New Zealand, achieving Fellowship with Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrist (FRANZCP) and a Certificate of Advanced Training in the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry subspeciality. He brings valuable experience working with other medical specialties in hospital-liaison roles and with GPs in primary care-liaison settings, ensuring collaborative approaches to address co-existing medical and mental health needs.
He is deeply invested in research and education, regularly attending and presenting at local and international conferences, and keeps up to date with the latest evidence. He is currently undertaking doctoral research with the University of Melbourne in understanding mechanisms and pioneering novel treatments for functional neurological disorder. He firmly believes in promoting and utilising high-quality research to inform evidence-based and best practices and achieve optimal outcomes for individuals and communities.
As a psychiatrist, his core values include compassion, conscientiousness, empathy, and a person-centred approach. He actively engages with culturally diverse and disadvantaged communities, striving for equitable, culturally safe, and inclusive healthcare. His practice is enriched by his extensive work with consumer representatives, emphasising a collaborative and recovery-focused approach that places the client’s well-being at the heart of every decision.
MBChB | FRANZCP | Cert. Consul. Liaison Psych. | PhD Candidate
BNat, MD
Dr Noah Weller
Noah is at the end of his psychiatry training and will obtain Fellowship with the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) as a Consultant Psychiatrist in 2024. He has a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and a Bachelor of Naturopathy (BNat). He is also currently completing the sub-specialist Certificate of Advanced Training in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Noah was previously a Clinical Lecturer at the Sydney Medical School and is very passionate about teaching, drawing on his 10 years of experience in academia at RMIT University. He aims to promote holistic healthcare, reduce stigma and inspire interest in mental health. Most of his work in the field of psychiatry has been devoted to the public health sector in rural NSW.
Noah has a passion for mental health, and a holistic patient-centred approach with patients and their carers to facilitate recovery. He is committed to improving mental health services for patients in rural and remote services. When working with patients he believes it is important to provide unbiased information on psychological therapies and medication options in a patient centred shared decision-making process to find the most appropriate therapy for each individual that will facilitate mental wellbeing and enhance long term outcomes. But ultimately his goal is to empower and educate patients to develop the skills and mindset to optimally manage their mental wellbeing themselves.
Noah is trained in a number of therapies including:
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E)
Family Based Therapy (FBT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPT-PTSD)
Single Session Therapy
TAR-3
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Intensive Short Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (ISTPP)
Dr Sonja Murgier
Sonja is a final-stage psychiatry registrar. Before completing her medical studies at the University of Melbourne, she was a registered pharmacist.
She discovered a passion for mental health early in her career as a doctor. Her training has spanned international borders, from metropolitan and rural regions of Australia to New Zealand and France.
After completing her Master of Psychiatry, she furthered her engagement in psychiatric research. She was awarded the Young Presentation Award at the 19th International Congress of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists in 2021.
Sonja's special interests include mood disorders and psychotherapy, and her experience of these has varied across public and private mental health sectors. She is currently enrolled in the general advanced training program of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
BPharm (Hons), MD, MPsych
Accredited Social Worker
Belle Langridge
Belle is an Accredited Social Worker who has a special interest in working with adolescents, perinatal mental health clients and generalist mental health. Belle is experienced in child loss, bereavement counselling, neurodivergence-adapted psychological therapies and play therapy. She has a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) and Masters in Social Work.
When working with a consumer, Belle takes a holistic approach, considering all aspects of their lives and their potential impacts on the presenting issues. Belle embraces respect, equality and loyalty when working with clients. She operates from a strengths-based approach and believes that we are a team. She will walk beside you as you navigate your difficult times and be there to celebrate your triumphs.
Accredited Occupational Therapist
Comien Van Zyl
Comien is a firm believer in the power of one’s thoughts and words; he doesn't believe that people are disabled, only differently abled.
She is here to support you in your therapeutic journey and create a safe space for you to be able to share and connect with your inner self.
Every person has the right to a fulfilled life and quality of life.
Comien's role would be to support you in identifying your functional capacity and supporting you to develop you independence in everyday life with regards to your emotional, social and physical wellbeing.
Together, you will develop a mental fitness toolkit to support you to live a life of abundance and not only existence.
Professional Qualifications: Comien is an occupational therapist who has been practising in the field of mental health since 2008. She possesses a bachelors degree in Occupational therapy from the University of the Free State in South Africa
Practice Manager
Jennifer Ajay
Jennifer is the practice manager and medical receptionist who has a keen interest in making your experience as positive as possible and supporting you during difficult times. Jen is experienced with coordinating activities related to training and development for doctors in the medical field, strategic planning and managing access to resources.
Jen's administrative experience ensures that communication is efficient and reliable, so that you feel heard. She is also responsible for issuing certificates and handling client enquires. Jen looks forward to working with you and helping direct you to the relevant healthcare professional on our friendly team.
We would love to hear from you
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Please get in touch to provide positive or negative feedback by filling this form or contacting us via admin@nardineelzahaby.com.au