Meet Our Therapists
On Smith Traumatology is a dedicated psychotraumatology space on Smith Street, thoughtfully designed to support and nourish the professional needs of therapists and their clients.
Why Join Our Community
• A supportive professional community of trauma-informed peers within a shared client centered perspective.
• Flexible room booking arrangements that respond and adapt to the unique needs of your practice.
• Centrally located in Collingwood on Smith Street, providing vibrance and ease of access.
Katerina Nemcova
Founder and Clinical Psychologist
Katerina is a Clinical Psychologist, Board Approved Supervisor, EMDRAA Accredited Practitioner and EMDR Consultant in Training. She works with adults and couples, with a particular focus on trauma, complex trauma, attachment, dissociation and grief, as well as the ways difficult experiences continue to be held in the mind, body and relationships.
Katerina practises attachment-informed EMDR, integrating trauma processing with a careful understanding of early relationships, protective adaptations and the different parts of the self. Her approach is embodied and depth-oriented, drawing on EMDR therapy, parts work, Polyvagal Theory, somatic awareness and existential psychotherapy. Therapy may involve processing traumatic memories, working compassionately with protective parts, attending to the body and nervous system, and exploring deeper questions of identity, meaning, freedom, loss and connection.
Alongside her individual and couples work, Katerina facilitates Polyvagal-informed groups that help participants develop greater awareness of their bodies, nervous systems and patterns of protection. These groups bring together psychoeducation, embodied practices and shared reflection, supporting participants to understand their responses to stress and trauma with greater curiosity and compassion.
Katerina also facilitates an art therapy group, creating space for experiences that may be difficult to express through words alone. Through imagery, metaphor and creative expression, participants can explore their internal worlds, connect with different parts of themselves and engage with questions of identity, meaning and personal experience.
Katerina also provides psychological support to Ukrainian soldiers serving on the front lines. This work focuses on processing acute stress experiences, supporting nervous-system regulation and helping soldiers maintain their psychological capacity to continue serving.
At the centre of Katerina’s approach is the belief that healing involves more than managing symptoms. It can also involve reconnecting with the body, developing a different relationship with protective parts of the self, making sense of relational patterns, finding meaning in what has happened, and creating greater freedom in how a person relates to themselves and others.
Edward Pascoe
Clinical Psychologist
Edward is a Clinical Psychologist with experience working across a broad range of private and public mental health settings, including inpatient and community-based services. He is passionate about helping individuals and couples develop greater emotional awareness, insight, and practical skills to create meaningful and lasting change in their lives and relationships.
Edward aims to provide a warm, personable, and productive therapeutic environment where clients feel comfortable discussing their concerns openly. He values transparency and collaboration throughout the therapeutic process and works closely with each client to understand their individual experiences, needs, and goals.
Edward draws upon a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Gottman Method-informed approaches. Therapy is tailored to the individual, with an emphasis on developing greater self-understanding alongside practical strategies that can be applied outside the therapy room.
Edward works with adults, adolescents, and couples experiencing a broad range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, attention difficulties, autism spectrum presentations, loneliness and social difficulties, trauma, anger, relationship difficulties, self-esteem concerns, grief and loss, significant life transitions, addiction, LGBTQIA+ concerns, and sexual health. He has a particular interest in men’s mental health and supporting men to better understand and communicate their emotions, strengthen their relationships, and navigate periods of change or difficulty.
Edward offers both in-person and telehealth psychology appointments. Medicare rebates may be available for eligible clients with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
If you are considering therapy and would like to discuss your needs, therapy preferences, or the Mental Health Treatment Plan process, you are welcome to contact Edward by email.
Christine Peng
Mental Health Social Worker
Christine completed her counselling psychology training (Master's level) in the US and holds a Master of Social Work in Australia. She has worked across a range of mental health settings, including forensic services, community mental health, inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation, and private practice both in US and Australia, supporting individuals experiencing complex and long-standing psychological difficulties, including those with higher-risk presentations and multiple life stressors.
Christine provides evidence-based therapy for concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma-related difficulties, grief and loss, adjustment challenges, and interpersonal or relationship concerns. Her approach integrates therapeutic modalities including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), solution-focused therapy, mindfulness, neuroscience-informed practice, strength-based approaches, and trauma-informed care, tailored to each person’s individual needs and goals.
Christine values working collaboratively with clients at their own pace. Her practice is grounded in empathy, respect, and transparency, with a focus on helping individuals trauma reprocessing, develop a deeper understanding of their inner experiences, relationships and life context, explore identity and possibilities for change, strengthen coping skills, and move toward meaningful and sustainable wellbeing.
Christine speaks both English and Mandarin (中文).
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