grounded. steady. human.
Psychology for real life.
Therapy and psychological assessment for children, adolescents and adults — centred on the person, their circumstances and what matters to them.
Tweed Heads South · Telehealth across Australia
Welcome
Sometimes life becomes difficult in ways that are hard to explain.
Heartland Health is a small private psychology practice. The work is practical, person-centred and evidence-informed — understanding what’s happening, finding what helps, and moving forward.
A diagnosis, a label or a perfectly formed explanation isn’t a prerequisite. Sometimes you just need somewhere to slow things down and work out what might help.
That’s what Heartland Health is here for.
Services
Therapy and assessment
Therapy & support
Individual psychological therapy for children, adolescents, adults and parents. Approaches are selected collaboratively according to your needs, goals, circumstances and clinical presentation.
Psychological assessment
ADHD, autism, learning and academic, cognitive, behavioural, emotional and social, and focused psychological assessment.
Private fee · Indicative fees shown before you commit
In person & telehealth
Where and how we can meet
In person — appointments are held at the Heartland Health clinic at 4B, 24–28 Corporation Circuit, Tweed Heads South NSW 2485.
Telehealth — appointments are also available across Australia, including for people in regional, rural and remote communities or anyone who simply finds meeting online more accessible. In-person and telehealth appointments are both part of the same psychological practice.
Psychological assessment for children and adolescents is conducted in person. Adult assessment may include a combination of telehealth and in-person appointments depending on the assessment being undertaken. Standardised cognitive and academic tasks that require controlled administration are completed in person.
Who I work with
Care shaped around each stage of life
Children
Emotional development, behaviour, social skills, and challenges at home and school.
Adolescents
Emotions, relationships, identity, anxiety, confidence, school pressures, and growing up.
Adults
Anxiety, depression, relationships, life transitions, trauma related experiences, neurodivergence, and other challenges that make life harder than it needs to be.
Parents & caregivers
Practical and psychological support around parenting, behaviour, communication, and understanding a child’s needs.
Heartland Health is neuroaffirming and LGBTIQ+ friendly, and welcomes people from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
How it works
What the first few steps look like
1. Enquire or book
Tell us what you’re looking for. Bookings and intake are completed securely through our practice management system.
2. Intake and first appointment
You’ll complete intake and consent securely before we meet. The first appointment is about understanding what’s happening and what you’d like to be different.
3. Work out what helps
Therapy or assessment is planned with you, reviewed as we go, and adjusted as your circumstances change.
Fees & funding
What it costs, plainly
A standard 50-minute therapy appointment is $240. Assessment fees vary by pathway and are discussed before you begin.
Medicare, DVA, self-managed and plan-managed NDIS, and private health pathways are outlined on the Fees & Funding page.
About
The human behind Heartland Health
I’m J.R. Scarpino, a registered psychologist. I work with children, adolescents, adults and parents, with an approach that is person-centred, trauma-informed, strengths-based and neuroaffirming.
Most of what helps happens in honest conversation — two people thinking something through together.
Support
Questions and safety
Frequently asked questions
Information about services, therapy, assessment, fees and funding, privacy and technology — written plainly.
If you need immediate support
Heartland Health is not an emergency or crisis service. If you need urgent support, call 000 or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
There are services available around the clock, right across Australia — including Lifeline, Beyond Blue, Kids Helpline, 13YARN, QLife and state mental-health lines.
Acknowledgements
Respect, service and belonging
Heartland Health acknowledges the Yugambeh and Bundjalung peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, paying respect to Elders past, present and emerging and honouring their enduring connection to Country, culture, and community. We also recognise that people connecting through telehealth may be living on many different Countries across Australia, each with its own custodians and story.
We honour current and former military personnel, police, firefighters, paramedics, SES members, and all emergency service workers for their service to community and country.
Heartland Health is an inclusive practice that welcomes and affirms people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences, including people with disability and neurodivergent people, LGBTIQ+ people, and culturally diverse communities.
A final note
You don’t need to know exactly what you need before reaching out.
Sometimes the first step is simply asking whether psychology might be useful. If Heartland Health sounds like it might be a good fit, you’re welcome to get in touch.