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Maria Sleight (BPsySc, GDipRes, MCouns&PsychTh)
Maria Sleight
Director & Clinical Practice Manager, Clinical Counsellor & Psychotherapist, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner & Mediator, Child & Family Consultant, Parenting Coordinator
Maria is a highly accomplished practitioner with deep expertise in family dispute resolution, psychotherapy, and counselling. She holds registration as a Clinical Counsellor & Psychotherapist with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, is a Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner through the Attorney General's Department, a Nationally Accredited Mediator under Australian standards, and an Accredited Parenting Coordinator with Parenting Coordination Australia.
As the owner of Best Life Therapy & Mediation—a respected practice based in Perth, Western Australia—Maria offers an extensive range of mental health services and practical resolution strategies for individuals, couples, and families. Her approach encompasses both clinical and therapeutic interventions, focusing on resolving family conflicts and supporting clients through challenging times.
Maria's academic background spans psychology, psychotherapy, counselling, and social sciences, guiding her specialisation in Family Law. She possesses comprehensive knowledge of the Family Law Act (1975), the Family Court Act WA (1997), and the Children and Communities Services Act (2004), as well as recent legislative updates and court procedures related to family disputes and child protection. Her practice is grounded in a commitment to evidence-based support and ethical care, helping clients navigate complex situations with confidence and clarity.
As the lead practitioner at Best Life Therapy & Mediation, Maria provides expert family dispute resolution, individual and couples counselling, court-ordered therapy, and parenting coordination. She is also dedicated to professional development within her field through facilitating workshops, supervising students and emerging practitioners in dispute resolution and mediation, and offering coaching and assessment. Maria’s work is anchored in evidence-based methods and compassionate care, with a strong commitment to fostering mental well-being and nurturing healthy relationships.
Maria is passionate about empowering individuals to discover their own solutions, creating a safe space for reflection and growth, and working within a strengths-based, person-centred framework that recognises people as the experts in their own lives. Her extensive training includes Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Informed Practice, Solution-Focused Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, Play Therapy and EMDR for Play, and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), among other approaches.
Services Offered
Maria works with adults, children & adolescents experiencing issues such as (but not limited to):
Family Law Support: Child-focused sessions for family dispute resolution, including both parent and child interviews, as well as guidance for post-separation parenting plans.
Family Court Ordered Therapy: for families to support parents and children in building/enhancing relationships, improve co-parenting communication and overall wellbeing.
Mental Health Concerns: treatment for depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, complex PTSD, trauma, personality disorders, and phobias.
Mental Health Assessment and Crisis Intervention: Conducting comprehensive mental health assessments, risk assessments, and providing crisis intervention for clients in distress.
Crisis and Emotional Distress Counselling: Providing empathetic support for clients experiencing crisis situations and emotional distress.
Psychoeducation and Mental Health Advocacy: Providing psychoeducation and advocating for clients' mental health needs.
Group Therapy and Facilitation: Facilitating group therapy sessions on topics such as addiction, relapse prevention, healthy relationships, and boundaries.
Trauma-Sensitive Counselling: Providing support with a trauma-informed approach to help clients navigate and heal from traumatic experiences.
Relationship Issues and Couples Therapy: Conflict, communication, intimacy, LGBTIQ, infidelity & trust, anger management.
Neurodiversity: Challenges related to behaviour, emotional regulation, communication and social skills training.
Academic & Social Challenges: Assistance with school refusal, transitions from primary school to high school, peer bullying, issues with friendships, anxiety, depression, self-harm, body image, and self-esteem issues.
Behavioural & Emotional Regulation: Strategies for managing behavioural concerns, emotional regulation difficulties, and coping with sensory overload.
Charity Chola (BAPsychCouns, MMentalHlthNurs, GDipRes, PGradCertMentalHlth)
Charity Chola
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Therapeutic Intervention Practitioner, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Child & Family Consultant
Charity is a Clinical Nurse Specialist that provides therapeutic interventions in the mental health sector. She is a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and a Credentialed Children & Young People’s Nurse with the Australian College of Children & Young People’s Nursing. Charity has completed various qualifications in the mental health field including psychology, counselling and family dispute resolution. She is a Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner through the Attorney General's Department and is also trained in Child Inclusive Mediation and Counselling as a Child Consultant, specialising in post-separation Family Dispute Resolution. Her extensive experience spans numerous clinical and leadership roles, including Child Triage Clinical Nurse Specialist at Perth Children’s Hospital and Clinical Nurse Specialist with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). She has also worked in emergency departments and acute psychiatric settings, delivering advanced care for both adults and young people.
Charity served 4 years as the Director representing Western Australia on the Board of the Australian College of Children & Young People's Nursing (ACCYPN), reflecting her dedication to advancing the field of children's health. With a distinguished career supporting children, adolescents, and their families, Charity is deeply committed to promoting family wellbeing and positive mental health outcomes. She is passionate about helping families navigate challenging circumstances and achieve constructive resolutions.
Through a strength’s-based approach, Charity draws on a broad range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), mindfulness strategies, and sleep hygiene techniques—Charity’s compassionate and skilled approach ensures that she continues to make a meaningful difference for children, adolescents, and families throughout the community.
Services Offered
Charity works with adults, children & adolescents experiencing issues such as (but not limited to):
Family Law Support: Child-focused sessions for family dispute resolution, including both parent and child interviews, as well as guidance for post-separation parenting plans.
Therapeutic Interventions: Individual and group therapy for children and adolescents, provided under Mental Health Care Plans (MHCP – Medicare).
Neurodiversity: challenges related to behaviour, communication and social skills.
Academic & Social Challenges: Assistance with school refusal, transitions from primary school to high school, bullying, anxiety, depression, self-harm, body image, and self-esteem issues.
Behavioural & Emotional Regulation: Strategies for managing behavioural concerns, emotional regulation difficulties, and coping with sensory overload.
Mental Health Concerns: Treatment for depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, complex PTSD, trauma, personality disorders, phobias and eating disorders.
Addiction Support: Guidance and intervention for various forms of addiction (e.g., binge eating, gaming, vaping etc).
Grief and bereavement: grief & loss
Interpersonal Relations: gender identity / diversity