Meet The Team
Meet our compassionate team behind The Little Sanctuary. Our experienced clinicians work collaborateively with children, young people and families to provide personalised evidence-based support.
Libby Spash
Director and Early Childhood Professional
Libby is an experienced educator working under the Early Childhood Approach and the Director at The Little Sanctuary.
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With a strong passion for helping children develop confidence, social skills, independence, and emotional wellbeing.
Libby supports children and families through compassionate, practical, and strengths-based care tailored to each child’s unique needs and goals.
Libby holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary) and brings over 17 years of teaching and educational leadership experience, along with valuable experience in the NDIS Early Childhood Intervention sector. Her strong background in child development, learning, and behaviour support allows her to provide practical strategies that help children thrive at home, in childcare, kindergarten, school, and the wider community.
Libby has a special interest in early intervention for young children experiencing developmental delays, emotional regulation difficulties, social communication challenges, and executive or cognitive functioning difficulties. She uses interest-based play, relationship-focused strategies, and strengths-based approaches to support children in developing important lifelong skills.
Her approach is warm, person-centred, trauma-informed, and neuro-affirming. Libby values working collaboratively with parents and caregivers, empowering families with practical tools and strategies to support their child’s development in everyday routines and environments.
Early intervention services with Libby are tailored to support children with school readiness, social skills, emotional regulation, independence, behaviour support, communication development, confidence building, transitions to kindy or school, and family wellbeing.
Appointments are available face-to-face in Hervey Bay.
Sarah Coote
Lead Psychologist
Sarah is a registered General Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and Lead Psychologist at The Little Sanctuary.
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Based in North Brisbane, Sarah supports children and families with compassionate, evidence-based care that focuses on each child’s unique strengths and needs.
With postgraduate training in Child, Youth and Family Counselling and Neuroscience, and a current PhD exploring how schools can better support children with mental health conditions and disabilities, Sarah brings both clinical expertise and a deep understanding of the systems surrounding children’s development.
Sarah brings extensive experience and a special interest in comprehensive diagnostic assessment. She is trained in administering gold-standard assessments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as cognitive and learning disorders. Her approach is neuro-affirming and strengths-based, ensuring that each child and family feels heard, understood, and supported throughout the assessment process.
As a child psychologist, Sarah works with children aged 3+ and their families using a trauma-informed and person-centered approach. She collaborates closely with parents and caregivers to create practical, real-world strategies that can be used at home, at school, and in everyday life.
Sarah provides support across a range of areas, including behaviour challenges, emotion regulation, social skill building, neurodivergence, sensory processing differences, anxiety and mood concerns, adjustment difficulties, and complex trauma, as well as parenting support.
Appointments are available via telehealth, in-person therapy and assessment sessions in Windsor (North Brisbane), and assessment services in Hervey Bay.
Lisa Bayfield
General Psychologist
Lisa is a General Pschologist with the Australian Health Practitionor Regulation Agency (AHPRA). She has a background as a teacher, guidance officer, and school psychologist.
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Lisa has a special interest in working with children and young people who experience anxiety (including school, social, and generalised anxiety), depression, and neurodiversity such as ASD and ADHD.
She works primarily with primary school-aged children and teenagers, supporting them to build resilience, emotional regulation, and confidence. Lisa also provides psychological assessments, including learning and behavioural assessments, to help families and schools better understand each child’s unique strengths and challenges.
Her approach is calm, warm, and person-centred. She draws on evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and strength-based approaches, tailoring each session to meet the individual needs and goals of her clients.
At The Little Sanctuary, Lisa works collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team and is supported by Lead Psychologist, Sarah Coote, to ensure the best outcomes for the children and families they support.
Sessions are offered face to face in Hervey Bay or via telehealth.
Marney Hartland
Admin
Marney is a valued member of The Little Sanctuary administration team, bringing a wealth of experience in administration, business operations, and working with children, young people, and families.
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With many years of experience across administration and small business management, Marney plays an important role in ensuring the day-to-day operations of The Little Sanctuary run smoothly and efficiently. Her strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and proactive approach help create a welcoming and supportive experience for both families and clinicians.
Marney provides administrative support across a wide range of areas, including client intakes and referrals, appointment coordination, financial administration, resourcing, and ordering supplies. She is often one of the first points of contact for families and is committed to ensuring enquiries are responded to promptly, professionally, and with care.
Marney brings valuable experience in administration, customer service, finance, and problem-solving. She understands the importance of creating effective systems, maintaining clear communication, and supporting the operational needs of a growing practice.
As part of her role, Marney also helps maintain the clinic environment, ensuring our spaces remain clean, organised, and welcoming for children, families, and staff. She takes pride in supporting the behind-the-scenes work that allows our clinicians to focus on delivering high-quality care.
At The Little Sanctuary, Marney works closely with the multidisciplinary team to support the needs of children, young people, and families. Her warm, approachable nature and commitment to excellent service make her an integral part of the team and the positive experience we strive to provide for every family who walks through our doors.