Get to know the woman behind Broadleaf
Rasa Kabaila
Broadleaf: Holistic Nurse Practitioner Services was founded by Rasa Kabaila in 2022. Rasa’s background is Australian-Lithuanian and she holds strong roots with her Lithuanian pagan ancestry which is encapsulated by Rasa’s name, language and spiritual beliefs. The Broadleaf tree is the most common type of tree in Lithuania.
The name for this company was chosen as the services provided by this practice are broad, unique
and nurturing, like the branches of a tree. Trees have shown us that healing renewal is possible even after significant trauma and adversity. At one point or another, we need someone to support us and remind us of our resilience when we are losing hope. Broadleaf will stand tall for you and will support you in its branches until you feel ready to stand tall again.
Rasa is a Nurse Practitioner, which means she can diagnose, prescribe (like a doctor) and provide therapy (like a psychologist). This means that you won’t need to see a psychologist or a psychiatrist unless Rasa feels this is indicated. As an added bonus, as a private client, you don’t need a GP referral or mental health care plan to see Rasa and you can see her for an unlimited number of sessions through the year. Rasa’s aim is to support you to get where you want to be in life as soon as possible.
Rasa’s approach with her clients is innovative, holistic, individualised empathetic, evidence based and importantly, its recovery goal orientated. She loves helping people and this is what drew her to commence work as a personal carer at age sixteen.
Rasa has implemented successful, research-based clinical therapies in anxiety and depression treatment optimisation as well as pet therapy. Rasa has completed a number of volunteer nursing expeditions overseas and has also undertaken training for Ashtanga Yoga in Mysore, India.
Rasa specialises in:
- Treatment optimisation for people with Depression, Anxiety and Bipolar Affective Disorder.
- Metabolic and physical health assessment and treatment (inclusive of weight management, nutrition, physical activity and wellbeing plans).
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
- Trauma Informed Therapy.
- Please note that Rasa does not provide assessments for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and cannot prescribe the medication: dexamphetamine. Rasa also does not test for Autism Spectrum Disorder but she can provide suggestions of care pathways for the latter.
- Grief Work
- Motivational Interviewing
Rasa carries more than ten years of nursing experience including:
- Depression and anxiety assessment treatment optimisation, inclusive of Bipolar Affective Disorder. This has been partnered as research through the UNSW Rural Clinical School.
- Metabolic and physical health assessment, treatment and care planning.
- Acute adult mental health case management and treatment.
- Child and adolescent mental health.
- Acute mental health crisis assessment and treatment.
- Primary health care.
- Rural health care.
- Overseas volunteer nursing and aid work.
- Lots of other clinical areas: just ask Broadleaf!
Qualifications
Master of Nurse Practitioner degree (with distinction) (Charles Darwin University, 2019).
Master of Mental Health Nursing degree (University of Newcastle, 2016).
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing (with distinction) (RMIT, 2015).
Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care (Flinders University, 2013).
Bachelor of Nursing (University of Canberra, 2010).
Certificate 3 in Aged Care (Train 4 Life, 2009).
Clinical supervision and mentoring
Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment (ACT Health, 2012).
Currently providing group and one on one clinical supervision and mentoring for undergraduate and postgraduate multidisciplinary health staff of all ages and experience.
Compassion Fatigue Training, The Bouverie Centre Melbourne, 2015
Academic work
Conjoint lecturer at UNSW (2021 onwards).
Research lead in the OptiMA3 Nurse Practitioner led depression trial (2021 onwards).
Key researcher in the OptiMA2 Nurse Practitioner led depression trial (2020).
Clinical Nurse Consultant in the Physical Health Nurse project funded by the National Health and Research Council (2018-2019).
Winner of the research poster prize at the Australian College of Nurse Practitioner conference (2018).
Frequent presenter (oral presentations and research posters) at various national nursing conferences (2012 onwards).
Ten published journal articles in the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal and Neural Computing and Applications (2012 onwards). Click publications
Sessional tutor at the Australian Catholic University and the University of Canberra (2012 onwards).
Peer reviewer of scientific journal publications (2012 onwards).
Author of nursing textbook: “Put some Concrete in your Breakfast: Tales from Contemporary Nursing”. Published through Springer Nature. (2023): Click publications
Multiple articles published through NSW and ACT Health publications (2012 onwards).
Providing education
Delivering training for nurses in the ACT and NSW (2012 onwards).
Education inclusive of but not limited to:
-Mood disorder identification and treatment.
-Mental health training for staff in non mental health specialities.
-Mental health considerations for the young person.
-Physical health interventions for young people and adults.
-Nurse Practitioner promotion and education.
– Wellbeing and empowerment for staff (including managing compassion fatigue).
-Clinical supervision and mentoring.
Memberships
Credentialed as a Dialectical Behavioural Therapist (DBT) through the Australian DBT Institute.
Member of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners.
Credentialed Mental Health Nurse with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
Registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a registered nurse with nurse practitioner endorsement.
Delegate and member of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
