EXHALE is a multidisciplinary clinic to support young people struggling with nicotine use. Our multidisciplinary team includes Dr Krista Monkhouse (Paediatrician) and Dr Natasha Herron (formerly Dr Natasha Perry; Snr Clinical and Health Psychologist). Young People can choose to see either disciplines, or both for comprehensive and collaborative care.

Why Refer?

• E-cigarette (vape) use has dramatically increased in the adolescent population, leading to significantly high doses of daily nicotine.
• Nicotine impacts adolescent brain development and mental health.
• E-cigarette use reduces physical performance and increases anxiety.
• Practical early intervention and harm reduction improve long-term health outcomes.
• Our clinicians have significant experience in the youth drug and alcohol sector and have worked together in a best practice harm reduction framework to support the physical and psychological factors surrounding a young person’s nicotine use/dependency.

How our clinic works?

• Paediatrician consultations for management of physical/pharmacological harms of nicotine dependency can occur at Lake Macquarie Paediatrics or via telehealth.
• Support for behaviour change and addressing the psychological and psychosocial factors surrounding nicotine use are available via Your Space Collective telehealth.
• Family inclusive practice.

Referral Steps

• Referrals to Dr Monkhouse, our Paediatrician, young people will require a referral from their GP. For more information contact Lake Macquarie Paediatrics: www.lakemacpaediatrics.com.au or call (02) 49 100 805.
• For referrals to Dr Natasha Herron (Clinical and Health Psychology), a GP referral is necessary for Medicare rebates, for all eligible young people, through a mental health treatment plan.