COUNSELLING FOR WOMEN

Do you feel stretched thin, burnt out, wired, frazzled, emotionally overwhelmed or stressed out by all of the things you manage in your life? 

I LOVE working with women who feel burnt out and depleted, and together, we can create a personalised roadmap to recovery that helps you rediscover your vitality and reclaim your life. Counselling not only helps you regain control but also replenishes your energy and enhances your well-being. I deeply value lived experiences, and I may even share my own journey to support you along the way. My goal is to help you restore your energy and get your mojo back. Having personally recovered from burnout and deep depletion, I can guide you through the stages of stress and phases of burnout, ultimately helping you find your unique path to recovery. If you're experiencing the long-term effects of COVID-19, these counselling sessions can be especially beneficial for you too.

Further more, counselling and the combination of somatic therapy approaches can be extremely beneficial for individuals experiencing burnout and depletion. Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion that arises from prolonged stress, typically related to work, personal life and the effects of underlying trauma. When left unaddressed, burnout can have significant negative impacts on various aspects of life, including mental health, relationships, digestive gut health issues and overall well-being. 

In women's counselling, there are numerous advantages in managing and recovering from burnout:

1. Emotional Support and experiencing a  Safer Expression Space: A safer environment is held within therapy for expressing emotions and navigating the complexities of burnout.

2. Identification of Triggers, Patterns, and Polyvagal Insights: Delving into triggers, behavioral patterns, and understanding how the Polyvagal Theory informs our responses to stress and trauma.

3. Development of Coping Mechanisms and Polyvagal Exercises: Equipping individuals with coping skills, relaxation techniques, and exercises rooted in a somatic and polyvagal informed lens to regulate the nervous system.

4. Goal Setting and Priority Clarification: Collaboratively setting goals, clarifying priorities, and devising action plans to move towards recovery.

5. Boundary Setting and Communication Skills: Learning to establish healthy boundaries, effective communication, and conflict resolution techniques, vital for navigating relationships and preventing burnout.

6. Understanding the Impact of Trauma and Survival Mode on the Nervous System: Exploring how trauma and prolonged stress can dysregulate the nervous system and affect overall well-being.

7. Unmasking Societal Expectations and Authenticity: Recognising and shedding the 'good girl', 'perfectionism' or 'people pleaser' masks, which involve conforming to societal norms at the expense of authentic self-expression, a process crucial for mental and emotional health.

8. Opportunities for Self-Reflection and Alignment with Values: Encouraging self-reflection, fostering personal growth, and aligning actions with core values to cultivate resilience and well-being.

9. Nervous System Self-Care: Navigating Polyvagal States and Resetting Your System: Delving into the intricacies of the nervous system, individuals learn how to implement self-care practices that facilitate nervous system regulation. Through a Polyvagal-informed lens, clients gain insights into navigating the three states of the nervous system—ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal. As we explore these states, we also delve into the stories connected to each one: the story of disconnection when stuck in dorsal vagal, the story of protection when stuck in sympathetic, and the journey towards creating a new narrative when feeling safer and more present in a ventral vagal state. This exploration leads to the creation of a personalized map of the nervous system, identifying triggers, activations, and glimmers of hope that ground individuals within a regulated nervous system.

Through counselling informed by a Somatic and a Polyvagal lens,  and Kate's lived experience of burnout, individuals receive personalised support, guidance, understanding, and practical tools to delve into the core aspects of women's well-being. This collaborative process aids in managing burnout, reclaiming overall well-being through the development of a personalised healing roadmap, and implementing strategies to prevent its recurrence. By understanding how chronic stress impacts our nervous system, our stress responses begin to shape an authentic foundation for our well-being and facilitate recovery from burnout.

In additional women's counselling can also include: 

• Understanding the menstrual cycle and its impact on mood and body: Women's counselling can provide education and insight into the menstrual cycle, helping individuals understand the hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout the month and how they can affect mood, energy levels, and overall well-being. This understanding can empower women to better manage their emotions and physical symptoms, leading to a more balanced and harmonious life.

• Supporting transitions into different life stages: Women's counselling can provide support and guidance for women as they navigate transitions into different life stages, such as perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. These transitions can be accompanied by physical, emotional and biological changes, and counselling can help women understand and cope with these changes, as well as explore new opportunities for growth and fulfillment.

• Honouring and celebrating each stage of a woman's life: Women's counselling can help women honour and celebrate each stage of their life cycle, recognising the unique gifts, growth and challenges that come with each stage. This can include exploring new ways to embrace and celebrate femininity, as well as finding meaning and purpose in each stage of life.

• Empowering women to prioritise self-care: Women's counselling can empower women to prioritise self-care and make their own well-being a priority. This can include learning to set boundaries, practice self-compassion, unravel outdated belief systems and engage in activities that bring joy and fulfillment.

• An invitation to go slow and create restorative pauses in everyday living:  Women's counseling offers the invaluable benefit of creating restorative pauses in everyday living, allowing you to slow down and reflect on your experiences. These pauses provide a space to explore patterns, process emotions and outdated belief systems that keep us trapped in the 'hamster wheel' of unsustainable fast-paced living, leading to symptoms of chronic stress, burnout, and chronic illnesses. By embracing these moments for self-reflection and exploration, you can break free from harmful cycles, cultivate resilience, and pave the way for lasting well-being and vitality.

• Exploring your inner child: Women's counseling often involves delving into deeper inner work, which includes exploring the inner child and younger parts of oneself that may need to be heard, seen, and integrated into the present adult life. By creating a safer space for these inner explorations, individuals can uncover past experiences, emotions, and beliefs that continue to impact their current well-being and relationships. Through compassionate exploration and understanding, women can nurture and heal these inner parts, fostering integration and wholeness in their present lives. This process allows for greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and the cultivation of healthier relationship dynamics.

• Providing a safe and supportive space for healing: Women's counselling can provide a safer and supportive space for women to explore their emotions, process their experiences, and work through challenges. This can help women develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their needs, leading to greater self-awareness and personal growth.

• Fostering connection and community: Women's counselling can provide an opportunity for women to connect with others who are going through similar experiences, fostering a sense of community and support. This can be particularly valuable during times of transition or when facing challenges, as women can draw strength and inspiration from each other.

Overall, women's counselling can offer a range of benefits, including increased self-awareness, improved emotional and physical well-being, and a greater sense of connection and community. By understanding the menstrual cycle and the different stages within a woman's life cycle, women can gain insight into their experiences and develop strategies for navigating challenges, preventing burnout and depletion, and embracing opportunities for growth and fulfillment. 

I deeply believe in the power of holding space for women, providing them with a soft place to land as they navigate their journey. My intention is to create an environment where women can tune into where they are at, explore their needs at this stage in their life cycle, get to experience the calm of a regulated nervous system and live their lives authentically, true to their values.

If you would like to find out more, I warmly invite you to reach out for a phone call or dive on into a counselling session or package.

Due to the confidential aspect of my counselling work and legislation, I am unable to provide testimonials directly from counselling clients. However, I am able to share 'endorsements' about my counselling work via someone who I would consider a referrer like a naturopath, GP or other health professionals as to why they refer clients to. At times, I will share these. Endorsements from colleagues can be found on my Psychology Today profile and Kind Words webpage. You may also like to read other testimonials about other aspects of my work  with women. 

Supporting adults, both women and men, in their mental health journey is a passion of mine. As a counsellor trained in trauma informed therapies, I've had the joy of walking alongside many individuals in my organisational work. If you're grappling with depression, anxiety, grief, hearing voices, or even struggling to manage your emotions or any other mental health challenges, I'm here to empower you to live a fulfilling and joyful life and make sense of your experiences. 

My role as a counsellor is to meet you where you are, offering compassionate support as you navigate your unique mental health journey. Together, we'll explore your inner dialogue, connect with your deepest desires, and chart a path forward, so you can confidently step into the best years of your life. I love to witness the transformation my clients experience creating a meaningful life that's authentic to their values and heart's desires.

I provide both NDIS and non-NDIS counselling services, which can be conducted via telephone, video calls, or in person in Gawler. Please note that I do not work with Mental Health Care Plans to access counseling, however, I'm able to accept NDIS plans that are self-managed. 

"Depression is indicating that we need to stop and pause and reflect upon why my energy has gone? Why has my energy depleted? What caused this?  Depression is the stop sign of the soul." ~ Karla McLaren from "Language of Emotions"

Welcome to a space where your grief is acknowledged, your feelings are heard, and your journey is supported. Grief and loss are deeply human and personal experiences, and as your guide in the counselling space, I honour this truth. My intention is to provide you with a safe, compassionate environment where you can explore the complex emotions and experiences that come with bereavement. I have provided additional information about grief and loss counseling, as it differs significantly from other areas of counseling.

What is Grief & Loss Counselling?
Grief & Loss Counselling is a compassionate therapeutic process to help you navigate the complexities of grief and loss, and deeply honour your humanness as you find a meaningful path forward in your life.

What Can You Expect?
During your time in counselling, you can expect:

- A safe and supportive space to express your emotions and process your grief.

- Help understanding and navigating different types of grief.

- Tools and coping strategies to manage your grief and find meaning in your experience.

- Exploration of existential aspects of grief, including love, fear, and mortality.

- Consideration of developmental aspects of grief and loss at different life stages.

- Integration of grief into everyday living.

- Comprehensive understanding of various types of grief and their experiences throughout the life cycle.

- Exploration of meaningful rituals to help honor the connection to your profound loss and/or loved one.

What types of grief and loss may lead you to seek counseling throughout your life?
 

Anticipatory & Non-Finite Grief: Supporting You Through Ongoing Loss

Anticipatory grief often arises when facing end-of-life situations or a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. In our sessions, we will blend grief, loss, and bereavement therapeutic support as you navigate these challenging times. Whether you are facing death or living with the changes brought by permanent disability or chronic illness, a compassionate and gentle approach  will be facilitated to help you through this journey.

Grief & Trauma: Navigating Sudden, Unexpected Loss

Sudden and unexpected loss can often feel traumatic, leaving you feeling overwhelmed. In our sessions, we will explore a unique blend of grief and trauma informed therapeutic support to find effective, embodied ways to gently guide you through this challenging time. Together, we will work towards understanding and healing, helping you navigate the complexities of grief and trauma.

Finding Meaning Amidst Prolonged Grief: Navigating Existential Challenges Together

Sometimes grief can deeply affect your ability to function in daily life. In our sessions, we will explore modern understandings of complex and prolonged grief, addressing crises of meaning and existential angst. Together, we will work therapeutically with compassion to facilitate growth and help you re-engage with life.

Journeying Through Grief: Supporting You Across Life's Stages

In our counselling sessions, we will explore how your perspectives on loss and change evolve through different life stages, from infancy to older age. By drawing on existential themes and the concept of impermanence, we will develop effective, embodied ways to support you during these transitions. We will reflect on how your views on loss and change have transformed, explore the natural ebb and flow of life, and develop strategies to navigate significant transitions with empathy and understanding. Incorporating therapeutic practices that connect you with your body's wisdom and resilience, our sessions will offer tools and support to help you navigate changes with greater ease and insight.

Embark on a Journey of Healing

I invite you to embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery, where you'll find compassionate support and practical tools to navigate through grief and loss, ultimately embracing a new sense of hope and meaning. During this time, I'm here to walk alongside you.

In my counseling practice, I draw upon both my personal journey of navigating profound loss and change throughout my life and my extensive training in Existential Therapy with Dr. Greg Roberts. This unique combination allows me to authentically connect with my clients, creating a safe, compassionate space for them to explore their own healing journey. 

With warmth, 

Kate  

Religious Trauma & Cult Recovery Counselling  

Leaving a controlling, coercive, or high-demand group can be a complex and emotionally challenging experience. Cult recovery counselling offers specialised counselling support for individuals who have exited such groups, which may include religious organisations, new age movements, self-development programs,  or yoga communities. These groups often appear legitimate or mainstream, making it difficult for former members to recognise the extent of their influence or harm.  

Many people are unaware they were part of a cult or high-control group, yet they may struggle with confusion, grief, or a sense of lost identity after leaving. Cult recovery counselling provides a safe space to explore these feelings and begin the process of healing and reclaiming autonomy.  

What is Cult Recovery Counselling?  

Cult recovery counselling focuses on understanding and addressing the psychological effects of being in a high-control group. Key elements include:  

• Awareness & Education: Learning about the nature of cults and high-demand groups, their tactics, and their psychological impact to better understand your experience.  
• Evaluating Group Influence: Exploring the group's practices and beliefs, and understanding how they may have affected your well-being.  
• Healing Strategies: Using evidence-based approaches within therapy, to address harm, loss, or trauma caused by the group.  
• Reclaiming Identity: Reconnecting with your authentic self, rebuilding self-trust, and establishing healthy boundaries.  
• Creating a Meaningful Life: Supporting you as you rebuild a life grounded in autonomy, safety, authenticity and purpose.  

Through this process, individuals can gain clarity, process difficult emotions, and move toward a future free from the constraints of their former group.  

How Cult Recovery Counselling Can Help 

Cult recovery counselling offers a compassionate and informed approach to healing. Together, we can explore the ways your group experience has impacted your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Using a trauma-informed lens, I aim to empower you in reclaiming your identity, understanding your experiences, and rebuilding a life of freedom and fulfillment.  

Connect with Support  

If you’re ready to begin your healing journey, I warmly invite you to explore cult recovery counselling with me. This specialised support is designed to help you navigate the complexities of leaving a high-control group, process the impact of your experience, and move forward with clarity and strength.  

Let’s work together to uncover your authentic self, set healthy boundaries, and create a meaningful life on your terms.  

With warmth, 

Kate