” As a trauma informed counsellor with lived experience, I help women who are experiencing burn out and depletion, to restore their vitality and get their life back. I also love to support individuals with their mental health, chronic illness and grief & loss.”

 What’s the difference between counselling and psychology? 

Counsellors and Psychologists are among the most respected mental health practitioners in the industry along with psychotherapists due to their knowledge and expertise to help people make positive changes in their lives. 

Psychologists assist clients who are dealing with mostly complex mental health conditions and are qualified to evaluate a patient’s mental health and offer diagnostic assessments.

Counsellors help clients who are struggling to cope with a specific problem or are having trouble in their everyday lives.

The key difference between psychologist and counsellors is:

Psychologist will work through the lens of 'what's wrong with you', whereas counsellors will work through the lens of 'what's happened to you'.

A counsellor's roles is to guide a client through their problems with a person centred approach, and to help them understand how their behaviours and emotions have an effect on their outcomes.  

Counselling is a safe and confidential collaboration between a qualified counsellor and client to resolve identified concerns. Counselling is a process that can not only help you regain control in your life, it can also also replenish your energy, promote mental health and boost wellbeing. I value lived experience, and will at times draw upon my own lived experience to support you. 

It is my highest intention to provide a safe, warm and compassionate space.

Upon booking in for your first counselling session, you can expect to receive a reflective journal to accompany you in-between your counselling sessions. The reflective journal that I created especially for you is a starting place to delve deeper ‘into your’ why behind the need to be there for everyone and what’s lead to the burnout creeping into your life, and how you can start showing up for you in a way that is nourishing and sustainable for your wellbeing. 

Many people who have never participated in a counselling session wonder what it will be like.

Establishing Rapport: For the first part of our counselling session we simply start getting to know each other. It’s really important that you feel comfortable and at ease in our first counselling session. You don’t have to leap into your deepest darkest secrets immediately—you’re welcome to take your time and find your way within the first counselling session at a pace that feels right for you. My job is to meet you where you are at on the day, and walk alongside you with compassion, as well as holding a non-judgemental and safe space for you.

Exploring a counselling agreement: As we move further along in the first counselling session we will explore a counselling agreement form which will provide further details around my approach in the counselling space - your confidentiality, cancellation and payment policies, how to book ongoing sessions, and the opportunity for you to ask any questions. 

Establishing your needs: Then we move into the next stage of the session where I will ask questions so I can start to understand what kinds of needs or issues you’d like to address in our sessions together. You may have questions for me too.  

 The most important thing to do after your first counselling session is check in with yourself. Ask yourself how you felt your first session went, and see how you would feel about coming along to another one. Remember: there’s no such thing as a one-session cure, so you may feel a little better or relieved, but it takes time to delve deeper into human behaviour and patterns, and creating permanent change. Burnout doesn’t happen overnight, therefore it does involve creating the space in your life to allow healing and recovery to unfold at a pace that will nourish you.

Additionally, you may have some “homework” (which I lovingly call, ‘Growthwork’) from your session to work on before your next session. This could be anything from journaling throughout the week, exploring reflective questions that may arise during the session, to doing a little reading that may help provide context for your next session and healing stage. Remember: whatever work you do between sessions is about making you feel healthier and happier, not about getting a good grade. 😊

Many people let me know that they leave a counselling session feeling lighter, more energised, happier, empowered and hopeful knowing that there is a way forward towards healing and recovery. That life gets to feel easier on their terms!  

Changes facilitated by counselling include: new insights, profound clarity, change in perspective, a new awareness of thoughts and feelings, enhanced capacity to regulate feelings and the nervous system, and new healthy habits, behaviours and decisions made in life.

I deliver my counselling service online (telehealth via phone or video) and offer face to face appointments at Gawler, South Australia.

Yes, I do under Improved Daily Living within Capacity Building. I am able to offer my counselling services to individuals with NDIS plans that are self-managed. You’re welcome to give me a call to discuss further.

I am a Specialist Counsellor and do not provide services under Medicare, including GP Mental Health Care Plans. 

Yes. I ask bookings to be paid for 24hours prior to attending your appointment. You can cancel up to 24hours prior with no charge. After this time, 75% of your fee will be charged if you notify me. However, no refunds will be provided for not showing up to your appointment and no cancellation notification.

No, I don’t. If you are seeking immediate support please make contact with the following services: 

•  LETSS: Ph: 1800 013 755. 5pm till 11.30pm, 365 days a year 
•  Lifeline: 13 13 14 (24/7 support)   
• Blue Knott:  1300 657 380 (24/7 support)    
• Beyond Blue:  1300 22 4636 (24/7 support)
• Police | Ambulance:  000
• Mental Health Triage: 13 14 65   

Choosing the right kind of therapy is an important decision to make for your needs.  It's my highest intention to provide you with the best, warmest and most compassionate level of therapeutic support.  Below are the areas of therapy and experiences I hold qualifications in.

Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful, evidence-based model that has been used successfully in treating addiction, depression, anxiety, self-harm, post-traumatic stress and eating disorders. ACT aims to maximise human potential for a rich and meaningful life, while effectively handling the pain that inevitably goes with our human experience.  ACT places a major emphasis on making room for intense feelings, thoughts and internal experiences, mindfulness and compassion. I have specialised in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), achieving qualifications in several counselling domains, including depression and anxiety, trauma, people-pleasing and perfectionism, brief interventions for crisis and suicidal ideation, as well as grief and loss.

 Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): IPT is a type of therapy that focuses on helping people to improve their relationships with others. IPT has been shown to be effective in treating conditions such as depression and anxiety. I have had the delight in studying a Post Graduate in Family Therapy Systems.  

 Existential Therapy: Existential counselling is a therapeutic approach that focuses on exploring the fundamental questions of human existence, such as the meaning of life, freedom, choice, responsibility, and death. Existential therapy addresses the anxiety that arises when individuals confront the inherent conflicts of human existence.  I'm currently exploring a 6-part series of training with Dr Greg Roberts to upskill in the field of grief, loss and bereavement. 

 Humanistic Therapy: Humanistic therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on helping people to grow and develop as individuals. Humanistic therapy has been shown to be effective in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress. I have specialised training in and continue to deepen my exploration of Emotion Focused Therapy and Person Centred Therapy.

Integrative Therapy:  Integrative therapy is an individualised, holistic approach to therapy that addresses the "whole" person.  This kind of therapy integrates spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional forms of well-being. Its goal is to help individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves on all these levels.  Integrative therapy can help with a range of short and long-term issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, addictions, bereavement and low self-esteem. Integrative therapy can have many benefits because it's so personalised for a person's needs and offers well-rounded support. My specific qualifications include:

• Somatic therapies - 'Embodied Processing' for the trauma informed somatic approach for working with chronic stress & nervous system dysregulation
• Polyvagal Theory informed
• Trauma informed therapy
• Innerchild & Parts works
• Mental Health Aware Yoga
• Family Constellations
• Maastricht approach for hearing voices & extreme states of mental distress
• Suicide narratives for individuals living with suicidal ideation and survival and responding to mental and emotion distress.

Religious & Cult trauma therapy: I became a Certified Religious Counselling Specialist to better support individuals in their healing journey. This training allows me to help those recovering from religious trauma, cult experiences or those who have been involved in highly controlled groups, guiding them to reclaim autonomy, rebuild self-esteem, restore well-being, and live authentically on their own terms.