My approach aligns with the humanistic psychology school of thought in that rather than focusing on dysfunction, I focus on your strengths, your innate goodness, your drive towards freedom and self-actualisation and your underlying wholeness.
My primary orientation is Humanistic (See FAQ about different schools of psychotherapy). I integrate mindfulness-based interventions and focused strategies drawing from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Trauma informed Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Expressive Therapies (Sand play and symbol work), and integrating on your own spiritual orientation and practice wherever possible.
My services include:
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When your GP refers you to me, you are eligible for 10 Medicare subsidised sessions per calendar year. These sessions are focused on the particular presenting issue that you have identified with the help of your GP.
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If you can’t attend in-person sessions for some reason, I can offer sessions via Zoom or telephone.
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I offer counselling informed by the Perennial tradition (belief that there is a shared core of truth in all major religions). Spiritual counselling may promote, deepen and clarify your connection to the part of you that is beyond ego identity, beyond form (conditioning), and help you make sense of your life’s journey thus far and might help you find purpose moving forward..
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Psychological treatment to help you cope with your work-related injury or illness, and adjust to its impact, whilst learning new strategies to promote and support your recovery.
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Sandplay is an undirected expressive therapeutic modality that creates space for the complexities of the inner world to be explored and integrated in the psyche to promote emotional healing. It is a powerful therapeutic technique that facilitates the mind’s natural capacity for healing. It also helps people coping with trauma and anxiety to express their feelings non-verbally.
Symbol work is a more directive approach, and is used to help a client explore and then discuss a specific situation and their feelings about it. It is often an extension of Sandplay as it allows a focus on a particular problem or issue.
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I use a 3-phase practice model for helping clients recover from trauma: Phase 1 (stabilisation, connection with the present) involves the development of an empathic working alliance, ensuring safety, psycho education on the trauma response to normalise your experience, building skills, and dealing with any maladaptive or self-destructive behaviours. Phase 2 (revisiting the past) involves revisiting the trauma memory, and changing it from one of helplessness to empowerment and survival. This might also involve mourning any losses which may have resulted. Phase 3 (future focus), focuses on returning to life, reconnecting with others, consolidating the self-regulation, and self-care skills gained and looking forward with hope. According to Viktor Frankl, one of the ways people discover meaning after trauma, is in how they choose to respond, “saying yes to life in spite of everything” (Frankl, 1946).
“Psychology without spirituality is arid and lifeless; Spirituality without psychology, leads to delusion”
-Enneagram Wisdom, Enneathoughts
I have a special interest in post-traumatic growth and transcendence, resilience, spiritually integrative therapy (all wisdom traditions) and individual differences (Enneagram Personality Typing System). Before studying psychology, I was an architect, so having made such a major change in career myself, I am passionate about life-long learning, and never giving up on a career aspiration. Before entering private practice, I worked at Lumos Trauma Institute, Relationships Australia (with victims of crime & survivors of childhood institutional abuse), QUT in Student Support, Uniting Care (Standby Trauma Response Service -Suicide Bereavement) and at Assure (Employee Assistance Program).
I am also interested in:
Psycho-spirituality & Transcendence
Post-traumatic growth
Resilience
Expressive Therapies (Sandplay & Symbol work)
Holistic/Integrative Psychotherapy
The Enneagram Personality Typing System
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FTF/telehealth session: $200 / hour
Concession Card Holders/Students:$170/hour
Medicare rebates are available with a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP
