M. Counselling, B OccThy, CCAA. PACFA.
I have years of experience working as RN in Mental Health and general medicine. I was motivated by compassion fatigue and burnout to return to study, completing M. Couns., and became a Counsellor. This has given me lived experience in how stress and lifestyle impact body, mind, and soul and has informed my holistic approach to counselling. I recognise the interwoven nature of body, mind, emotions, and spirit along with the underlying impact of trauma, stress, and childhood relational patterns throughout our lives which also has a profound affect our mental health.
I am passionate about neuroscience, the impact of trauma, stress, and relationship on mental health, and the connectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. I delight in working with each unique person and their ‘inner knowing’, which is an inner strength that enables us to survive life’s challenges. It also speaks our truth, it seeks to make sense of our journey, and seeks connection with others, or possibly disconnection when this is more helpful to our survival.
To make an appointment choose Online Booking or please can call M1 Psychology Loganholme on (07) 3067 9129.
How I can help you on your journey
My goal as Counsellor is to work with you to identify your patterns of stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, or relational struggles that hinder you in managing life, achieving goals and/or create self-sabotage within relationships. I offer you an empathetic relationship, providing a safe place to hear your truth and work together with you to facilitate your own journey of change.
In seeking my help, I recognise you are taking a powerful and brave step to change your life. As humans we all like certainty, we often do what we’ve always done but want a different outcome. The path of change can feel challenging and convoluted and may involve confronting emotions and behaviours that you have avoided. However, doing what you’ve always done will get what you’ve always gotten! It takes great courage and strength to take those first steps to do it differently!
Areas of interest
I work primarily with adults but also adolescents, with people experiencing a range of concerns including:
- Trauma, PTSD, Dissociative Disorders
- Anxiety – including panic attacks, generalised anxiety disorders, phobias
- Depression
- Grief and Loss
- Addictions
- Eating disorders
- Burnout
- Self-confidence / Identity issues
- Life Transitions / Lifestyle changes
- Faith-based issues/therapy
- Emotion Focussed therapy
- Workplace Injury recovery
My Experience
I am experienced in Mental Health as Registered Nurse with patients affected by childhood physical/emotional/sexual abuse and neglect. I attended many trauma conferences with international experts in trauma and completed six-month training programme in Group Facilitation.
I have counselling experience with males transitioning from prison into community, including drug and alcohol related issues, childhood trauma, relationship trauma, & PTSD. I have counselled adults and adolescents with anxiety disorders, depression, life transitions, grief and loss, cultural and identity issues, parenting & relationship issues, NDIS clients, adolescent anxiety disorders, eating disorders.
I developed and implemented a Ten-week group programme “Stepping Stones to Recovery”; specific to people who experienced childhood physical / emotional / sexual abuse and neglect.
About my Counselling
I am trained in the “Person Centred” approach to counselling, accepting the ‘uniqueness’ of your story, creating a safe space to hear your truth, and working with you to define and become the person you want to be.
I hold a ‘Trauma Informed’ approach, working with you to understand how your body and brain hold stress and trauma that may be from past and/or recent life events. This involves emotional and body focused work to process such events and understand how our body retains these stressful patterns in our behaviours, emotions, and reactions to others. I then work with you to develop mindful, stress-reducing strategies that are specific to your unique situation.
I use CBT strategies of mindfulness, breathing and relaxation techniques and examining thought processes or belief systems which are often unconscious and contribute to present distress. I value education regarding the effects of stress on our body/brain connections from the rich source of learning from neuroscience.
My focus in counselling is to walk with you in this time of challenge and distress, to provide a safe space where you can speak your ‘truth’ and discover or reclaim your inner strength and resilience. This can be an undiscovered part of self, but one that has been with you, enabling you to survive, to reach out for help and hold onto hope.
To make an appointment choose Online Booking or call M1 Psychology Loganholme on (07) 3067 9129.