Psychotherapy/Counselling Background With Women
Growing up with strong women around me whom I admired, I was struck by some of the barriers they, and later I, faced as women. I have always felt a strong commitment to support women in their development and healing and enhancing their experience of the world around them.
I worked as a counsellor for 7 years in a women’s health organisation providing therapy to women individually and in groups. Through my work there as a therapist I came to more deeply appreciate how, as women, our well-being is shaped and influenced by our experiences within our families, our culture, and the broader society around us, as well as our own unique physiology and subjectivity. Many women attending the organisation where I worked were trying to balance a life they wanted with a life they felt they should have. Most, felt like they weren’t doing well at either – and that it was their fault. Many also had experiences of early life trauma such as abuse that left them dealing with legacies such as feelings of depression and anxiety, relationship and sexuality difficulties, addiction issues and vulnerability to a range of other struggles in adulthood.
I have worked with women from a range of cultural backgrounds and a range of sexual orientations (including those identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, polyamorous and queer).
Psychotherapy/Counselling Background With Men
Working in my own counselling / therapy private practice has enabled me to work with many men both individually and as part of a couple, addressing a broad range of issues. Men, too are shaped by the world they grow up in and have to deal with the sometimes burdensome expectations of what others, and then they, come to expect of themselves as men. Men too, of course, may have been abused or had other traumatic childhood experiences and whilst things are changing, cultural ideas of masculinity can make it hard for men to feel OK about seeking help or engaging in ‘psychological work’ on themselves to help heal old wounds or achieve personal growth. Experiencing the ‘mismatch’ between individual needs and wants and societal demands can be hard to manage. Grappling with experiences that generate difficult feelings which seem contrary to ideas of what masculinity/ ‘being a man’ is, can be a common theme.
As with my experience with women, I have also worked with men from a range of different cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations.
Psychotherapy and Counselling
Working in my private practice enables me to pursue my passion for working with women and men and their struggles. I know the potency of counselling/ psychotherapy to transform and heal painful experiences. I love witnessing the aliveness that emerges in people as they come through this process.
As a therapist, I have been described as ‘down to earth’ and having a calming presence that has enabled people to feel safe in tackling their problems.
Over my 15+ years’ experience working through psychotherapy, counselling and group work facilitation, I have helped numerous people in healing anxiety, depression, legacies of sexual and other abuse trauma as a child or adult, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, impacts of domestic violence, eating issues and problem gambling and substance abuse. My experience has included working with people from diverse socio-economic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations. This enables me to bring a sensitivity to the unique experience of each person I see for therapy.
Regardless of the problems people have sought therapy for, many have suffered from symptoms of anxiety or depression and it is often these which bring people to therapy.
I am interested both in helping achieve lasting change as quickly as possible and in engaging in therapy for as long as is needed. I am experienced and committed to being as fully present as possible in the therapy process, including for longer term psychotherapy that may extend for some years.
Professional Therapist Credentials
I hold a Social Work Degree and a Diploma in Adult Psychotherapy with the Australia and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy (ANZAP), In addition, I have accredited postgraduate counselling qualifications. I hold professional memberships with ANZAP, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) – in which I am an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker I am also a member of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (IARPP). I also maintain regular supervision and ongoing additional professional and personal development.
If you want to alleviate the painful thoughts, feelings or behaviours you are struggling with, consider psychotherapy/counselling with me.
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What you can do now is:
Email me directly with questions or for an appointment
or
Phone me for a counselling appointment, or to discuss your needs.
Medicare Rebates available
