South East Suburbs, Melbourne, VIC
Counselling
My Counselling Philosophy
At the heart of my work is a simple and powerful hope: people change when they feel safe, seen, and supported — not judged, pushed, or pathologised.
My practice is built on compassion, curiosity, and the belief that every person carries strengths, wisdom, and resilience that can be nurtured into meaningful change.
Counselling to Help with Making Changes for Better Health & Wellbeing
Why do I struggle with life changes & making changes?
Have you ever heard yourself say, “I’m hopeless and it’s my fault and it would be embarrassing to talk about my problems.” And then there’s, “Every time I try, it doesn’t work.” Or how about, "I'm scared about change and I feel stuck." And also, "Everything has changed and I am so lost."
Sometimes facing our struggles and considering change feels painful and overwhelming and maybe we are filled with self-criticism. Maybe we know we need to shift or change something but aren’t sure what to do or how to begin? Maybe we feel completely frozen or confused or worried about making the wrong choice or decision.
I feel under pressure to change and I'm struggling. Is there something wrong with me?
Sometimes others might be suggesting or advising or pushing change and we don't want to be rushed. The pressure and expectations can create more stress and worry.
All of these feelings are a normal part of the change process and it doesn't mean there is something wrong with us or our struggles! We want to consider change on our own terms and pace. It's not about a complete overhaul, but rather considering the smallest steps that make sense right now.
Let's take that time to explore change and find inspiration for new ways of being.
What is it I'm wanting to change?
I can help you with:
- The emotional impact of chronic disease or other health concerns
- Feeling stuck about your future direction
- Communication & relationship struggles (I don't offer couples or family therapy)
- Preventing or healing from burnout
- Depression and feelings of low self-worth
- Anxiety, stress and worry
- Addiction worries
Counselling for Counsellors
Looking after ourselves beyond supervision
Clinical supervision is vital for our counselling practice to stay clinically relevant and robust. But what about when we need support beyond that? If we are finding that our personal stressors are impacting our counselling work and it's pointing us to exploring our personal world, then it's time to consider counselling for the counsellor.
Why counselling for a counsellor with a counsellor makes sense.
Firstly, I will value and respect you and your counselling skills and expertise. We know what it takes to create a safe and compassionate space to explore our vulnerabilities. This won't be assumed. I will support you to gently move into the client space, to focus on you as a person.
It is a sign of strength to know that navigating the rocky parts of life isn't always easy to do alone. We welcome our clients and champion their courage to reach out. Allow me to do the same for you.
We can take the time with compassion and curiosity:
- To explore your emotional and relational world
- To unpack and deepen your understanding of what is getting in the way of you being who you want to be
- To enhance your values, skills, and strengths towards a new or different way forward.
- To explore new possibilities to look after you better.
- To rediscover and rejuvenate you.
Counselling for Carers
Being a Carer can be tough
We all have times when we struggle, feel depressed or anxious, or worried about the future. As a carer maybe we are feeling sadness or grief about what we have lost in our lives and relationships, or anticipating the loss that may come. Maybe we don't recognise who we are anymore. Maybe we feel guilt and shame for our feelings. Maybe we feel stuck and stressed and don't know where to turn.
To others we might seem to be coping and maybe we are. Sometimes though, we might be paddling frantically to deal with all of our competing priorities and responsibilities.
How will counselling help me to cope better with my stress and worries as a carer?
Reaching out for support is not only helpful, it's courageous and a sign of strength. Whatever you are going through with life’s challenges, changes, burdens, or feeling stuck, counselling can bring relief, peace and hope.
Again, using a compassion and strengths-based approach, together we create a team to share, unburden and grow. Your voice will be heard. Your concerns, feelings and thoughts will be honoured.
We can take the time with compassion:
- To understand your feelings and how they are affecting you.
- To rework your priorities and make changes one step at a time.
- To enhance your values, skills, and strengths towards a new or different way forward.
- To develop ways of coping with stress.
- To explore new possibilities to look after you better.
- To rediscover you.
Counselling: A few extra questions answered
How will Strengths-Based counselling help me to understand my struggles with change and consider making changes?
Firstly, let me stress that a strengths-based approach is NOT about searching for 'silver linings' or expecting to be positive all the time. It is about being true to our feelings and experiences as authentically as we can. Counselling gives you the space and time:
- to feel
- to slow down
- to consider how our experience of what has changed is impacting us.
- That also includes not knowing or being unsure.
We might feel a whole range of emotions, including grief of what feels lost, sadness, worry, shame, guilt, anxiety, anger, confusion and more.
Will my values and beliefs be considered?
A strengths-based and valued-based approach helps us to explore what's important to you. You will be listened to and valued for the unique person you are. We become a team to gently rediscover your skills and strengths and dreams. We can explore why you might want change; how it will make a difference for you; what gets in the way and what helps; and why you might be feeling stuck or scared.
What does compassion-focused and solution-focused counselling mean?
Our inner critic is often based in feelings of fear, anxiety, perfectionism and maybe anger. We try to better understand our inner critic so that we are less harsh on ourselves.Then we can work on building our inner mentor: that part of ourselves that has compassion, that can do, can try, can be brave, can be inspired, can self-forgive, and can try again.
We can be solution-focused and look at what has worked in the past that might be helpful now. We can also consider what you don't want to do, or need. And we can be creative about trying out new things or ways to be or to cope. Then we can unpack, review or reflect upon what worked or didn't work and why, without judgement but rather with curiosity and compassion.