Online Counselling for Australian Capital Territory

Are you struggling with a challenging relationship or stressful situation at home or work? Are you the parent of a child or adolescent with their own mental health challenges - you're busy caring for them, and feel like no one is caring for you? Are you feeling overwhelmed by rising levels of stress and anxiety in this uncertain world? Does life just feel too fast and too hard? You don't have to struggle alone. I would be privileged to walk with you awhile.

I am an Australian Indian therapist, mother of two wild teenage girls and a somatically oriented certified psychedelic-assisted therapist. I work with a client base that is multicultural and aged 13 and above. I work at Canberra Child Psychiatry on Tuesdays looking after adolescents and family therapy. My specialities include grief and bereavement (death, divorce, empty nesting), couple/family relational conflict space, older adolescents/young adults, issues stemming from miscommunication and bicultural conflict in workplaces and families. I offer trauma counselling for NDIS self-managed and plan-managed clients.

My name is Stefanie, I am a trauma informed, PaCFA clinically registered counsellor. I am a practitioner who approaches counselling in a collaborative way, helping you to move beyond simply surviving and be able to deal with life stressors with greater ease. Working together, we will explore your experience and difficulties to achieve a deeper understanding of who you are; how you think, feel and behave. My goal is to encourage you to be curious about your internal world and to heal the parts of yourself that hold your emotional wounds.

I work primarily with folks who’re struggling in their relationships. Mostly, I work with romantic partners, but also with mothers & daughters, business partners, friends and individuals. My clients typically have difficulties in communicating effectively with others, especially during conflict when they’re feeling all the feelings. Clients also often approach me because they’ve been betrayed in relationship. Sometimes, there’s been an affair, an experience of sexual assault, or an unexpected separation...

Men are often taught not to reach out for help. You may have been made to believe that to seek help for yourself was to admit weakness or that it would make you a burden. Maybe you don't know where to start. But you've been thinking about getting professional support for some time now, that's why you are here. You know you need help, maybe because you're experiencing social anxiety or an overwhelming difficulty to get out of bed. You might no longer enjoy the things that used to make you happy, or you're having darker, more intrusive thoughts. It's starting to impact your relationships, your work & your physical health.

I meet you where you are at. I work from a person centred perspective, to provide you with a caring, non- judgemental and supportive space; to work through whatever life issues may be troubling you. Working together, we can explore your concerns and the effect you feel these things are having on the “whole” of your well-being. Your counselling journey should be supportive and empowering. I truly believe everyone can grow beyond struggle. You should expect to see real, tangible changes in yourself and gain insight, strength, resilience and confidence as you make positive changes towards living a rich and vital life.

People often feel confused, unsure or overwhelmed. Anxiety, distress, emotional pain and sadness can impede one's ability to engage fully in life. I will work with you to explore your own strengths, and build your resilience and coping skills. Together we will explore your challenges, and find ways to move forward. Safety, warmth and respect for individual differences are key to my approach. With a foundation of trauma informed practice, I use strengths based, person centred counselling, deep listening, art therapy, goal setting and mindfulness meditation. I have counselled people from all walks of life, on all life's challenges.

If you were my client, I would work with you with the attitude that you are the expert in YOU. I would work to help you to unlock the answers that you need. My job is to help you to understand the patterns of behaviours that are tripping you up in life. I come from a non judgmental position, showing empathy and warmth, enabling you to hear your own voice. Often trauma, or things that have been ones a survival reaction become a stumbling block, our own inner critical voice can keep us from trusting ourselves. My intention is to help you capture your needs and like a caterpillar learn how to fly like a butterfly.

I have been working as a psychotherapist & counsellor for over 30yrs in a variety of government agencies (including sexual assault services, rape crisis services, victims of crime support services & women's health services) and private practice (11yrs in Sydney & 6yrs in Canberra). I have specialised in working with people whose histories include complex trauma, attachment trauma, developmental trauma and trauma in adulthood (including childhood sexual abuse, emotional & psychological abuse, childhood physical abuse, family violence, coercive control in relationships & adult rape). I also work with people struggling with PTSD.

Many people feel 'stuck' with behaviours, feelings, habits or situations that they find hard to change. This can limit the potential to flourish and live life fully. Everyone has their own strengths and coping skills, and the right counsellor will help you to notice your pre-existing strength and resilience, and work with you to find ways to tackle your challenges and live the life you really want to live.