Meet the Counsellor
Hello! I grew up in Geelong and have lived in this region for most of my life. Now based in Aireys Inlet, I enjoy the amazing lifestyle the bush and the beach have to offer. Favourite past times include spending time with family, friends or pets. As Mum to two and recently Nanna to one, I have experienced all the joys and challenges of parenting, whilst balancing a career. Most of my working life has been spent in roles involving health and education and as well as counselling, I continue to work with students in the school of medicine at Deakin University. My interest and passion for good mental health began a long time ago, whilst working in the pharmaceutical industry, where I spent many years discussing treatments for anxiety and depression, with GPs and psychiatrists. Over the past ten years, I have studied psychology, wellbeing and mental health and more recently counselling, to reach my goal to offer a community based, mental health support service.
What Does a Counsellor Do?
As a counsellor I offer support for your mental health and overall wellbeing when things are tough. My main purpose is to provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space, for you to seek this kind of support. I also believe in making my services affordable and easily accessible. GP referrals are not required and fees are kept as low as possible..
I offer interventions and strategies that can help protect your mental health as you navigate challenges such as unusual levels of worry, stress, anxiety, grief, social isolation, or grappling with difficult decisions, unexpected changes, or trying to change a habit or behaviour.
As a counsellor I will never tell you what to do, nor how to do it. My role is to be your personal facilitator and private sounding board, helping you to prioritise your needs. Accordingly, resources and strategies can then be tailored to meet these needs, whilst respecting your culture, individuality, beliefs and values.
What to expect in your first therapy session.
You might feel a bit nervous and apprehensive heading into counselling for the first time, and that’s totally normal.
Our first session is about setting a good foundation for the therapeutic relationship. It's also an opportunity to learn more about how the counselling process works.
At the beginning of your first session, I will want to understand more about how I can help. So be prepared for some questions, such as:
- Why you came to counselling
- What you want to achieve
I can then talk you through a few more details, such as the types of therapy available and how these can be tailored to suit your needs.
Through all of this, I will need to take notes. This might take some getting used to, but it's important so that I can refer back to these, to make sure we are on the right track.
While it’s valuable to be open and transparent about your reasons to attend, you don’t have to share anything you don’t feel comfortable sharing. It’s important to go at your own pace.
How to get the most of therapy.
Counselling can be a powerful tool for personal growth and healing, but it requires effort and commitment to make the most of it. By approaching counselling with an open mind, you can maximise the benefits of therapy. By being flexible and willing to try new things, you can make the most of your sessions and achieve better outcomes.By practising what you learn between sessions, you can master these changes.
After your counselling session.
Finishing a session can feel different every time. Sometimes you might leave with a sense of accomplishment and feel really great. Other times you may leave knowing there are still things to work on.
It can be hard, but really valuable work. So after the session, it’s important to take the time to look after yourself, reflect and capture what you’ve learned. For example, keep a record of the most important things that came out of your session. As well, note the things you found the most helpful during the session and the things you didn't. Always letting me know if there are things we need to change.So try to set aside some time after each session to process it and take good care of yourself.