About

I understand that seeking therapy can feel vulnerable, and I prioritise creating a safe, authentic space where you feel supported and understood. My approach is grounded, compassionate, and attuned to your unique experience. I bring both clinical expertise and lived experience into the therapy space. I know what it’s like to navigate a world that doesn’t always make space for difference — and this gives me a deeply embodied understanding of trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and neurodiversity.

With a background in Process-Oriented Psychology, I follow what arises in the moment — whether it’s a memory, a body sensation, or an emotion — trusting your system’s innate wisdom and capacity for healing. Depending on the treatment path we collaboratively decide on, some sessions may be more structured (like EMDR), or skill-based, while others are more spacious and intuitive.

I don’t push for change, but instead create the right conditions for insight and clarity to emerge naturally.

Together, we’ll explore how your experiences have shaped your nervous system, your relationships, and your inner world — helping you reconnect with a sense of choice, self-understanding, and personal power.

How I View Mental Health Through a Trauma Lens

As a trauma therapist, I view experiences like anxiety, depression, panic attacks, emotional dysregulation, self-esteem challenges, and even relationship struggles — not as isolated problems, but often as symptoms of underlying adverse experiences and nervous system dysregulation.

Instead of asking "What’s wrong with you?" I am more interested in asking:
"What happened to you?"
"What survival patterns did you develop?"
"Where in your system still feels unsafe?"

Trauma isn't just about extreme events; it’s anything that overwhelms your system’s ability to cope and leaves a lasting imprint on how you feel, think, and relate to the world.

Many of the "symptoms" we see today were once intelligent survival strategies — ways of coping with unbearable emotions, chaos, loss, or feeling unsafe.
From a trauma perspective, these patterns aren't signs of brokenness — they're signs of adaptation and resilience.

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My approach is:

Root-focused, not just symptom-focused — working gently toward healing the original wounds rather than just managing surface-level issues.

Nervous system-aware, recognising that trauma is held in the body, not just in the mind.

Compassionate and non-pathologising, understanding that your survival strategies made sense.

Safety-paced, moving slowly enough to prevent overwhelm or retraumatisation.

Empowerment-oriented, helping you reclaim agency, self-trust, and connection at a pace that feels right for you.

Whether you are dealing with chronic anxiety, difficulty regulating emotions, persistent patterns in relationships, or feeling disconnected from yourself, I work to support you in completing the healing your system was never given the chance to finish.

Understanding Trauma

Trauma sits on a continuum. It’s not always the result of a single, extreme event. While some people experience trauma through obvious incidents like abuse, accidents, or violence, many others are impacted by chronic emotional stress or early relational wounds that are less visible — but no less significant.

You don’t need to have experienced what society typically labels as “severe” trauma to be affected. Trauma can arise from:

  • Emotionally neglectful caregivers – Growing up in a seemingly “normal” or privileged home, but without emotional support or attunement, can teach you to meet your own needs alone. As an adult, it might feel safer to stay distant than to rely on others.

  • Inconsistent caregivers – If caregivers were unpredictable due to addiction, mental health issues, or unresolved trauma, it may feel difficult to trust people or let your guard down. You might have stepped into the caregiver role yourself, blurring boundaries.

  • Frightening caregivers – When caregivers were a source of fear — whether due to anger, threats, or violence — you may have learned that closeness isn’t safe and relationships require constant vigilance.

  • Emotionally disconnected families – In families where emotions were dismissed or shamed, you might have learned to hide your feelings. Vulnerability can feel unsafe, and building close connections may be a struggle.

Each of these experiences can impact how you relate to others, regulate emotions, and understand yourself — often shaping your sense of safety, identity, and worth long after the events have passed.

Common impacts of trauma.

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The phased approach to treatment is designed to provide a structured path to healing that prioritises your safety and well-being.

  • PHASE 1 - Safety and Stabilisation

    Before beginning trauma reprocessing, we first focus on helping you feel secure and grounded. In this phase, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of trauma’s impact, develop strategies to tolerate distressing emotions, and build a sense of safety and stability within yourself and your environment.

    This phase is typically longer when treating complex trauma and often involves additional work such as attachment repair, parts work, and addressing maladaptive coping mechanisms.

  • PHASE 2 - Trauma Processing

    In this phase, we begin reprocessing traumatic memories in a way that allows your brain to integrate them without overwhelming distress. Using EMDR, we gently activate your brain’s natural healing processes, helping you move from feeling stuck in past experiences.

    When treating complex trauma, the approach is more gradual and titrated to prevent overwhelming emotions and dissociation. If needed, we may return to Phase 1 to reinforce safety, stabilisation, and emotional regulation before continuing trauma processing. This ensures that healing progresses at a pace that feels manageable and supports long-term integration.

  • PHASE 3 - Integration and Growth

    The final phase emphasises integrating your experiences into a cohesive self-understanding. We focus on reinforcing new, positive beliefs, strengthening your relationships, and solidifying adaptive responses to future challenges. This phase supports lasting growth and a future no longer shaped by past trauma.

    For complex trauma, clients may need ongoing support in learning healthy boundaries, recognising safe vs. unsafe relationships, and restructuring core self-beliefs shaped by chronic trauma.

Therapeutic Approach

I take a person-centred, integrative approach — drawing from a range of modalities to support the mind, body, and transpersonal aspects of human experience. My work is grounded in current research, clinical experience, and ongoing professional development.

Training

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CBT, CBT-E, Cognitive Processing Therapy)

  • Flash Technique & Brainspotting

  • Parts Work & Ego State Therapy

  • Somatic-Based Practices & Polyvagal Theory

  • Imago & Gottman Relationship Therapy

  • Attachment Theory & Relational Approaches

  • Narrative Walks & Movement-Based Therapy

  • Compassionate Inquiry & Mindfulness-Based Approaches

  • Process-Oriented Psychology (Jungian depth psychology)

  • Rites of Passage

  • LGBTQIA+ Affirming & Neurodiversity-Informed Practice

MEMBERSHIP

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) - Registered Psychologist
EMDR International Association of Australia (EMDRAA) – Member
Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED)
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CREDENTIALS & QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
Graduate Diploma Trauma-informed Processwork Psychotherapy
ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Practitioner
EMDR Institute Structural Dissociation Masterclass (EMDRIA Approved. Trainer: Dr Roger Solomon)
EMDR Institute Basic Training (EMDRIA Approved. Trainer: Dr Janette McMahon)