My approach
Life is relating.
Relating to yourself and to others is a challenging journey, within the context of our culture and in relation to our natural world. If you are facing trauma and the unique grief and loss that comes with abuse, this challenge is greater. You were never mean't to face this challenge alone.
As a therapist and educator, this is why I am here.
How you relate to your therapist is crucial for your healing and growth. So how do I approach this?
A therapist is an ally on the journey. Its about facing the difficulties together.
Someone helping you navigate and create your life story on your terms. I respect you as the expert on yourself, your needs, your challenges and your relationships. I prioritize your self-determination.
The therapy space is a special and safe place, to pause the momentum of life and embrace healing. A place to take a rest and to steady yourself. To reflect, to make sense, to explore and express emotions, to connect to resources, to re-orientate. And with healing in focus, to move through a change process at your pace and in your unique way.
Ultimately, counselling supports cultivating enjoyment in life, in your relationship to yourself, others, culture and the natural world.
In our journey the resilience and hope to find this, grows.
In practice, I integrate a range of therapeutic methods,
frameworks and theoretical lenses, including:
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sensorimotor psychotherapy
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schema therapy
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parts-work
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intersectional-feminism
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trauma-informed practice
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strengths-based practice
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narrative therapy
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human rights
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decolonizing frameworks
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anti-oppressive practice
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systems theory
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bio-psycho-social relationship theory
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human ecology theory
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process philosophy
As feminist Carol Hanisch (1970) said,
"the personal is political"
Your healing contributes to the bigger healing on a socio-cultural-spiritual level
When we walk together in this we are united as change-making allies
I also draw upon my lived experience as a survivor of sexual assault and family violence. My empathy and understanding of the journey is authentic. How I integrate my lived experience and professional skills has been shaped over 26 years of practice and development. I am grateful that we live in a time where we have a voice as victim/survivors, and we have a legitimate place in shaping therapeutic practice. It is our right to feel we belong in all of who we each are. For this to be respected. I deeply respect the change-makers that have fought for this right and our legitimacy.
Some big-impact organisations I have recently worked for:
CASA House (Centre Against Sexual Assault)
Garra Kombrook, VAHS (Sexual assault healing, Victorian Aboriginal Health Service)
SVRT Monash University (Sexual Violence Response Training)