What words sum up my practice:

Lets get vulnerable, curious and creative together. Lets Play!

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor of Social Work (2005), Bachelor of Science - Applied Psychology (2001), Diploma of Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapy (2020). Certification training completed at Queensland Institute of Play Therapy and completed Level 1 Theraplay.

I have 20yrs of experience of working within the community and welfare sector. For the last 16 of those I have been an accredited social worker working in public and non-government agencies.

Prior to starting my social work private practice I have worked as a senior social worker for 11yrs in the public mental health service which provides therapeutic services to adults with serious and complex mental health needs.

My practice framework 

I practice from a client centred, person-in-environment ecological perspective. This means I work from a place where I place you at the center with an understanding that what you are experiencing in your internal world (thoughts, feelings and emotions) effects and is effected by what is happening in your external world (eg. work, relationships, finances, education, health, the services and systems that we engage in).

How I work with people? 

Counselling and therapeutic work at Mindfully Connected Therapies (MCT) is about relationship, connection and partnership. It’s about providing a safe space where you can find the courage to get vulnerable and explore what gives your life purpose and meaning and what might be blocking your access to this innate knowledge.

How I work with Children?

I work with children using play therapy principles in both non-directive and directive manners. Play therapy builds on the child’s inner resources and strengths, which are supported by the therapeutic relationship to bring about growth, development and healing in the child (Association for Play Therapy). Please see Services tab on this website for further information.

With learning gained from my own lived experience I offer a compassionate, understanding and healing space.

How can counselling from me be of benefit to you?

Sometimes our internal and external worlds can be at odds with each other, we feel dissatisfied with our life or we are unclear of our goals and how to move forward. Sometimes we feel lonely and disconnected from ourselves and from the world around us.

This can happen for a variety of reasons including trauma, mental health concerns, forced and voluntary migration, different life transitions such as relationship beginnings and/or breakdowns, becoming a parent, changing careers, or not knowing what work you’d like to do just to name a few.

Together we’ll explore the layers of your life, get curious around exploring different strategies that utilise creative expression, your body and mindfulness to help sooth your whole self, re-centre and move forward with your life goals.