I offer a one-on-one counselling service specialising in the area of involuntary childlessness. I can also help you improve the quality of your life in other areas through a variety of pathways.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in counselling from the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, and I am also committed to ongoing professional training through other accredited agencies.
Depending on what is required for each individual client, I draw from a variety of theoretical approaches including:
- Internal family systems (IFS) therapy
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Brief forms of psychodynamic therapy
- Existential psychotherapy
Mindfulness and somatic experiencing feature significantly in my approach.
I have been described by others as being warm, down-to-earth, creative, witty, and authentic, all characteristics that will probably find their way into my personal approach with you.
My interest in working with those that find the adjustment to involuntary childlessness a challenge comes from personal experience.
I was in a relationship with a partner that did not want to have children. Despite the fact that having children was a very strong desire for me, I was willing to give up that dream for the sake of my relationship. However my yearning to have children never really went away.
Eventually, I did end up accidentally falling pregnant, and I decided to put my foot down and keep the baby. It was a relief that my partner agreed to this, but unfortunately, I miscarried in the 11th week.
By this time I was getting past prime child-bearing age, so even though we did not use birth control I never again fell pregnant.
After 22 years together, and when I was entering into perimenopause, my partner decided to end our relationship.
Even though this was the most difficult time of my life, I am grateful for the opportunity it has given me for the most amazing personal growth.
Therefore for me, my counselling practice is more than just a job – it’s also the way I have found to live a rich and meaningful life. Along with this, the subjects of happiness and wellbeing have always fascinated me, and I am often thinking about how to best combine the latest in psychological research with my unique approach to counselling.
The best part about my work is when a client spontaneously says “this is helping me”, and they walk out the door with a different perspective than the one they came in with. This is the signal that change is happening and it is my wish for all my clients, including you.