About me

Having lived experience of total mental and physical breakdown from workplace stress and bullying, I created Access Stress Support to afford others the specialist support I had needed - but found difficult to access.

When you’re in a dark place or feel you are losing control of how you respond, or maybe feeling overwhelmed by regret over your life lived in older age, it can really feel like your life is turning to ashes. The Phoenix emblem in my branding directly represents the loss of identity, sense of self, career, relationships and hope that I myself experienced through mental illness, but also the ability to rise from the ashes, sometimes in new and better ways for you. In addition to providing therapeutic support for those experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, grief or burnout, I also specialise in workplace bullying related trauma and older persons’ mental health where physical and mental health are often closely linked.

My qualifications in psychology and social work, along with my career in both private and public sectors, informs my services with clients from all cultural, social, educational and career backgrounds across Australia. I integrate a range of therapy types into tailored packages that offer the right solution based on your needs - from a short coaching sprint or counselling therapy to a fully integrated mind-body program including consultation with other involved providers, deep tissue massage, exercise physiotherapy and/or hypnotherapy - the choice is yours.

My professional background includes a career in banking and 17 years’ experience in the Public Service in case management, training, coaching, policy-project work, family violence and suicide prevention. I’m most proud of my policy and project work with the major family violence organisations during this time. My community-based work includes volunteer work with Lifeline and the Victorian Road Trauma Support Team, and roles with victim-survivors of family violence, community legal and older persons’ mental health services.

On a personal level, I am a mother of two adult sons I’m so proud to know and love, a wife, sister, loyal friend, and someone who has lived experienced of mental illness, grief and loss and found my way to the other side of trauma. I have learnt how to let go of the past and overcome perfectionism, calm a stressed and busy mind and create work-life balance. I love relaxing in nature, cooking and trying different foods, becoming lost in a good book and taking breaks in a few favorite places. I love my two dogs (Zoe and Max) and one cat (Tig). With integrity and authenticity, I am committed to supporting you through your difficult times for as long as you need.

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Credentials

  • Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)(Hons), Swinburne University of Technology

  • Master of Social Work, Monash University  

I draw from an eclectic combination of the following recovery-oriented modalities according to client needs, using a trauma informed framework:

  • Solutions Focused Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy

  • Positive Psychology

  • Grief and Loss

  • Narrative Therapy

  • Family violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) 

Sometimes, just connecting for one session in a safe space with someone who can really hear you and understand what you’re saying without judgment, with lived experience, can make a real difference.

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