Psychotherapists and Counsellors Answer your Questions

It's the only thing I've wanted to do since the age of about 15 when the idea first came to me. I've always had a gift for listening to and helping people, and genuinely love getting to know and...

It's the only thing I've wanted to do since the age of about 15 when the idea first came to me. I've always had a gift for listening to and helping people, and genuinely love getting to know and understand others. Being a part of a positive change in someone's life is incredibly rewarding, and I would never want to do anything else.

My own learning, personal search & experiences of therapy formed a basis to want to work in this area. I believe that while we cannot always choose what happens to us in this life, we can choose how...

My own learning, personal search & experiences of therapy formed a basis to want to work in this area. I believe that while we cannot always choose what happens to us in this life, we can choose how we respond to it. I had the opportunity to retrain & up-skill in my 40's and shifted from working in adult education to studying counselling at the master's level. After working in the not-for profit sector with women for over 10 years, and now in private practice, I continue to find great purpose & satisfaction in supporting both clients and other practitioners on their journeys.

I have always liked to understand what makes people tick. Since I was a child I eavesdropped on the adults' conversation to try and make sense of my world and I see psychotherapy as an extension of...

I have always liked to understand what makes people tick. Since I was a child I eavesdropped on the adults' conversation to try and make sense of my world and I see psychotherapy as an extension of that. It has taken me a while to get to study psychotherapy (not till my 40's) but being a radio journalist and asking people questions was a step in this direction. Experiencing failure has also been a big part of my motivation; to try and understand what impact that has on my own motivation to do things and how we construct our self image. This has been a big learning in my life and psychotherapy has really helped with this.

My personal experience of being supported by a counselling professional. Experiencing anxiety and depression as a young person led me to access a counsellor. It was my first experience with an adult...

My personal experience of being supported by a counselling professional. Experiencing anxiety and depression as a young person led me to access a counsellor. It was my first experience with an adult who listened to me without judgment. In later years the declining health of my mother to breast cancer led me back into therapy to understand my grief and loss. Both these experiences were supportive and transformational.

People's conflicts and problems with living. I initially developed my interest in psychoanalysis from my love of literature. Literature often deals with the complexities of being human. The...

People's conflicts and problems with living. I initially developed my interest in psychoanalysis from my love of literature. Literature often deals with the complexities of being human. The therapeutic space is where this is manifest.

Growing up in East Germany, I was always drawn to teaching and helping others make sense of their world. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, I felt a deep shiftâ??not just in society, but within...

Growing up in East Germany, I was always drawn to teaching and helping others make sense of their world. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, I felt a deep shiftâ??not just in society, but within myself. I became curious about how people adapt, grow, and find meaning through change and adversity. This led me to study clinical psychology. What drew me most to psychotherapy was the depth of human connection and the possibility of real transformation through presence, compassion, and understanding. Iâ??ve always been moved by peopleâ??s stories and their capacity to heal, even in the face of great pain. Becoming a therapist felt like a natural way to honour that.

As a people's person I love to interact with a broad range of individuals from multi cultured and diverse backgrounds, I found people asking me how did I achieve the things I had done. This included...

As a people's person I love to interact with a broad range of individuals from multi cultured and diverse backgrounds, I found people asking me how did I achieve the things I had done. This included being a Triathlete, a Laboratory Technician, a Business Management Consultant and a mother. This made me ask the question of how do I give people support and advice if I have no training in this area, so I set off to undertake mature age studies and found my love of helping people inspired me me to gain a degree in Counselling develop my new mantra of Believe and Achieve.

I was drawn to psychotherapy and counselling because of my deep curiosity about human behaviour and my desire to help others navigate lifeâ??s challenges. Over time, I realised how powerful it can be...

I was drawn to psychotherapy and counselling because of my deep curiosity about human behaviour and my desire to help others navigate lifeâ??s challenges. Over time, I realised how powerful it can be to provide a safe, non-judgemental space where people feel heard, understood, and supported. Witnessing the resilience and growth of individuals as they work through their struggles is incredibly rewarding, and it inspires me every day. My own experiences with personal growth and the transformative power of connection further solidified my passion for this field. I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive, and I feel privileged to be part of that journey for my clients.

I was coming across many people from different walks of life looking for answers to how to manage their lives. I decided to equip myself with tools that can help me hold space for others and decided...

I was coming across many people from different walks of life looking for answers to how to manage their lives. I decided to equip myself with tools that can help me hold space for others and decided to embark into counselling.

My own experience of change and quest for self knowledge.

My own experience of change and quest for self knowledge.

After many years of personal development work and a passion for mindfulness practice, I chose to find a way of making these practices central to my work. To work at something I love. I find this very...

After many years of personal development work and a passion for mindfulness practice, I chose to find a way of making these practices central to my work. To work at something I love. I find this very satisfying, purposeful and fulfilling.

I had a close sister who committed suicide when we were in our teens, and I first needed to understand how such things can happen, and then to understand how they can be prevented. I then became...

I had a close sister who committed suicide when we were in our teens, and I first needed to understand how such things can happen, and then to understand how they can be prevented. I then became aware that I had also been through severe trauma in our dysfunctional family and needed to learn to deal with the effects and heal myself. Having learn these things, I then wanted to share what I learnt to help others on the journey. I have also met some amazing psychotherapists, especially hynotherapist Maureen Kaluchi of Sydney, who made an enormous difference to me and mentored me. And I find it a real honour to be able to walk with others when their lives become a struggle, to hold hope for them when they are unable to do so, and then to watch them blossom and thrive.

A deep interest in how the mind works and why people do what they do. My first concern was to understand why some people hurt other people. The deeper my explorations went I found that the way we...

A deep interest in how the mind works and why people do what they do. My first concern was to understand why some people hurt other people. The deeper my explorations went I found that the way we think limits our horizons. Understanding this I am always interested in challenging assumptions, beliefs and judgments and opening up new possibilities. It is a continuous and continuing challenge, mystery and adventure which is deeply rewarding. I like being of assistance to people and my motivation for being a therapist is that I like to help. Because I'm also very interested in the mind and also our whole experience of life I like to help through psychotherapy. I enjoy doing therapy and am continually fascinated by peoples lives, their stories and often their bravery. I also find that the deeper I go in therapy the greater the appreciation and understanding goes. From that place wiser decisions are possible.

I grew up in a family as one of four children and my younger sister was severely intellectually disabled. I know this to have been a powerful influence upon me at many levels. I was very attuned to...

I grew up in a family as one of four children and my younger sister was severely intellectually disabled. I know this to have been a powerful influence upon me at many levels. I was very attuned to the emotional nuances in many of the people around me. Later as a teacher working with the first Vietnamese and Kampuchean refugees here in Western Australia I knew I had the compassion to be with and support them however I realised fairly quickly that I needed to learn more about the experience of psychological trauma in order to be of further and greater assistance. I had also been one of the initial teachers establishing the school on Home Island on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The love I felt for and received from the Cocos-Malay people influenced me in wanting to train more specifically in counselling and psychotherapy so as to be able to better support people from different cultures as they made cultural transitions. In short, I understood early in my life that I was capable of feeling deep compassion however, that alone was not sufficient to work well with people. I knew I needed to learn something about psychological theory and knowledge as well. I needed to bring together the heart and feelings with sound theoretical knowledge so as to apply both for the benefit of others.

I find it fascinating to understand how our mind works, how the brain develops. I've been in therapy for a few years, and it cleared my mind. I started learning to become a counsellor later in life,...

I find it fascinating to understand how our mind works, how the brain develops. I've been in therapy for a few years, and it cleared my mind. I started learning to become a counsellor later in life, initially it was more an extension of my personal journey. I found it illuminating and felt the need to help others in the same way. I started with volunteer jobs in different associations. I realized how lonely many people feel when they struggle with mental health, and how less sometimes is needed to help them. I went back to studying Psychology and Counselling, and now try to support others overcome their struggle and live a meaningful life.