About Me
As human beings, most of us will experience periods of hardship, adversity, suffering or trauma at some point in our lives, if not multiple times. Often going through a life crisis or traumatic event can, in time, actually bring about positive transformation in our lives - once we have had the opportunity to process what we have been through. Our experience can change the way we understand ourselves, others, and the world around us. It can also be a reminder of what really matters to us. This was certainly my experience after going through the shock of a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2013 while in my 40’s and raising 4 young teenage children.
After completing an arduous treatment regime, I became acutely aware of the many challenges involved in transitioning back to my former roles as mother and high school teacher, while still struggling with the ongoing physical and emotional impact of my cancer experience. My struggles over the next year or two, led to a quest to understand more about the long-term impacts of a trauma (such as a cancer experience) on quality of life for survivors and their families, and a deep desire to learn how to better support other people and their families through their own unique life challenges. I decided I wanted to become a counsellor and went back to university to complete a Master of Counselling degree.
In my practice now as a counsellor and educator, I draw from a range of evidence-based interventions to support healing and emotional well-being. Primarily, I use a strength-based, person-centred counselling approach in order to provide a safe, supportive space in which clients can be their authentic selves and feel heard and validated. I provide trauma-informed care and incorporate the use of psycho-education and mindfulness techniques to help clients learn to reduce psychological distress and manage their difficult thoughts and emotions.
I would love to walk beside you as you navigate your own unique life challenges - to provide compassion, support and a listening ear; to help you to process what you have been through or continue to go through; and together to find a way forward.
My Counselling Approach
I provide holistic counselling and psychotherapy to people of all ages, genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds. I offer a safe, welcoming space for you to share your personal story without judgement, so that together we can explore and understand what you are currently experiencing. For many people, just sharing their story in the presence of an empathetic counsellor, and feeling seen and heard, is a huge relief. We can then work together to find a way forward by building understanding and inner resources, and by learning skills and strategies for improved emotional well-being.
However, counselling can involve other ways of communicating if talking doesn’t feel comfortable for you. Sometimes it is difficult to verbalise how we are feeling and using various forms of expressive therapies such as art, writing, symbol work or sandtray therapy can be a preferred way to express ourselves. We can decide together which approach would work best for you.
As a counsellor, I won’t diagnose, prescribe or even advise you, but will help you to find your own way of making sense of your world and will walk beside you on your own very unique journey towards living life more fully. I offer a confidential service both face-to-face on the Sunshine Coast across various locations, as well as by telephone and online via Zoom across Australia. I offer daytime appointments during the week, but can organise evening and weekend appointments if required. I provide individual counselling with no GP referral required for a range of issues.
Qualifications & Accreditations
Bachelor of Education (B.H.M.S.Ed), Certificate of Gifted Education (C.O.G.E), Master of Counselling (M. Couns.)
Member of the Australian Counselling Association Membership Number: 15044
Empathy is simply listening, holding space, withholding judgement, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of "You are not alone".
Brene Brown
Testimonials
"Julie was instrumental in helping me get though a very vulnerable time in my life. Her professionalism and intuitiveness in guiding me through this period were life changing. I am forever grateful." Tanya
"My appointments with Julie made sense of my crumbling world after my cancer diagnosis and treatment. I could talk about any fears I had and ways to cope. She helped me take the small amount of control I did have and make it count." JA
"I immediately felt comfortable and found Julie to be very welcoming and engaging from the start of the first session. Julie ensured that the counselling sessions were a safe space to voice my concerns and issues. I would not hesitate in recommending Julie.” Vanessa