Professionals
Counsellors I Social Workers I Psychologists I Spiritual/Cultural healers I Religious/Spiritual leaders
My approach is grounded in creating spaces that centres presence, safety and a deep curiosity which aims to witness and honour the full humanity of those I support, an approach nurtured through reflective listening, self-awareness, and trauma-informed care. I believe wellbeing begins with my client’s story, which is why I consider identity exploration, meaning-making, cultural humility and intergenerational narratives alongside mental and emotional wellbeing. This has made me incredibly aware of the need for a holistic model within community care, especially the importance of culture and spirituality in formalising identity. I have since built on my experiences, graduating from a Graduate Diploma of Counselling in 2025, which has strengthened my passion for social and cultural advocacy and community mental health initiatives.
As a Counsellor I combine integrated person-centred counselling with cultural therapies which reconnect clients to cultural ways of knowing and being that improve regulation, deepen familial relationships, empower autonomy, celebrate identity, address social-cultural stigmas and reconnect with nature/community. My cultural knowledge stems from Scottish (Gaelic) roots which have been passed down through the women in my family as descendants of the Bean Fease (wise woman). However as Gaelic culture incorporates many practices across time, region, families and clans, the knowledge which informs my practice does not represent a unified cultural lore. I make a commitment to clients to pursue ongoing professional and cultural development to ensure my competence to deliver services.
A Cultural Approach to Collaborative Wellbeing
In line with my belief in holistic care, I love to embody a collaborative approach to client support between various spiritual and wellbeing services. This recognises that I do not have capacity to incorporate my counselling role separate from my cultural practice, which means my counselling skills focus on healing through socio-cultural and familial narratives which contribute to my client’s distress, combined with cultural ceremony, storytelling and education (cultural therapies). As such, I will encourage clients to maintain their relationships with relevant spiritual and health professionals, where my services can be used in conjunction with other professionals.
My services can be incorporated as part of strengths-based phases in a client’s therapeutic development, where themes of culture and family are significant, or where grief/loss and connections to death are present. Cultural and associated spiritual connections are protective factors that support client’s overall wellbeing and are useful in strengthening relational bonds with self, others and the client’s world.
What Therapeutic Modalities do you Use?
While I foremost prioritise person-centred and eco-psychology principles, where appropriate I also draw upon techniques from other modalities which have been culturally adapted such as solution-focused approaches, Narrative Therapy, ACT, CBT, IFS and EFT.
How can I Refer a Client?
I accept referrals from spiritual practitioners, health professionals and community-based practitioners. Please send your referral via the email below, which includes a summary of your work with the client and the reason for your referral.
If you would like to find out more about my process, I can be contacted via email. I love chatting with and getting to know other practitioners with a desire to provide holistic community care to clients! Professionals are most welcome to organise meetings in-person (Geelong & Surf Coast) or online (via zoom).
