About Emma
Hello and welcome. I'm Emma.
I am a psychotherapist and group facilitator offering respectful, holistic counselling services and workplace consultation in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs and online.
I know finding a therapist that is a good fit for you can feel like an obstacle too great. You may have reached out before only to find it wasn’t for you. Helpful therapy relies on finding a good fit so that a strong therapeutic relationship can evolve. To remove as many obstacles as possible I've decided to offer some info about myself and how I work.
I love what I do.
The way I work is informed by my own personal work and my extensive professional training.
I have an enormous amount of life experience and have weathered a multitude of storms in my 47 years. There isn’t much that shocks me and there are no problems too big or small for me to support you with. Come as you are, really.
I dabbled in creative and media arts for many years until in 2000 life finally and wholeheartedly nudged me toward studying and practicing in both social work and psychotherapy, and I love my work.
One thing that has never waivered is my interest in people, intimacy and the transformative power of good human connection.
My attitude is very relaxed and clients often comment that this helps them feel relaxed, too.
I adapt my approach to each individual and their needs. I know that sometimes people really need a soft place to land and others may need to be challenged and supported to change. I can be direct and call a spade a spade, however, I will always be sensitive and respectful in my approach. I find clients value my versatility.
I am happy to share information about myself if it feels helpful for clients to know me better. I believe in therapy and personal growth and am committed to it. I have a therapist/professional supervisor and have done for 14 years. I also support other therapists with their work in peer supervision. I have a good sense of humour and share in both the good times and the bad with the people I work with.
I know my work is an honour and a privilege and I feel in awe of the tenacity, creativity and humaness we all share.
I am committed to professional development and am in an ongoing process of studying and retraining.
I have a regular yoga and meditation practice. It helps me to quiet my mind and centre myself. It tethers me to something greater than my daily to-do list. I have been practicing regularly for 15 years and have really integrated yoga as a fundamental support pillar. I am happy to share what works for me. I'm a qualified teacher but use it only personally and to strengthen my psychotherapy practice.
I am married and have three teenage sons. I have numerous, often complex family demands. And we are all a work in progress and are (through loads of work) mostly pretty happy. I get stressed out, overwhelmed, underwhelmed, shout at my kids and all that jazz. Being a therapist doesn’t stop me being human. I own my own stuff and and I really love to support others to feel safe enough while they do the same.
Think we are a good fit?
If you think that maybe we’re a good fit but you’re not quite sure, feel free to contact me and we can have a chat.
What about my training and my approach?
My primary psychotherapy training was achieving a Master’s degree in Gestalt psychotherapy. If you would like to find out more about Gestalt therapy, you can read about that, here. This process was life changing for me. It involved four years of intensive group therapy, individual therapy and, of course, extensive theory and techniques underpinning the Gestalt approach. I am wary of any therapist who has not sat in the client’s chair and encourage you to share that concern.
The main body of my master’s thesis was focussed on attachment theory, neurobiology, addiction and the healing (and brain rewiring) that occurs with the relationship between a therapist and client. Good, long-term therapy rewires the brain, it really works.
I am interested in and especially good at working with processing trauma. I am trained in Depth Enquiry, which is a hybrid of the better known EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing).
I am also a Level 4 (Clinical) Member of Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and a member of Psychology Today.
I support individuals, couples and groups with difficulties including stress and anxiety; depression and despair; relationship difficulties; grief and loss; parenting; addiction; trauma; identity and belonging; and sexuality among others.
I understand that we all have the inherent wisdom inside us to know exactly what we need. However, sometimes we lose that connection to ourselves and simply need the support to find our way back to ourselves again.
I understand that every person’s situation, and the way they respond to their situation, is unique. I would love to partner with you to explore your circumstances, discover your unique way of responding, and create a pathway to recovery and change.
Through the counselling process you will gain increased self-awareness and understanding. Becoming curious about what makes you tick, what drives you and how that came to be. This will begin to enable you to make choice: really choose rather than act out of guilt, compulsion or shame, and build a life with more vitality. I will support you in this unfolding process with respect, honesty and compassion.
It is in truly knowing and accepting ourselves that we become free to make lasting, meaningful change.
I love my work and am committed to facilitating growth and change. If you’re feeling challenged by difficult circumstances, or simply need some support, book a session or reach out for a quick chat.
Please contact me today for a chat and to see if we are a good match or find a suitable appointment time below.