Trauma Support Providers

Julie has over 10 years experience working with survivors of sexual abuse. She has held roles with NSW Health’s violence prevention team in its specialised sexual assault counselling service, and child protection counselling service. In addition, she has worked in child, adolescent, and adult mental health services with NSW Health, as well as in a private hospital inpatient setting and within private practice. Julie has competed extensive training in providing trauma-informed psychological therapy and aims to provide a safe and empowering environment where client’s can feel supported in their journey of trauma recovery.

Julie is a practising clinical Counsellor/Psychotherapist, having been practising for over 8 years. She has a depth of practical experience in working with clients in both short and long-terms contexts. She works from a person centred and client focused framework. Julie subscribes to the client as the expert in their own life. Her professional approach is one of empowering the individual to achieve greater independence, improved mental health and positive well-being. She specialises in working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Single incident trauma, compound and complex trauma, adult survivors of child sexual abuse and domestic and family violence. Julie also works with people relating to family of origin and family systems, along with mental health issues, which can often present with addiction and substance abuse dependency, attachment disorders and depression and anxiety. Her areas of focus have been centred on how historic traumatic events impact people in their present-day relationships and sense of self-worth. This often manifests as alcohol and drug dependency, patterns of being subject to violence or emotional abuse in relationships and unhealthy attachments to others. Julie’s most notable career experience was as clinical Psychotherapist at The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (RCIRCSA), where she counselled hundreds of survivors of child sexual abuse. She was appointed lead clinician to the Royal Commission’s case study 46, exploring the Criminal Justice System and served as the international clinical liaison to the United Kingdom’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Without judgement, Julie works with the issues the client brings to her sessions and she finds this work of witnessing people’s journeys of discovery and fulfillment a humbling and purposeful occupation.

Trauma-Informed Care Tailored to You
I specialise in trauma-informed therapy, meaning I understand the complex and long-lasting impacts of trauma and how to support you safely through the healing process. I know that therapy itself can sometimes be overwhelming or even re-traumatising, which is why your safety and comfort are my highest priorities.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to trauma recovery. Every person’s experiences, symptoms, and needs are different, and therapy should reflect that. My approach is collaborative—you are the expert in your own life, and together, we will find the most effective strategies and interventions that work for you. Whether you prefer gentle, exploratory work or more structured, skills-based approaches, I will adapt our sessions to meet you where you are.

Compassionate, Specialised Trauma Therapy
If you have experienced trauma, you know how deeply it can affect every part of your life. Trauma isn’t just something that happened in the past—it lingers in the present, shaping your emotions, relationships, self-worth, and even your ability to feel safe in your own body. You may struggle with anxiety, depression, flashbacks, difficulty trusting others, or self-destructive patterns that feel impossible to break. The pain can feel overwhelming, and reaching out for support might seem daunting.

Understanding Trauma Through an Empathetic Lens
Many people who have experienced trauma struggle with feelings of shame, self-blame, or the belief that they should have “gotten over it” by now. But trauma isn’t something you just move on from—it affects the nervous system, emotions, and thought patterns in profound ways.
Trauma can also show up in symptoms that may seem unrelated at first, including:
• Persistent anxiety or panic attacks
• Depression, numbness, or lack of motivation
• Struggles in relationships, such as trust issues or attachment difficulties
• Addictive behaviours or self-harm
• A harsh inner critic, feelings of shame, or a sense of unworthiness
Through a trauma-informed lens, these symptoms are not personal failings—they are survival responses to what you have been through. My goal is to help you understand and heal these patterns with self-compassion, rather than judgment.

My Approach to Therapy
My practice is grounded in evidence-based, trauma-focused approaches that help you process your experiences in a way that feels safe and manageable. Therapy is not about forcing painful memories to the surface or reliving past experiences in an overwhelming way. It is about giving you control, equipping you with tools, and creating a safe space where healing can unfold at your own pace.

You Are Not Alone—When You’re Ready, I’m Here
I understand how hard it can be to take that first step towards healing. There is so much stigma, fear, and uncertainty that can make reaching out for help feel impossible.
If you are ready to begin your healing journey, I am here to help.

I obtained my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from The University of Newcastle in 1998 and I have over 19 years experience in the Australian health and welfare sectors both as a social work clinician and supervisor.
The majority of my work has been in the areas of trauma, grief and loss and mental health. I have held counselling and social work positions in NSW Health, The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, SIDS and Kids, The Newcastle Department of Forensic Medicine, NSW Mental Health Services, a tertiary level parenting service working with families with children aged 0 – 5 and now private practice.
I am trained in CBT, DBT and ACT therapies and have experience using mindfulness practices and strategies in all of my clinical work.
I am trauma-informed in all the work I do. I work with clients to create a safe space - both physically and psychologically. Coming to a counselling appointment and telling a stranger about some of your deepest fears or toughest problems can be really hard – I truly understand that and I work with you to make sure that our counselling sessions are a place where you feel welcomed and supported.
I offer my clients a warm and genuine space – I listen without judgement but I am also honest and straightforward – what you see is what you get!
I want to take the time to get to know you and what is happening in your life that you feel you need support and assistance with. I will take the time to build up our working relationship – to build trust and confidence.

Registered Psychologist, Full Member of Australian Psychological Society. EMDR Practitioner.

I have been registered as a Psychologist since 2001 and have worked in many fields. I have worked across State and Federal governments, as a Psychologist, Team Leader, Rehabilitation Specialist and worked in private sector as a Psychologist and Rehabilitation Consultant. I am currently in my own practice, working across a diverse range of presenting issues from anxiety and depression to Schizoaffective disorder, Bipolar, Grief and Trauma. I am trained in EMDR and use this type of treatment, along with CBT, DBT, ACT to work with those who suffer from trauma. I work with children and adults.

Hello, I’m Dominie, and working with trauma survivors has been a part of what I do since 2001, and is important to me because I, too, survived a traumatic childhood and adolescence. This does not make me an expert on YOUR trauma, so I have studied, read and researched to equip myself to help you. Because everyone is different, I don't rely on my experience or even necessarily what experts say, but listen carefully to your ideas and experience. I work to discover what works best for you, prioritising your ideas, strengths and values. Being open in relationship and managing expectations are important to me as well as being clear about how we will work and working safely and at a pace that is right for you. I believe feeling heard, understood and validated can free you to tap into your resources and strengths, and I'm always happy to problem solve and expand options if life is overwhelming. I'm accountable to your preferred outcomes and within two consultations prepare a plan that identifies your goals and what we'll be doing to make sure we achieve these. I have taught the topic of trauma, grief and loss at post-graduate level and currently convene a Trauma Interest Group; we meet monthly and are now in our third year. The group members are trauma-informed practitioners at different levels of experience, some working in private practice and others who are organizationally employed.
We check we are working well together by regularly checking your goals and quality of life. Asking for your feedback and ideas means your voice is heard. As everyone is different, it is my job to make sure your individuality is respected, your ideas about change are included in our plan and your needs are validated and catered for, because you matter.
I expect to be carefully interviewed for the important job of becoming part of your team.

Donna is a Clinical Psychologist providing high quality psychological and counselling services. She studied for a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours at James Cook University, Townsville, and completed a postgraduate degree in Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) at Griffith University, Gold Coast. She is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, AHPRA and holds memberships with the Australia Psychological Society, Fertility Society of Australia, the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association and the Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders. She lives and works on the Gold Coast.

Please see webpage for further details.

Having worked as a psychologist in private practice for nearly 20 years, I have increasingly received referrals to work with clients who have experienced trauma. Most of these referrals are word-of-mouth and they come from recommendations from previous clients or other health professionals. A recommendation from a previous client, in my mind, is the best feedback that I can get.

I have advanced and ongoing training in trauma - in particular EMDR therapy, Schema Therapy and Ego State Therapy. My approach always starts with identifying the client's existing resources and developing new resources to support the client through therapy. Creating safety, client-directed pacing and managing intensity of emotions are major emphases of treatment. So that progress can be made with therapy according to what the client wants, goals and a plans are developed and reviewed collaboratively.

My main motivation in working in this area is that it is a real privilege and rewarding to be on the journey with a client to reach their goals. Also because I believe that I can offer support and treatment that can help clients to be able to live with the benefits of strengths gained from their trauma and to reduce the disturbance of the past.

Sessions are held in my consulting room. The option of telehealth is available which provides secure online video consultations.

I am a counsellor with a private practice in Hallidays Point, close to Forster and Taree in NSW.

I have been working with people who have experienced trauma for 6 years in NSW Health (mental health unit and as a mental health case manager) and in private practice. I am also a Darug Aboriginal woman from Western Sydney. Currently I work with funding from Medicare, Victim's Services, SIRA and NDIS.

Core Competencies include:
• Trauma-informed therapy
• Exposure Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Narrative therapy
• Expressive arts therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Strengths based interventions
• Client-centered care
• Recovery based interventions
• Mindfulness practitioner
• Group work facilitation
• Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid
• Life Coaching
• Community resources knowledge