Trauma Support Providers

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with extensive experience in working with survivors of trauma, child sexual abuse in institutions, war, violence, bullying, refugees, family work, anxiety, depression, and complex mental health issues. My work is directed to supporting others to move towards a fulfilling, and meaningful life. To be able integrate the past so it no longer clouds the present.

I am a Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years' experience counselling adults and adolescents. I offer individual therapy sessions within a safe, compassionate, and confidential environment. I have expertise in a number of therapeutic approaches aimed at helping people who have experienced trauma, including Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Schema Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Therapy is tailored in collaboration with the client depending on their individual needs. I place a great deal of importance on developing a trusting therapeutic relationship with my clients to ensure they feel safe to explore their issues in a non-judgmental space. I am happy to be contacted by potential clients prior to booking appointments so that they can ask questions and determine if I am a good fit for them.

I am an accredited Social Worker in Mudgee NSW. I currently see clients in private practice under Medicare, Victims of Crime, Strong Minds, Empolyee Assistance Program, Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service and some other programs. I offer appointments in Mudgee but also do some home visits and provide some services out of some of the surrounding towns. I also offer appointments online.

Counseling appointments with me usually go for an hour and usually start at 9, 10:30; 1:30 and 2:30 . This means that there is enough time to finish off talking about a topic and doing any other work that is needed for people before the next counselling session starts. I like to start counselling sessions by doing a family tree and overall life story. Some people enjoy knowing that I know their other story upfront, others do not want to do this first which is fine. I don't believe in making someone do something that they are not comfortable with. I know that for recovery it is important for those who have been through trauma to choose what happens to them next. It is also important to me that the person who is receiving counselling decides with me what a good job looks like. We usually talk about this in the first or second sessions. This is part of why my practice is called ""choose your future"".

I experienced child sexual assault at the hands of the church that I grew up in and even presented my story to the Royal Commission. My experience gives me a passion to work with people who have experienced this and a belief that healing is possible. I have been a Social Worker since 2000 and I also have an undergraduate degree in Psychology and have studied Theology, business and Life Coaching. I am always learning more about working with people in trauma and regularly do training and supervision around this issue.

I am an Accredited Mental Health Clinician with over 37 years experience.
I run a Private Practice called TELEPHONE COUNSELLING AUSTRALIA, it is a TRAUMA INFORMED practice
Telephone and Online Counselling
I am able to do after hours and weekend appointments
I am a registered Medicare Provider and also NDIS Provider.
I Bulk Bill using a Mental Health Care Plan
As well as being a Trauma-informed practice, utilising traditional therapies, I am also trained in Creative therapies such as Art, Play and Sand therapies. I individualise treatment modalities to fit in with different needs and preferences.
I have facilitated classes in Mindfulness and Meditation.
I have a special interest in trauma, and keep up to date with research through continual professional development.

My clinical experience has been gathered over an approximate 20 year period. I have worked in both Government and non Government organisations and then 13 years ago set up my private practice here in the Highlands. I also work part time as a school counsellor here in the Highlands. My area of speciality is working with those who have experienced trauma, this includes and is not limited to, victims of crime, adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual and other forms of abuse, domestic violence as well as veterans, police and others experiencing post traumatic stress disorder. I continue to engage in professional development with a primary focus on trauma including developmental and complex trauma. I hold a Diploma in Community Services (welfare); Bachelor of Social Work and have undertaken further studies in child development and psychology. I use a holistic and person centred approach within my practice and utilise evidenced based interventions.

As a Social Worker and Clinical Psychologist, I have had the privilege of working with a wide range of people from a variety of backgrounds over many years. I have been impressed and amazed by the resilience, courage, and determination of people confronting and overcoming or adjusting to situations unimaginable for many other people. I consider it an honour to engage in a collaborative relationship with clients in which I use my professional skills and knowledge to enable them to activate their strengths and personal resources.

I have worked in a broad range of settings in both city and rural locations in roles encompassing community participation, rehabilitation, mental health, general counselling, employee assistance programs, and, for the last 23 years, private practice. I work with individuals across the age spectrum, utilising a person-centred approach that considers the individual within their family and community networks.

I am an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, practising in Toowoomba. I have worked in the area of trauma for 35 years in the following fields; refugee survivors of torture and trauma, persons who have experienced domestic and family violence, males and females who have experienced sexual abuse and sexual assault, and military combat veterans. I have provided consulting services to LivingWell, the Qld state service for males who have experienced sexual assault and I also worked for many years for QPASTT (Qld Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma). I currently work in private practice in Toowoomba, working with people referred through Mental Health Care Plans (I am a Medicare provider) from the GPs, and also with clients referred through Open Arms (formerly Veterans & Veterans Families Counselling Services). As a Mental Health Social Worker I am comfortable working with individuals and also with couples and families, and I am able to work with both the individual psychological and emotional effects of trauma as well as locating the effects with the family and social systems.

I completed complex trauma training with the Blue Knot Foundation in 2017 as a member of the Interim Redress Panel for the Uniting Church, Queensland. I assume I am in their database. I have been a practicing psychologist for close to 50 years working in cross cultural and international contexts. I have worked in public sector, academic, and private practice environments. As an Army Psychologist I was involved in the early development of critical incident and trauma responses and have continued this interest in my clinical work with military and police members, and with people who have had serious accident and people who have experienced sexual abuse in the workplace. I have owned and been Principal Psychologist in private practice for 7 years. We deal with depression, anxiety, stress, grief and loss, relationships, and trauma.

I am a psychologist with twenty years of experience working predominantly in the area of trauma. The majority of my clients are survivors of domestic violence or childhood abuse. Early in my career, I worked at NSW Sexual Assault Services where I undertook extensive and focused training in the area of sexual assault.
Appointment frequency is dependent on each client’s needs, although most commonly this is fortnightly. My practice hours are between 9am and 4pm Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Usually I can get new clients an appointment within 4 weeks. Most of my clients attend under the NSW Victims Services program which covers 22 hours of counselling. I also take clients under the VVCS program (for Defence Force veterans) and Medicare (my fee is $145 per session and you can claim back about $85 from Medicare).
My rooms are deliberately calm and welcoming, in fact this is something clients often mention when they first attend. I have tried to make a counselling room that is more like sitting in a lounge room at home - I have lamps not fluorescent lights, nice images on the walls, and comfortable chairs.
I am highly experienced in managing the effects of trauma. I use a broad range of strategies to help with this process, and I will employ whatever is needed at the time. These include first and foremost, listening with the goal of understanding, grounding, cognitive restructuring, relaxation, narrative therapy, interpersonal therapy, graduated exposure, building self esteem, and parenting skills development. This is always in the context of respect and acceptance without judgement. I see counselling as a process where we work together as a team to address the issues you bring. But you, the client, guide the direction and focus of this process.
I work with survivors of childhood abuse and domestic violence because I hear them, I believe them, and am able to support their recovery. I am passionate about making a difference both to the individuals I work with and in the bigger picture of violence against women and children. I also think trauma is a great leveller. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, what you know, or how much money you have – trauma can affect us all.
As I am a psychologist, I am required to complete 30 hours of CPD per year to ensure my skills stay relevant. I spend most of these hours in the area of trauma.
I measure the effectiveness of my work using regular psychological assessments and I am always monitoring our progress to ensure we are staying focused on my client’s goals.
Although I believe the choice of psychologist is very personal and you must find someone that suits you, I can say that I do receive a lot of positive feedback and personal recommendations from my clients.

Lisa is a highly skilled, insightful counsellor with over 20 years’ experience working successfully with couples, families and clients of all ages to resolve a wide range of issues. She is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers, with an extensive counselling background in the government, corporate and private sectors. Lisa is a senior practitioner who regularly supervises other counsellors, and has been recognised internationally for her contribution to the development of innovative counselling programs.
Lisa is exceptionally caring and compassionate – she has a wonderful ability to put clients at ease with her warmly professional manner and great sense of humour. She provides a safe, nonjudgmental environment for her clients to express their thoughts, explore their concerns, and work towards their personal goals. Lisa supports her clients by identifying barriers to growth and change, then provides effective strategies to genuinely improve each client’s circumstances. With a newfound sense of clarity and direction, clients can move forward confidently with their lives.
Lisa utilises a vast range of evidence-based therapeutic interventions in her practice, including: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindful Self-Compassion, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Problem Solving Therapy. Of particular note is her advanced trauma counselling skillset, informed by the neurobiological research of Besser Van Der Kolk, Jon Briere and Judith Herman. Lisa works with all clients from a strengths-based perspective, focusing on enhanced resilience and wellbeing.