Trauma Support Providers

Irina is a Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist (Medicare Provider) specialising in the treatment of trauma and PTSD. She has 9 years experience working in family violence, trauma, addictions and mental health in community and hospital settings in both Australia and Canada. She is an experienced EMDR therapist and is also trained in a variety of mindfulness-based psychological therapies that can help clients restore balance in their lives and realise their potential to live fulfilling, happy lives. At Mindful Living Irina provides counselling to adults, couples and adolescents. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, personal fitness, travel and spending time with family and friends.

Many of the people that I work with are seeking support, solutions and resources to help with current issues. You may be feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious and possibly exhausted. Experiencing low self esteem, grief, and lack of direction. Some feel like they are struggling and suffering - with times of high distress and then feeling numb and disconnected. I help people move through these states to feeling more connected, empowered, happier, and energised to live a more wholehearted life.

I have specialised in counselling for trauma, grief and anxiety; this work has become my focus for over a decade. Experienced individual counsellor, group therapist, trauma informed yoga teacher/trainer and facilitator. I have worked with Blue Knot Foundation (adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse), Community of Calm (trauma informed expressive arts), with refugees and asylum seekers (torture and trauma support agencies) in detention centres and community.

My style is person centred, trauma informed, flexible and eclectic style drawing from studies in grief, poly vagal theory, humanistic, complex trauma, body focused, narrative, yoga and art therapies. I am inspired by the work of Bessel van der Kolk, Pat Ogden, Janinia Fisher, Stephen Porges and Brene Brown (and others). I regularly seek clinical supervision and professional development.

Locally I am renowned for my creative, holistic, warm and friendly approach. I take time out (daily) for my own self care and regular short breaks from work.

Sessions are offered online or in person at Tranquillo Place my beautiful private practice room in Norton Summit, Adelaide Hills. We sit in a light filled spacious room. It’s cosy and comfortable, designed to support calmness and ease.

You may want weekly sessions – we can work out what might suit your needs when we meet, I offer flexibility with session days/times. I am happy to speak with you or your loved one to hear what's happening in your life before scheduling a session. Let's talk, or email. Find out if I am offering what you feel may support you right now.

I worked at The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC) from December 2012 until June 2019. I worked with complex clients, adults who had experienced childhood sexual assault, their partners, parents and families. I also facilitated group therapy for adult survivors of childhood sexual assault. I also managed the Crisis area of CRCC. Whilst there we provided support and advocacy to clients at their schools, in the courts, whilst they gave statements to the police and when they were undergoing forensic medical examinations. I commenced private practice in February of 2020 working with children and adults who have witnessed domestic violence or who have been the victims of domestic violence.

I have 18 years experience in working with survivours of child sexual assault.

I am an endorsed Clinical Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. I have a Master’s/PhD degree in Clinical Psychology and have worked in both public and private health settings providing clinical assessments, diagnosis and treatment for adolescents and adults. I see adults, couples, families and adolescents assisting them through a range of psychological and emotional issues such as trauma, personality disorders, depression and mood disorders, anxiety spectrum disorders, relationship difficulties, challenging behaviours in adolescents, social skills, grief and loss, and adjustment.

I work collaboratively with my clients to develop and achieve identified therapeutic goals and utilise a range of evidence-based therapeutic treatments including cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, schema therapy, hypnotherapy and EMDR therapy. I continue to enhance my clinical skills and knowledge by attending conferences, lectures and workshops in order to keep up-to-date with current literature and research to ensure I provide the most effective treatment for my clients.

During his training, Kevin was moved by the vast suffering of patients that had experienced trauma in their early years. Ever since, Kevin has pursued professional development to build the range and depth of his trauma related therapeutic abilities, in order to provide clients the most effective treatment he can.
Further to working with the widespread difficulties of anxiety and depression, Kevin has worked with patients with substance use disorders, personality disorders, and other complex presentations. He has performed group therapy with these populations for over five years in psychiatric services, and has received basic and advanced training directly from the American originators of Group Schema Therapy, Joan Farrell and Ida Shaw.
Kevin has also been trained in the trauma-focussed individual therapies of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Advanced Ego State (Resource) Therapy. He has also completed training in Resource Therapy that qualifies him to train other psychologists and psychotherapists in this powerful therapy. Kevin currently spends his time at the Cairnmillar Institute treating clients, supervising trainee psychologists, and delivering short courses in counselling skills. He also hopes to commence a Group Schema Therapy program in early 2019.

I commenced my tertiary education in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Montreal in Canada. I then completed a Bachelor Degree in Sexology at University of Quebec in Montreal. Whilst doing my degree, I received a scholarship to study in Belgium for a semester where I completed coursework from the Master in Family and Sexuality Studies from the Faculty of Psychology. After moving to Australia, I completed a Master of Clinical Counselling at the Australian Catholic University.

I am currently doing a Doctorate in Public Health at La Trobe University, specialising in the mental health of parents experiencing the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery. This project has been motivated by my own personal experiences whilst having children.

Dr Leon W. Cowen is a highly experienced clinical hypnotherapist and clinical hypnotherapy educator. With over 40 years as a therapist, 30 as an educator and a PhD in clinical hypnotherapy education (School of Medicine – University of Western Sydney), he is acknowledged as a leader in the profession. He has served as the Chair of the Hypnotherapy Council of Australia Educational Advisory Board and lectures at various universities, hospitals and conferences on specialist hypnotherapy techniques and applications. As the Executive Director of the Academy of Applied Hypnosis he brings his experience into the Academy’s training. Leon is a member and supervisor of many professional associations such as the Australian Hypnotherapist Association, Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists, Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia, Australian Counselling Association and the Australian Integrative Medicine Association.

Lex Peters has 30 years experience in psychology practice including 10 years providing trauma support psychological treatment and peer supervisor for the Queensland emergency services agencies of Fire, SES Ambulance and Police services. Lex has also managed and trained counselors in Lifeline for 5 years, provided an on call trauma response service for six years and been owner and principal psychologist in a group psychology practice for 15 years.
Lex presents as mature, warm, practical and professional and utilises a somewhat eclectic approach tailored to the clients' needs in therapy treatment.

Linda Conyard is one of Australia's leading pioneers advocating for socio-political trauma-sensitive change and informed responsiveness to UNnecessary trauma in the Health, Education, Justice, and Government sectors. She recognises the transgenerational effect collective trauma has on our current society and is at the leading edge of healing and transformation.

Linda has spent over a hundred hours on her own personal trauma recovery work. She knows what it takes to recover from trauma, and her clients can tell she walks her talk. Linda has been in her own private practice specialising in trauma recovery since 2014. Before that operating her business since 2006 in the area of health and wellbeing.
Linda is more than happy to have a conversation before anyone decides on undertaking any of their work. She acknowledges the importance of being able to 'suss' people out.

Linda is a thought-provoking speaker and facilitator. Linda speaks on the following topics:
* Collective Cultural Trauma's Influence on Unity;
* Collective Cultural Trauma's Influence on Domestic & Family Violence;
* Compassionate Empowered Workplaces;
* Journey Back Home: Inhabit Your Body and Free Your Mind; and
* Find Your New Normal.

She leads her audiences by blending her own personal stories and understandings with her academic knowledge, which allows her listeners to engage with her material and come to their own AHAs.

Her facilitation skills are nothing short of life-changing for many of her participants. She has the ability to make visible what is out of awareness. Through her personal learning and inner work, Linda has developed her uniqueness in blending the multiple modalities, and her lived experiences to facilitate growth in those who work with her.

Linda's qualifications are extensive and include:
• Master of Gestalt Therapy;
• Systemic Constellation Work Facilitator;
• Trauma Release Exercise (TRE) Facilitator;
• Yoga Teacher specialising in Trauma Sensitive Yoga;
• Meditation;
A complete list of qualifications is available on her website www.lindaconyard.com.

Linda provides a safe haven and forever home to animals that have been traumatised and do not have a home. She currently has horses, goats, dogs, and cats. Unfortunately she is at capacity for now.