Trauma Support Providers

I am a PACFA registered clinical practitioner and supervisor. I have been in private practice as a psychotherapist and counsellor for over 25 years ago and have worked from a trauma-informed perspective throughout this time.
Most of the people who come to work with me have suffered abuse (verbal, physical, sexual, psychological) and/or neglect (physical, emotional) in childhood as well as adulthood. Each client’s story is unique and for each person the impact of these experiences in their lives is different and personal. The common element is the pain and suffering resulting from trauma.
I work in collaboration with my clients, piecing together the impacts that trauma experiences have on everyday life as we begin the work of remembering, expressing, making sense of, and integrating these experiences. The processes I use support clients to deal more effectively with trauma symptoms that interrupt normal everyday functioning.
Talking about or thinking about trauma can be distressing and sometimes overwhelming, so sessions incorporate the practice of grounding and calming skills as we gently work with the trauma.
I offer counselling (usually shorter term) and psychotherapy (longer term for more in-depth exploration). I work with both the conscious and unconscious content of the psyche. My approach is transpersonal. This is a holistic approach that includes the physical, emotional, psychological and deeper spiritual aspects of being human if and when they arise in the therapeutic process.
I also offer sandplay/symbol therapy, a modality based on depth psychology that can gently and yet powerfully support the unconscious content of the psyche to become conscious and lead a client to reconnect with their own inner voice and inner resilience.
The journey of trauma recovery and healing is intimate and personal. On a professional level I feel privileged to share the road of my client’s journey. On a personal level, complex trauma has touched my own life and those around me. This work is deeply important to me.

Counsellor/Psychotherapist
Mas Counselling, Dip Community Services, 
Adv Dip Counselling & Family Therapy
Clinical Member CCAA
Supervisor ACA College of Supervisors

Mona has been working as a professional counsellor and psychotherapist since 2002. During that time she has attained a vast range of experience in various types of therapies and modalities for counselling issues such as;
Domestic Violence
Sexual abuse
 trauma
 Relationship and family 
Depression and anxiety
Self-ham
Eating disorders
Addictions

Mona has  extensive experience in group work facilitation and has developed course programs for Domestic Violence and pre-marriage counselling along with a particular interest and extensive experience in working with women, and in 2010 founded and established a women's support service through the Charity organisation Bay City Care providing support for women through; 
Counselling, 
Case management and referral
 Crisis support

Natali Lazaroski is a qualified registered psychologist who offers professional and confidential counselling service for a wide range of mental health conditions and personal issues regardless of age, gender, race, and sexual preference. Natali's focus for the last several years has been on helping adults to overcome the effects of trauma, neglect and other adversity to establish meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Natali offers psychologically focussed sessions for adolescents utilising a number of different approaches, including:
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): evidence-based therapy for trauma which works at resolving troubling experiences.
Ego State Therapy: A psychodynamic approach based on the Theory of Structural Dissociation of the Personality. Parts of the personality (ego-states) that get fragmented and frozen due to trauma are reintegrated into the personality structure.
Mindfulness Based Therapies: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT); Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT); Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); Solution Focussed Therapy (SFT).

There is NOTHING ORDINARY when we connect and together travel along your path. There is always a way to unravel whatever is upsetting you or disrupting you or disturbing you. Once we get to know each other, you will realise just that. That unraveling is possible and it's easier when someone else holds one side of the entanglement. Whatever that entanglement might be. I work with a diverse range of clients who have anxiety through to complex PTSD. Some of the therapeutic tools I bring with me are Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting (BSP) and somatic trauma informed practices.

On the lighter scale, I provide coaching sessions drawing from a positive psychology perspective with neuroscience, eastern and western philosophy. I work with artists and people who are seeking deeper sense of self and who wish to explore who they might be without their 'triggers'.

As your coach we enter a collaborative journey to find the greater being of you.

I have 20 years’ experience as a clinical psychologist working with clients across a broad range of issues in hospitals, community settings, private practice and primary care. I also like running group sessions and developing therapeutic programs to sustain positive outcomes.

My aim is that while working together you feel supported to achieve long-lasting positive change becoming more confident at understanding yourself and other people, managing your emotions and making thought-out well-balanced choices. We’ll use your strengths and a therapeutic approach that works best for you. I take great satisfaction in helping people with their issues and I look forward to working with you!

In a gentle and caring way, we look into issues that prompted seeking psychological help and develop understanding of the current situation.

With compassion and clinical insights, we’ll aim to set goals to build your strengths, confidence and move towards coping and change. We might work with memories, thoughts, feelings and behaviours that feed the negative cycle affecting your life.

We’ll work together to find the therapy that helps you most in order to achieve on-going changes and a more fulfilling, peaceful and enjoyable life.

Certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist (LA)
Advanced Training in Treating Complex Trauma and Dissociative Disorders
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Levels I,II & III
Ph.D - Mental Health & Deafness
MA Pych (Forensic)
BA Psychology/Sociology
Auslan
Welfare Diploma

Currently working in private practice, providing treatment for clients who have experienced attachment wound and developmental trauma. Treatment anxiety, depression, grief and loss, complex trauma, PTSD. Forensic assessment Deaf in custody.

Working with the Deaf community utilizing Auslan skills.

Previously worked at The Royal Institute for Desf and Blind Children

ACT Health with the Deaf and Deaf/Blind Community.

RPA Missenden Unit with Deaf inpatients

Wollongong High School - Deaf Unit

Trish is a Registered Psychologist who is committed to a client-centred, collaborative and strengths-based approach to treatment. Trish works with a diverse range of clients, both individually and in groups, to provide a safe and supportive space to discuss any concerns and/or difficulties.

Trish works with adults of all ages to provide psychological support and trauma informed treatment for a range of issues, including:

- grief, loss and bereavement;
- uniquely lived experience of trauma;
- anxiety, depression and stress;
- life transitions;
- losses and challenges of ageing;
- health and capacity challenges; and
- work-related concerns;

Trish’s particular area of expertise includes providing psychological support and interventions for older adults and their families in diverse circumstances related to the psychological challenges of ageing, including:

- treatment for past (re-lived) experiences of trauma,
- elder life transitions and their capacity to trigger past trauma;
- the lived experience of health and capacity challenges;
- transitioning to later stages of life and/or residential aged care;
- living with dementia and/or other degenerative conditions (including younger onset);
- challenges and trauma of elder care; and
- the uniquely lived experience of anticipatory grief and bereavement.

Trish understands that a diagnosis of chronic illness involves multiple losses, transitions and stressors in all dimensions of an older adult’s life, with significant impact on psychological wellbeing for older adults and their family/loved ones.

She provides psychological support and trauma informed interventions for all members of a family impacted by these challenges and circumstances, and where appropriate can highlight strategies to focus on the essence of the individual, as opposed to the transformations which can occur when living with chronic illness, including dementia or another degenerative illness.

Complementing this experience, Trish also has over 13 years of experience in providing employee assistance (EAP) services for employees in a range of industries, professions, occupations and life circumstances.

Registration and Memberships:

- Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS)
- Registrant with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)

Formal Qualifications:

- Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
- Master of Counselling
- Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology
Master of Professional Psychology

pa Thornton, BA Psych (Hons), BA Criminology, Grad. Dip Systemic Couples Therapy, EMDR, AHPRA, Medicare Provider is a relationship psychologist, Clinical Supervisor of psychologists and the director of Marriage Works, a service designed to help couples and individuals gain relief from the heartache of relationship distress. Philipa is executive director of the Resource Therapy Institute of Australia, proudly offering training and research opportunities for clinicians. Philipa’s years of experience in psychology are sought after and she has been featured in the Australian Women’s Weekly, the Project, a Current Affair and is regularly interviewed on Radio and other media by journalists on relationship and psychological issues.

Principal Psychologist (Registered with APHRA; MAPS, Counselling College of Psychologists, AAPI., Certified NeurOptimal Trainer and Member of International Association of Clinical Neuropsychotherapy )

Rhonda has provided psychological and counselling services within the Moreton Bay Region for the past 20 + years and to the Somerset Region for the past 8 years.

Rhonda has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults (all ages) as well as Organisations, both Government and Private employers and employees. She provides work for WorkCover QLD and varying Employment Assistant Organisations as well as clients through the NSW Victims of Crime.

Rhonda works with clients who have a range of needs, eg., anxiety, depression, Trauma, panic, OCD, Aspergers, PTSD and CISD. Clients using the NeurOptimal Relaxation Training programme are reporting positive changes within themselves. They report being calmer, greater clarity of mind, sleeping better and are more effective in managing life in general.

Ruth is a registered Psychologist with qualifications including a Bachelor of Psychological Science and a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours). During her studies, Ruth worked for five years supporting those in crisis following trauma. This was followed by a two-year internship and practical application of her learnings at Ramsay Clinic in Cairns. Ruth is interested working with adults and adolescents.
Ruth has experience and a particular interest in working with those who have experienced trauma throughout the lifespan, and the complex mental health concerns that are often associated with these types of presentation. Ruth has also worked with those experiencing depression, anxiety, chronic pain, gender and sexuality concerns, grief and loss, and those with addiction.
Ruth has extensive training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Trauma Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (TFACT). She is guided by the principles of Trauma Informed Care and Person-Centred Therapy. In addition, Ruth also has training and experience with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and integrates this into her practice.
Special Interests:
Mood disorders, including depression, trauma and complex trauma, anxiety disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stress management, substance misuse, gender concerns, sexuality, and interpersonal conflicts or other life challenges.