Trauma Support Providers

I have over twenty five years of experience counselling adults who have been sexually assaulted in childhood. I have had extensive training and experience during the last few decades in working in the areas of Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence, Mental Health and Complex Trauma. In all these roles I have supported individuals dealing with the impacts and effects of interpersonal trauma being Child sexual assault, recent sexual assault and domestic violence, across the lifespan.
I deliver evidence based counselling, in particular Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma focused CBT, Interpersonal therapy and Emotional Focussed Therapy as well as provide advocacy, information and referral to individuals who wish to engage with the National Redress Service.
My formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts, both majoring in psychology (University of Sydney). I am a Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and a Member of the Australian Psychological Society and the EMDR Association of Australia ( EMDRAA)

I have been a counsellor since 2005, in both private practice and a community services agency. I have a Masters in Counselling degree and an Advanced Diploma in Family Therapy. I have also been a trainer of counsellors and sessonal lecturer in several colleges that train counsellors. Counselling was on my heart to study throughout my child-rearing years and I applied myself to learn as much as I could once my children had grown up. One thing that became strikingly clear to me as I worked with client issues was that often underneath the layers of depression, anxiety, addiction and other issues there is trauma of one kind or another, so my work with and passion to support clients who have experienced trauma grew as I gained counselling experience. This led me to learn more about trauma by attending seminars and conferences with trauma and in particular childhood trauma as their focus so that I could better understand what was happening for my clients. I also studied the various approaches to trauma work including how to create a space for the client to safely explore and make any needed connections and at the same time feel held and grounded. I work in my home office on as well as online.

I am recognised as a psychoanalyst by The Freudian School of Melbourne, School of Lacanian Psychoanalysis. I have over twenty years experience, in both public and private settings. My initial training is as a social worker, and I am accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers as a Mental Health Social Worker. I frequently present lectures, papers and seminars on clinical and theoretical issues both within The Freudian School of Melbourne and elsewhere.

MPsych (Clinical) 1999, MArts (Forensic Psychology) 1998, BArts (Psychology) 1997
APS Member (24 years) Member No.: 101829, Fellow of the Clinical College APS (22 years)
Treatment Approaches - Trauma Informed Therapy Approach, Schema Therapy, CBT/ Imagery Rescripting / Exposure therapy, DBT, ACT
Professional Development
2019 - Trauma, Neuroscience and the Evolving Therapy of Traumatised Children and Adults. by
B Van der Kolk
Working therapeutically to support children living in separated families.
Family Law Essentials by Frank Law
Feedback Informed Treatment by S Miller
2018 - Working with over-compensating clients, a schema therapy approach
2017 - Schema Therapy by Schema Therapy Australia
2016 - St John of God - PTSD
Recognising and Working with Complex Trauma by P Stavropoulos PhD
2015 - The Body Keeps the Score by B Van der Kolk
The Role of Families in Treatment of Borderline Personality by Dr A Fruzetti
Schema therapy by Prof Dr A Arntz
Treating Clinical Perfectionism by Prof T Wade
Advanced DBT Skills by Prof A Fruzetti
Approach - Stabilisation is always my initial focus of trauma informed therapy. Ensuring they have safe and secure living situation, managing any threats in their environment and they are able to attend sessions without issues. A clear discussion of confidentiality and its limitations to ensure they are aware of disclosure and its outcomes.
Developing rapport and a safe and reliable environment. This takes time however consistency and reliability of the therapist is paramount. Doing what you say you will, providing warning about changes that may affect client and ensuring the rooms are quiet, without interruptions and they have the freedom to end
sessions if they require.
Constant regular feedback on their experience of their therapy and the session at hand is essential. Reading body language and checking in. Providing a non-judgemental stance of acceptance of any differences of the client and allowing them to provide guidance as to their cultural and identity or any other requirements. We are clear that therapy will be long term and that the outcomes of such trauma is complex and multifaceted so we can approach it in parts. The client is free to cease therapy at any time without judgement.
Clients are encouraged to take on new skills, new approaches, new insights and to report back. They are met with encouragement, and all emotions are welcomed. The focus of treatment remains on their developing self-directed, self-management of emotional regulation, distress, and interpersonal skills, and identity development. The long term plan is to learn to manage independently. They are able to be the ones choosing when to disengage so as not to facilitate abandonment experiences. Review of current safety from all sources is essential. Ensuring any dependants are safe and mandatory reporting requirements are met and communicated.

Renee works therapeutically with children, adolescents, adults, carers and couples. Renee has experience working with a range of presenting problems, including anxiety, mood disorders, stress, complex trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), work-related issues, autism spectrum disorders, challenging behaviours, interpersonal challenges, grief and relationship issues.

Renee is an eclectic psychologist, therefore she individualises her therapy based on the needs and wants of the client. Renee uses a variety of therapeutic modalities such as Neurofeedback, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Mindfulness-based approaches and Brief Psychodynamic Therapy. She also uses elements of Schema Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Brief Solution-Focused Therapy.

Renee is trained in a range of assessments including Autism Assessments. Renee also conducts personality, mental health, behavioural, cognitive and other developmental assessments.

I am a Mental Health Social worker with over 20 years experience in community-based roles. I've worked in both rural and urban environments in Australia, as well in the UK and Canada. I spent many years as an addictions specific counsellor on Vancouver Island before returning to Australia where my practice has focused primarily on treating PTSD resulting from sexual violence. I have also worked in a para-legal role relating to civil suits from institutions. As well as being trained in EMDR, I take pride in my therapy practice being inclusive to folks from all walks for life and paced at a way that best suits you.

Dr Ruth Armstrong is a Clinical Psychologist, endorsed by AHPRA, with a specialist interest, and extensive experience, in providing assessment and treatment for traumatised children, adolescents and adults. Provides EMDR therapy and CBT. She began her EMDR training in 1999, and completed a research doctorate on children's experiences of EMDR therapy in 2008. Fellow of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists. Most recent written feedback from a very troubled teenager, with a history of complex trauma, was that they were feeling much better, and they advised, ""Please keep doing what you are doing : )""

Shirley Heilemann is a Psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with people (including individual and couple therapy) on a range of different challenges and concerns that are faced in day-to-day life. Whilst having a number of therapeutic choices available to her, Shirley mostly utilises the knowledge and skills provided within Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). Shirley is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, is an associate member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and has a professional membership with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Shirley completed her Bachelor Arts, Humanities/Psychology Majors at UWS in 1998, Master of Arts, Critical Psychology at UWS in 1999 and Post-graduate diploma in Applied Psychology at Macquarie University in 2002. Shirley currently works in her private practice, Counselling in Conversation in the Sydney suburb of Crows Nest. In addition to working in her private practice, Shirley is involved in providing EAP services including attending critical incidents for stress management interventions and sessional counselling.

Shirley has co-facilitated and prepared workshops on trauma and loss and navigating difficult situations and attends supervision with her colleagues who practice Narrative Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural. Shirley takes a collaborative approach to working with people as they navigate their way through the effects of problems on their lives towards living with a renewed connection to what’s important to them, a sense of worthiness and a connection to preferred identity. This leads to positive change and optimism.

Shona has a lengthy history of working with clients who have experienced complex trauma in multiple settings. In the late 1980s, Shona’s first job was to support people who had lived in “care” (institutional, government care and in prisons) to adjust and manage in new settings. From very early in her career, she saw first hand both the bricks and mortar of many of the residential facilities and the organisational culture that affected residents, children and adults. Moving to work with incarcerated young offenders in the mid 1990’s, Shona continued to work with clients with trauma histories and saw the way trauma lead to interpersonal difficulties, mental health issues, substance use and offending. She learned to balance risk and safety issues with an understanding of how each young person had been affected by the complex traumas in their lives. Shona also spent time working in a hospital mental health ward and assessing people in the hospital emergency department working on ways to keep them safe while they managed their difficulties. Here, Shona was exposed to work with many different types of health professionals as the people she was assisting often had multiple complex health needs.
In private practice since the late 1990s, Shona has remained vigilant to the best ways to assist clients and has attended numerous conferences workshops and training opportunities. She has learned much for each of her many clients over the years. She believes there is no point in having extensive clinical knowledge without the interpersonal skills and rapport needed to assist a person to find ways to manage their troubles.
In addition to providing treatment, Shona has written countless reports for Courts, Tribunals, and agencies. Understanding issues across the developmental lifespan, Shona has also authored a series of internationally selling children’s books designed to assist the very young.
Shona is a supervising psychologist. From her rooms in Buderim, she also provides consultations via “telehealth”. Shona has provided workshops, training to staff in Sexual Assault Units, Hospitals, Schools, Prisons, Youth Justice Centres, and Child Protection Agencies. Shona also continues to educate and advocate for clients and safer, healthier communities. She is often approached by local media to provide commentary on mental health issues including a regular segment on her local ABC radio station.
Shona’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Applied Science (Applied Psychology), a Graduate Diploma in Applied Science (Applied Child Psychology) and Master of Clinical Psychology. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and a Fellow of Clinical College of the APS and the Forensic College of the APS. She is a member for the Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, the Australia and New Zealand Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, and the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law.

Dr. Sia Bandarian Balooch is a distinguished clinical psychologist and lawyer based in Queensland, Australia. With a practice located at Attach Psychology in Ashmore, Dr. Sia brings a unique blend of expertise to his clients, offering compassionate and informed psychological care. He holds a prominent presence online through his YouTube channel, the Dr Sia Channel (psytubechannel), where he shares insights and resources on mental health. Additionally, Dr. Sia engages with a wider audience on Instagram via the doctorsia channel. For more information about his services and approach, visit his website at www.attachpsychology.com.au.