Gold Coast Mental Health Support

Child, teen and young adult counselling in a warm, supportive space focused on emotional wellbeing, confidence and resilience.

Who I support…

Anxiety - Confidence - Friendships - Relationships - Behavioural difficulties - Self Esteem - Phobias

High school can feel like a total pressure cooker, between exams, social drama, and just trying to figure out who you actually are. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or like nobody quite "gets it," I’m here to help.

How I’m different:
I’m not a "suit and tie" kind of therapist. You won’t get a clinical lecture or a textbook response here. Instead, you get a space that is:

  • Authentic & Chill: I care more about who you are than a diagnosis. We can talk about your music, your hobbies, or whatever is actually on your mind.

  • A Safe Zone: It’s confidential and accepting. You can say what you really think without worrying about being ‘judged’.

  • Tool-Based (But Not Boring): We’ll use things like DBT and ACT, but only in ways that actually make sense for your life. No homework for the sake of it, just practical ways to handle stress and mood.

Teens

Burnout - life direction - Relationships - Anxiety - Depression - Emotional Resilience - Trauma

Adulthood can often feel like a relentless cycle of "doing" rather than "being." Whether you are navigating relationship challenges, feeling the weight of career burnout, or struggling with the persistent hum of anxiety and depression, the pressure to have it all figured out is immense. If you are seeking anxiety treatment on the Gold Coast that values your real-world experience over clinical jargon, you’ve found the right space.

A Different Kind of Therapy for Adults:
I’m not a "blank slate" therapist. I provide a space that is authentic, professional, and deeply human.

  • Tackling Burnout & Overwhelm: We use tools like ACT and Solution-Focused Therapy to identify where your energy is going and how to set boundaries that actually stick.

  • Healing Relationship & Life Patterns: If you find yourself stuck in the same cycles, we can use EMDR and attachment-focused approaches to understand the "why" and work toward deeper healing.

  • Support for the Mental Load: Whether it’s managing adult ADHD, navigating a major life transition, or dealing with situational depression, I work collaboratively with you. You are the expert on your life; I’m the person in your corner helping you find the clarity to move forward.

Young Adults

Support with Emotional Regulation - Attachment challenges - Worry - Trauma - School related Issues - ADHD

It can be heartbreaking to watch your child struggle with things they don't yet have the words to explain. Whether they are facing school refusal, navigating the challenges of neurodiversity, or you are seeking emotional regulation for your children, based on the Gold Coast, I provide a space where they can feel safe, seen, and understood.

Why Play Therapy?
As a Registered Play Therapist on the Gold Coast, I recognise that play is a child’s natural language. While adults use words to process their world, children use play to communicate their internal frustrations, fears, and hopes. By meeting them in this intuitive space, therapy becomes an engaging and safe environment where they can work through "big feelings" in a non-judgemental space.

  • A Tailored Approach: I draw on frameworks like Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) and AutPlay Therapy (A neurodiversity affirming framework) to match your child’s unique developmental needs.

  • Strengthening the Connection: Through DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy) and Filial Therapy, I work closely with you. We focus on building a secure bond and giving you the tools to support your child’s growth at home.

  • More Than Just "Playing": Behind the creative techniques and sand tray work is a strategic, trauma-integrated approach designed to help children develop resilience, improve social connections, and find their way back to a sense of calm.

Children

As a therapist with over 18 years of experience, I provide a warm and open space where individuals of all ages feel empowered to reach their wellbeing goals. My background spans public and private mental health, including a decade as a clinician in specialised government services and extensive work within the NDIS and private sectors.

I take a strengths-based, evidence-based approach that honours your unique life story. Whether you are navigating a major life transition, managing daily challenges, or seeking deeper healing, I work collaboratively with you to tailor our sessions to your specific needs. I believe the heart of progress is a trusting relationship, and it is a genuine honour to provide a safe, compassionate environment for you to move toward meaningful growth.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Social Work (honours) Degree
University of Hull, England
Accredited Mental Health Social worker - AASW
Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills
Postgraduate Diploma in Practice based Play Therapy
Leeds Beckett University, England

Professional Registration

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Registration No. 453873

Australian Play Therapists Association (APTA)
www.apta.asn.au

About Me

Session Fees
50-minute session: $210
(with Medicare rebate: $122.75)

Face-to-face sessions are held in Southport. Telehealth sessions are delivered via video call or telephone and are available Australia-wide.

Mental Health Care Plan
To be eligible to receive psychological services under Medicare, a person must gain a referral from their GP. Rebates under a MHCP: $87.25

NDIS
If you are self-managed or plan-managed, sessions can be funded through your NDIS package. Please contact us to discuss availability.

Private Therapy
50-minute Therapy session which is privately funded. This session can be in-person, via telephone or video call.

Private Health
HCF
Bupa
Teachers Health Fund
Doctors Health
St Lukes Health
Australian Regional Health Group Ancillary Provider Accreditation Service.

It is advised that you discuss options directly with your fund. Please note that if you seek a rebate through private health, you cannot claim a Medicare rebate for the same session.

Referrals and Fees

I use a "trauma-integrated" and "strengths-based" lens. This means I look at your whole story and the resilience you already have, rather than just a list of symptoms. To support this, I draw on a diverse range of evidence-based treatments tailored to your needs:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing): A powerful tool for processing ‘stuck’ memories and reducing the emotional charge of past experiences.

ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): Helps you build psychological flexibility can live a life aligned with your values, even when difficult emotions arise.

DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy): Focused on emotional regulation and mindfulness, providing practical skills to manage intense feelings and improve relationships.

DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy): An attachment-focused approach that uses PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) to create safety and connection within families.

Filial Therapy: A unique approach where I train and support parents to lead their child’s play sessions, strengthening the family bond.

Solution-Focused Therapy: A goal-oriented style that focuses on your current strengths and finds practical steps to move forward.

Play Therapy & Creative Techniques: As a Registered Play Therapist, I recognise that play is a child’s natural language. While adults often use words to process their world, children use play to communicate their internal experiences, frustrations, and hopes. By meeting children where they are at, this approach feels safe and intuitive, allowing them to navigate "big feelings" without the pressure of traditional talk therapy.

My Approaches & Modalities

Clinical Supervision

Social Work Supervision & Mental Health Social Work Supervision
With over 18 years’ experience I am able to offer a supportive and reflective space for social workers at all stages of their career. With extensive experience across child protection, foster and kinship care, and both public and private mental health settings, I bring a well-rounded, trauma-informed perspective to supervision.

I provide supervision in line with The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) requirements for registration.

Play Therapy Supervision
With over seven years of experience as a Play Therapist, I offer supervision grounded in child-centred, trauma-informed and attachment-focused principles.

I provide supervision in line with The Australian Play Therapists Association (APTA) requirements for registration.

  • No, you don’t need a formal referral to get started as a private client. However, if you’d like to claim a Medicare rebate, you’ll need to visit your GP to discuss a Mental Health Care Plan. Once you have that, just bring it along to our first session.

  • Yes! I work with individuals who are self-managed or plan-managed under the NDIS. We can focus our sessions on your specific NDIS goals, such as building independence, social skills, or emotional regulation.

  • Therapy is all about the relationship. Sometimes the timing wasn’t right, or the style didn’t click. My approach is down-to-earth and collaborative—I’m a real person, not a clinical textbook. We work at your pace to find tools that actually fit your real life.

  • Absolutely. What you share in therapy stays between us. The only time I would ever need to share information is if there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else. For teens, I prioritise your privacy while still working collaboratively with your family where it’s helpful for your progress.

  • Everyone’s journey is different. Some people find that a few sessions give them the "reset" they need, while others prefer longer-term support for deeper healing. We’ll check in regularly to make sure our work together is still hitting the mark for you.

  • The first session is really just a "get-to-know-you" chat. There’s no pressure to have everything figured out. We’ll talk about what’s been happening for you, what you’re hoping to get out of our time together, and see if we’re a good fit. It’s a chance for you to ask me questions, too.

  • If you’re feeling "stuck," overwhelmed, or noticing that daily life is feeling harder than it used to, it’s a good time to reach out. You don’t need to be in a crisis to start. Whether it’s navigating a big life transition or wanting to understand your emotions better, therapy is just a dedicated space to focus on your wellbeing with someone in your corner.

  • While it looks like fun, the play is intentional and strategic. It allows them to "play out" internal frustrations they can't yet put into words.

  • I work with the person, not just the label, and can help with executive functioning or burnout regardless of a diagnosis.

  • Standard session: $210

    With a MHTP Rebate: $122.75 (rebate is $87.25)

    NDIS Funded sessions: $193.99

    Clinical Supervision $190 p/h

Frequently Asked Questions