Marijuana, Addiction and Counselling Treatment: Basic Facts

Wade is a Counsellor and Psychotherapist, registered with PACFA. He holds a Bachelor of Counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology and a Graduate Diploma of Mental Health and Neuroscience from the University of the Sunshine Coast, with extensive advanced training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.

Wade’s career began in hospital and community mental health settings, including several years leading a therapeutic program and multidisciplinary team. This gave him broad experience supporting people through a wide range of life challenges before he moved into private practice.

Since moving into private practice, Wade works with individuals, supporting them with a range of concerns including anxiety, stress and burnout, low mood, grief, relationship and attachment difficulties, and past trauma. He has a particular interest in trauma, attachment, men’s health and addiction-related concerns.

Wade’s approach draws primarily on Internal Family Systems, integrating trauma-informed, attachment-based, psychodynamic, EMDR, and polyvagal-informed techniques. He works deeply and relationally with his clients, taking the time to understand what’s beneath the surface and build a genuine sense of trust and connection. He believes lasting change comes through the relationship itself, not just the techniques used within it.

Wade describes his style as clear, honest and human, creating a space paced to each client where they can explore what’s present for them without judgement or pressure.

Atia is a psychotherapist and counsellor. She has over 15 years of experience providing support to individuals, couples and families. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Counselling) from the Australian College of Applied Psychology and is a clinical member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

Prior to moving to private practice, Atia worked as a counsellor across multiple organisations, providing support to a diversity of individuals, including refugees and asylum seekers, carers of individuals living with complex mental illness and adult survivors of child abuse. Atia has expertise in providing effective treatment for issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, addictions, grief, sleep, low self-esteem and relationships. She also specialises in trauma, with extensive experience supporting survivors of psychological, sexual and physical abuse, assault and domestic violence. In her work with couples, Atia works with issues such as communication, separation and divorce, infertility and life transitions.

Atia is trained in a range of therapeutic approaches, including Existential Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Narrative Therapy, and Art Therapy. She employs an eclectic holistic approach to treatment, adapting her skills and knowledge to best suit the treatment needs of her clients.

In her work with clients, Atia aims to encourage insight and self-awareness, and improve her clients’ self-esteem, creativity, self-care, empathy, critical thinking, and the ability to adjust to challenging circumstances. With an emphasis on being a compassionate, non-judgmental and present therapist, she hopes to provide her clients with control over their journey to address their issues in a safe and empowering manner.

Petra is a Registered Counsellor and member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) with experience in various roles across the healthcare industry. She holds a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors and a Graduate Diploma in Relationship Counselling, as well as advanced accreditations in grief & loss, addiction, abuse and eating disorders.

Petra has worked extensively with a diverse range of individuals across multiple organisations in both the aged care, clinical and charity sectors. Through her time at the Butterfly Foundation, Petra empowered her clients through evidence-based therapy to help them overcome negative eating patterns. Petra also has specific experience treating complex mental health in elderly clients, supporting them through issues such as trauma, grief and cognitive decline. Prior to her commencing a career in counselling, Petra worked in various roles within the corporate space, collaborating and liaising with an assortment of professionals, helping shape the person-centred approach she utlises in therapy today.

In private practice, Petra’s focus is to meet and understand where individuals are at in their lives, and best support them using a variety of therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solutions Focused Therapy, ACT, Strengths Based Therapy and Narrative Therapy. In her sessions, Petra assists her clients in a range of concerns, including anger management, depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, grief & loss, self-esteem issues, workplace stress, as well as more complex mental health including eating disorders and addiction.

Petra is an insightful and altruistic counsellor, who believes everyone is unique in their counselling needs and, as such, aims to personalise each session to the individual. Creating safe, supportive and confidential spaces for people to engage, Petra uses empathy and understanding to support her clients in their mental health journey and onto more fulfilling lives.

Sue is a Registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist and a member of PACFA (Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia). She holds a Graduate Diploma in Counselling from ACAP University College in which she was National DUX, and a Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Prior to starting a private practice, Sue worked in hospital settings where she gained significant experience in a broad range of presentations including trauma, addiction, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and relationship issues. In this role she facilitated group therapy sessions as well as one-on-one trauma-informed psychotherapy sessions, and also facilitated patient workshops and lectures. Sue has also worked with renowned experiential trauma programme facilitators across the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

When working with clients, Sue takes an integrative, trauma-informed and person-centered approach. She also uses a psychodynamic relational model and employs the dynamic interplay between internal world and relational experiences. At times, Sue will also engage creative techniques, narrative therapy and Gestalt therapies to facilitate new ways of processing and expressing feelings.

Prior to her work as a counsellor, Sue worked for 25 years running creative businesses in both design and recruitment where she honed her ability to tailor innovative solutions to individual needs, and build trust-based relationships - skills she now brings to her therapeutic practice.

Sue is compassionate and an authentic counsellor, focussed on creating a supportive environment for her clients to promote personal growth and recovery. Sue is passionate about helping her clients reconnect with their sense of self and purpose.

Silvia is a Registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. She holds a Graduate Diploma in Counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology (Sydney), a Bachelor of Psychology and Sociology from Greenwich University (London) and is currently working towards full certification as a Somatic Experiencing® practitioner with Somatic Experiencing® International.

Silvia’s journey of connecting with her authentic self, self-discovery and curating conscious relationships inspired her to help others navigate their own challenges. She has since obtained experience in various mental health settings including for Not-for-Profit organisations, in-patient services at South Pacific Private Hospital, as a grief counsellor, and as a school counsellor.

Silvia brings a wealth of knowledge, insight and life experience to her work in private practice. She is experienced working with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, stress, addiction, trauma, bereavement, self-esteem, anger management, life transitions, addictions, eating disorders and relationship issues. Silvia also has expertise in group facilitation and regularly facilitates programs on wide-ranging topics such as emotional regulation, negative core beliefs, co-dependency and parenting. Silvia’s work has been featured in Australian magazines including Marie Claire, Women’s Weekly and Body + Soul.

As an Integrative and Trauma-Informed therapist, in her work, Silvia draws on various approaches, including Gestalt Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Somatic Experiencing® techniques, and Family Systems Therapy. She also draws on Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory, Inner Child Work, and Mindfulness-based techniques.

Silvia is a warm, supportive and compassionate counsellor, who tailors her approach to meet the unique needs and circumstances of each client. She is passionate about fostering a sense of self, healing relational wounds and conflicts, and resolving unfinished business from the past through a safe and caring therapeutic relationship.

Silvia can help to guide you to foster resilience, cultivate inner balance and develop new ways of responding to life’s situations.

Alexandra is a highly experienced Registered Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Relationship Counsellor, who holds a Bachelor of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Human Change, as well as various diplomas in Group Work and Facilitation, Problem Gambling and Couples Counselling.

Alexandra has worked extensively with complex and diverse clients providing psychoeducation within government and non-government settings, working mainly for non-profit organisations. She has worked as a bilingual cross-cultural counsellor for NSW Health, speaking both English and Greek, and has worked in counselling and group therapy roles for St Vincents de Paul, Nepean Local Health District and Relationships Australia.

Alexandra has an emotionally client-centred perspective to her therapeutic process, creating safe, respectful and confidential environments to conduct her counselling sessions. Drawing on a variety of modalities, she uses a systematic approach based on Attachment Theory, Solution Focused Behavioural Therapy, as well as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Through her years of experience, Alexandra assists her clients in a wide array of concerns, including depression, anxiety, stress management, grief & loss, work related issues, as well as more complex mental health such as trauma, abuse, schizophrenia and chronic pain management.

Through her career at Relationships Australia, Alexandra has extensive experience working with couples, from both traditional and same sex relationships, with a focus on issues like communication, intimacy problems, parenting difficulties and infidelity.

Alexandra instills a ‘come as you are’ mantra, often using a holistic approach to tailor her sessions to her clients’ personal needs for the best possible outcome, as well as supporting them moving forward with their lives.

Howard is a Registered Psychologist with over 25 years experience in the provision of individual, couples and family therapy. He holds a Masters in Psychology from Sydney University and a Masters in Organisational Psychology from the University of New South Wales. He has also studied workplace counselling at the Australian Catholic University and undertaken training in couples and family therapy with Relationships Australia.

Howard has worked extensively in the public health, corporate and military sectors, as well as in the private sector. He has experience in a variety of modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodrama, Psychoanalysis, Family Systems Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Organisational Change, and works eclectically across all these therapeutic forms to suit the individual needs of his clients.

He has worked successfully with clients presenting with a wide range of challenges including anxiety, workplace stress, depression, drug & alcohol addiction, trauma, anger and relationship problems. He uses a practical but supportive approach, aiming to assist his clients to achieve their goals as quickly as possible.

Howard works with his clients to help them achieve a richer, fuller and more meaningful life.

Christine is a professional counsellor and psychotherapist. She holds a Bachelor in Social Science, a Graduate Certificate in Psychotherapy Studies and is a member of the Australian Somatic Psychotherapy Association and the Australian Hypnotherapist’s Association.

Christine has over 20 years experience as a clinical counsellor in the public sector (for the NSW Police and Women’s Health) and in private practice. She has experience working with a range of client presentations, including self-esteem, trauma, grief, sexual abuse, domestic violence, parenting, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, post natal depression, workplace stress, disorders of the self and addictive behaviour.

Whilst Christine’s underlying framework is psychodynamic and humanist, she takes a client-centred approach to her therapeutic interventions and utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches depending on the client’s specific issues and emotional capacity. Christine believes that each person’s requirements are unique and her therapy is guided by that belief. This is a collaborative approach, whereby Christine works together with the client to form a therapeutic alliance.

Both conscious and unconscious processes are explored as people are helped to manage their thoughts and emotions, and challenge patterns of behavior - enabling change, where desired, and better ways of being and living. When Christine works with couples, she uses a combined approach drawing on intra-psychic and systemic modalities, understanding the individuals and what happens between them as a system of relating.

Christine works with the client as a whole person, rather than as a set of ‘symptoms’ or ‘pathologies’ to be treated. People manifest their emotional difficulties in different forms in an effort to adapt. Christine focuses her therapy on what works and the resources people have within to draw from and help them to understand that they can make changes and improve their experience of life.

Claire is a Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Relationship Counsellor. She holds a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy (ACAP) and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science, majoring in Psychology, from the University of Sydney. She is a Professional Member of the Australian Counselling Association, a Certified Practising Registrant with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, and a member of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Prior to training as a counsellor, Claire spent several years working in client-facing roles across the health technology and corporate sectors, including account management, client support and office administration, both in Australia and the UK. This experience gave her a solid grounding in listening closely to people and understanding what they need, something she draws on in her work with clients today.

As a counsellor in private practice, Claire works with both individuals and couples, supporting them with a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, grief, low self-worth, past trauma and interpersonal conflict. She has a particular interest in relationships, attachment and emotional connection.

Claire’s approach draws primarily on Emotionally Focused Therapy and EFIT, integrating psychodynamic, person-centred, trauma-informed and Gottman Method techniques. She describes her style as warm, collaborative and paced to the client, creating a space to explore what can be difficult to put into words, without judgement or pressure. Claire supports her clients toward greater self-understanding, emotional safety and healthier ways of relating over time.