Counselling for sex and pornography addiction

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.

Andrea is a registered psychologist with over 20 years experience in the field. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology, and a Diploma in Sexual Health Counselling from ASSERT. She also completed a comprehensive one-year training course in Ellyn Bader’s Developmental Model of Couples Therapy.

Andrea has worked in private practice since 1999. She sees both individuals and couples and is able to provide both short-term and long-term therapy, as well as psycho-education, advice and support for people in emotional or relationship distress, sexual counselling services, and trauma-informed therapy.

Andrea uses a holistic approach which combines behavioural, interpersonal and mind-body therapies in her professional interactions with clients. She helps to locate the underlying emotional and physical responses to a particular problem, working at a deep level with both mind and body in order to effect long-lasting change. To this end, Andrea utilises her training in Inner Space Techniques - a form of meditative body-oriented therapy that helps to access these core emotional undercurrents within the body as well as change repetitive thought patterns.

She is also able to help her clients process and regulate their emotions, understand their negative patterns of behaviour, develop better communication strategies and increase their body awareness.

Andrea is experienced in working with a range of client presentations, including depression, anxiety, grief, stress, sexual difficulties, anger and complex trauma (including sexual trauma). Andrea is also an accredited sexual health counsellor.

As a relationship counsellor, she is able to support couples through all sorts of relationship issues, including infidelity, intimacy, arguments and communication problems.

Andrea is also highly experienced in dealing with the psychological repercussions associated with body-image, desire, sexual trauma and gynecological problems (including pregnancy issues, miscarriage, termination and menopause).

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.

Ali is a Registered Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Couples Therapist with over 15 years experience in the mental health industry. He holds both a Bachelor of Psychology and a Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy, both from University of Western Sydney, as well as various accreditations in treating trauma.

Ali has worked as a treating counsellor in the government, not-for-profit and education sectors including at STARTTS Refugee Support Service, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, the Department of Communities and Justice, and the Public Health department. This experience has fashioned his collaborative approach and ability to to assess and treat individuals from diverse backgrounds. Drawing on his advanced knowledge of trauma-informed counselling, Ali has experience supporting various vulnerable populations, including both war veterans, refugees and at-risk youth.

In private practice, Ali is passionate about educating his clients on mental health, coping strategies and self-care techniques to facilitate positive growth and change. Drawing on a range of modalities to suit his client’s needs, Ali tends to preference the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Mindfulness, Trauma-Focused Therapies and Narrative Therapy. In his sessions, Ali assists his clients with a variety of concerns, including depression, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), mood disorders, anger, as well as substance abuse and behavioural addictions.

Working with couples, Ali combines Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) and the evidence based Gottman approach to understand the dynamic within each relationship and to support couples with a range of concerns, including communication, arguments, parenting, intimacy, stagnation and infidelity.

Ali is an altruistic therapist, striving to act with empathy and guidance when supporting his clients. By aiding individuals through times of emotional, psychological and behavioural challenges, Ali helps foster positive changes and support his patients to lead happier and healthier lives.

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.

David is a Clinical Psychologist and an accredited member of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the University of New England, and a Masters of Clinical Psychology from Western Sydney University.

Prior to re-training as a psychologist, David worked as a professional musician, a role he credits as endowing him with high-level listening skills. These skills he brings to his work in the mental health space, where he has practiced in both both in hospital settings (in-patient and out-patient) and also in private practice. In these environments, David has gained experience counselling a diverse range of clients of different ages and from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. He has also provided telephone support for families affected by drug and alcohol concerns in a voluntary capacity. Together, these experiences have helped shape his personalised approach to therapy.

In private practice, David is passionate about supporting individuals through their mental health challenges and life’s challenges. Drawing on a range of modalities, David primarily focuses on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) but also draws on modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Psychodynamic Theory.

David can support clients with a variety of concerns, including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, OCD, ADHD, relationships, anger, addiction, stress, as well as more complex presentations such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and personality disorders.

David is an authentic, warm and non-judgemental psychologist. Whilst he uses various therapeutic modalities to frame his practice, his focus remains on the therapeutic relationship, ensuring that his client’s unique experiences, feelings, thoughts, and beliefs shape his ultimate approach to their therapy. By listening and accounting for his client’s viewpoints, David helps his clients overcome their problems through positive change.

Jonathan is a Registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist, who has worked with clients of all ages during his time in the mental health field. He holds various diplomas in Counselling, including Integrated Psychotherapy and Family Counselling from the AIFC, and is also certified as a Professional Supervisor.

Beginning his career in the youth sector, Jonathan assisted both children and adolescents from disadvantaged and traumatic backgrounds, in which he learnt to tailor his sessions to each individual to create trusting and supportive environments. From his time at various alternative learning programs, such as Youth Off The Streets and the Divergent Edge, Jonathan worked with neurodivergent, disengaged and/or complex-presenting individuals, providing support in the form of individual psychotherapy, crisis counselling and group interventions.

Moving into private practice, Jonathan uses a holistic approach to therapy, exploring the connection between family dynamics, childhood, relationships, as well as the mind and body, to assess and reflect on his clients’ concerns. Utilising an array of evidence-based practices, Jonathan incorporates modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Person-Centred Therapy and Mindfulness.

Jonathan can assist his clients with an array of concerns including depression, anxiety, grief & loss, self-esteem, anger, as well as more complex mental health including domestic violence, self-harm and suicidal ideation, addiction and trauma. Jonathan also has a particular interest in neurodiversity, specifically assisting those with ADHD.

Jonathan is an authentic and compassionate practitioner, who prides himself on his practical and insightful approach to counselling. Through supporting the development of appropriate life skills, he helps his clients identify and achieve their goals, as well as move forward with confidence and become the best version of themselves.

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.

Naomi is a Registered Psychologist with over 20 years of experience. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology Honours) from Monash University and has been trained in a variety of therapies for individuals, couples, and families.

Having worked in both public settings and private practice, Naomi has the experience and training to assist her clients with a range of concerns, including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, addictions, trauma, stress, self-esteem and relationships. Part of Naomi’s approach is to explore how her clients’ present issues have been influenced by their previous experiences.

When working with couples, Naomi aims to bring her clients into a space in which they can be oriented towards caring for, and empathising with, one another. She draws on Family Systems and Attachment theories to inform her approach, and she has been formally trained in Gottman Therapy.

Naomi also has a particular interest in perinatal mental health. She is a recognised provider of perinatal non-directive counselling, and her training in this area has provided her with the expertise to support individuals experiencing mental health issues before, during and after pregnancy.

Naomi’s personal therapeutic approach is warm, empathic and client-centred. She assists clients by drawing on their strengths and helping them develop the necessary skills required to overcome their difficulties, and improve coping.