The Relationship Growth Cycle

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.

Jenny is a Registered Psychotherapist and Clinical Counsellor and a member of the Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia (PACFA). She holds both a Diploma of Applied Science from Avondale University NSW and a Masters of Counselling from Morling College.

Jenny has decades of experience working for CatholicCare in the health, safety and wellbeing spheres. She subsequently consolidated her experience as a counsellor and moved into private practice, where she works with both individuals and couples. Jenny has experience supporting her clients with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, self esteem issues, relationship concerns, anger management, eating issues and addiction. She is particularly experienced supporting clients presenting with moderate to severe traumatic stress, and has for many years supported clients through the Victims Services framework.

Jenny draws upon a range of different modalities including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, and Person Centred Therapy, tailoring her approach to best meet the needs of each individual client. When working with couples, Jenny uses Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Development Model for Couples (Bader & Pearson).

Jenny is an empathetic and passionate practitioner. She approaches counselling from a collaborative and process oriented perspective to understand the client’s concerns, in order to provide a safe therapeutic environment to work on developing a healthy relationship with the self and others.

Mike is registered as a Clinical Psychologist and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society. He works with adults with anxiety disorders, depression, addictions, trauma, relationships and has a special interest in working with LGBTQ+ clients. His therapeutic approach uses CBT, ACT and mindfulness for letting go of unhelpful thoughts, being present with difficult emotions and connecting to your values; the things that really matter to you.

He completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2003. His doctoral training included internships in adult mental health, forensics, child & family services, and intellectual disabilities. His post-doctoral training has included skills in ACT, DBT and training in professional supervision.

Mike has worked in sexual health services in London, community mental health services in Auckland, student counselling at the University of Auckland and as a forensic psychologist in Sydney. He is one of our most senior clinicians and has been providing online therapy since 2012.

Jenna is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Relationship Therapist with over 15 years experience supporting individuals, couples and families. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Melbourne and is endorsed as a Specialist Couple Therapist by Relationships Australia (Victoria).

Jenna's career began in family services, supporting vulnerable children and families across a range of community and health settings. This included developing group programs for mothers experiencing mental health difficulties and social isolation, giving her broad experience across the different stages of family life. She now works in private practice where she works with clients from a broad cross section of the community.

Jenna supports both individuals and couples experiencing a wide range of issues including anxiety and depression, attachment and connection, historical or intergenerational trauma, sexual and intimacy issues, affairs, family conflict and communication difficulties. She has particular experience supporting neurodivergent clients, and holds a special interest in perinatal mental health, including the transition to parenthood, parent-child attachment, and birth trauma.

Jenna draws on a strengths-based, attachment, family-systems and trauma-informed framework, tailoring her approach to the needs of each client. She integrates Internal Family Systems therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Gottman Method couple therapy, and is a qualified Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator, drawing on this when working with parents of young children.

Jenna works with individuals and couples to build an authentic, safe and trusting relationship in which to understand the challenges they face, helping clients build resilience and form deeper, more secure connections with themselves and others.

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.

Neri is a Registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist with more than 10 years experience in the mental health field. She holds extensive qualifications relevant to her work, including a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from the University of Sydney, as well as both a Postgraduate Diploma of Counselling and a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Neri is also a clinical member and accredited supervisor of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.

Throughout her career, Neri has worked extensively with a diverse range of individuals, couples and families across multiple sectors, including public, private, community and corporate health. Prior to moving into private practice, Neri worked in a hospital setting, providing inpatient support to at-risk patients, using evidence-based mental health assessments to cater for their individual needs. She has also led, supported and supervised a variety of psychologically-based programs aimed at developing employment opportunities for NDIS participants.

In private practice, Neri focuses on empowering her clients using an integrated and person-centred approach, which includes such modalities as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy and Psychodynamic methods. In her sessions, Neri assists her clients with a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, stress, phobias, body image, harassment, chronic pain, gender issues, grief and loss, religious and identity concerns, as well as more complex mental health such as brain injuries, trauma and PTSD, addiction and dependencies. She has experience working with persons presenting on the autism spectrum or with intellectual disabilities.

In her work with couples, Neri believes in the strength of connectedness, and can assist clients with communication problems, parenting concerns, infidelidity, stagnation and sexual issues.

Neri is a compassionate and insightful counsellor, who aims to transform her clients’ situations through catering to their individual needs. Through creating trusting and safe environments during her sessions, Neri empowers her clients to move towards a happier and healthier 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.

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.

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.