A little bit about me
I’m Shannon — a qualified and experienced Registered Clinical Counsellor and Psychotherapist who is incredibly passionate and committed to supporting people in their process of self-exploration, healing, recovery, acceptance and personal growth.
Since my late teens I have been fascinated by psychology, relationships and the complexity of the human experience. This curiosity, combined with my personal life experiences and self-study eventually led to my years of clinical training and work as a therapist, supporting people from all walks of life.
Along with private practice, I have extensive experience working with adolescents and adults across a variety of settings including community outreach, hospital, high school and crisis support.
I am driven by my belief in the adaptability, strength and resilience of individuals and their capacity to grow, heal and recover in ways that are meaningful to them. This is something I have had the privilege of witnessing time and time again.
See below to get a feel for ‘how’ I work with my clients.
Qualifications & Memberships
I hold a Bachelor degree in Counselling and I am a candidate for the Master of Science in Medicine (Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy) degree with The University of Sydney.
I hold Clinical registration with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) which has rigorous ethical and professional development standards.
I am also a trainee member of the Australia and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy (ANZAP)
Will be collaborative, relational and down-to-earth. I meet you with curiosity, compassion, and with a wholehearted acceptance of the messiness and complexity that comes with being a human.
My approach to therapy is integrative, taking a holistic approach to mental health treatment and drawing from a range of evidence-based therapy modalities to tailor support to each unique person I work with. Grounded by a contemporary psychodynamic perspective, I have a particular interest in exploring and understanding individual’s current emotional and relational challenges or sense of ‘stuckness’, through the lens of early developmental experiences and unconscious patterns of relating and coping. This includes working closely with the insight and wisdom of the nervous system and body-mind connection. I aim to support you towards new ways of being in the world, with a greater sense of self-agency, authenticity and meaning.
As a trauma-informed therapist trained in working with complex trauma, I have an understanding of the complex and lasting effects of trauma in its various forms — how it shapes the way we see ourselves, our relationships and how we move through the world. This understanding sits at the heart of my practice.
Ultimately, I believe the quality of our relationship to self and to others is fundamental to our mental health and wellbeing, and I am committed to facilitating a safe, open and creative space for this to be explored and transformed.
Therapy with me…
I draw from and integrate my experience and training in a range of evidence-based models of therapy that includes long-term psychotherapy, in combination with more focused and short-term practical approaches.
Contemporary Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (The Conversational Model)
Attachment Theory
Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB)
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Self-Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Approach & Modalities
I work with people who are needing support with:
Relationship Challenges - intimate / romantic relationships, dating, family, friends, community, work
Trauma - Complex PTSD, childhood trauma, relational trauma, PTSD
Emotion Regulation Challenges
Grief and Loss
Anxiety and Depression
Adolescent Mental Health Challenges
Self-Esteem / Identity
Navigating and Adjusting to Change and Life Transitions
If you're dealing with something not listed here, don't hesitate to reach out. We can discuss whether I would be the right fit, or I can connect you with someone who may be a better match.