Individual Counselling

Depression is a common – if unwelcome – part of human experience that can negatively impact a person’s life. Mia can provide essential support for someone experiencing depression through a variety of evidence-based approaches. Mia will start with a comprehensive assessment to understand your specific symptoms and challenges. From there she may employ cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps people identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours.

Mindfulness techniques and interpersonal therapy can also be beneficial in managing feelings and improving relationships with others. Mia can also guide clients in developing coping strategies, enhancing resilience, and setting realistic goals. Throughout the process, Mia offers a safe, non-judgmental environment for individuals to express their feelings, fostering a sense of understanding and validation.  With the right support, individuals can work towards feeling more in control and hopeful about their future.

Anxiety is helpful for keeping us safe from harm, but many individuals suffer excessive anxiety, particularly in the aftermath of trauma. A clinical psychologist can play a crucial role in helping someone manage anxiety through a range of tailored therapeutic approaches. Initially, Mia will conduct a thorough assessment to understand the individual’s specific experiences and symptoms.

One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns while developing healthier coping strategies. Exposure therapy may also be used to gradually help individuals face their fears in a controlled environment.  Additionally, Mia can teach mindfulness and relaxation techniques to help manage anxiety in everyday situations.

Throughout the process, Mia will provide a supportive and non-judgemental environment, encouraging clients to explore their feelings and develop greater self-awareness.  With professional guidance, individuals can learn to manage their anxiety more effectively, leading to improved well-being.

Persons with social phobia (also known as social anxiety) have an excessive fear of public humiliation or embarrassment, resulting in avoidance of social events, meetings at work, authority figures and even answering telephone calls and emails. Social anxiety often begins in early childhood and is one of the most common forms of anxiety and can severely impact our careers, happiness and quality of life.

Diet and exercise are central to successful weight loss and psychological skills are helpful to achieving and maintaining weight loss.

Persons with social phobia (also known as social anxiety) have an excessive fear of public humiliation or embarrassment, resulting in avoidance of social events, meetings at work, authority figures and even answering telephone calls and emails. Social anxiety often begins in early childhood and is one of the most common forms of anxiety and can severely impact our careers, happiness and quality of life.

“Fight or flight” panic symptoms are the automatic response of our body to the perception of danger. When panic symptoms such as a racing heart, hyperventilation and light-headedness occur in the absence of danger, they can be very distressing, debilitating and make our lives miserable. When panic attacks occur in particular places or circumstances, they can lead to the future avoidance of such places and circumstances.

Agoraphobia (from the Greek word Agora – market place) often occurs concurrently with panic disorder and is the fear of being in crowded public places and/or open spaces. Essentially, Agoraphobia is the fear that if we need help, help will be unable to reach us, or that we will be unable to escape the crowd due to congestion. Agoraphobia can even occur on freeways during traffic jams.

PTSD symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks and unwanted, intrusive memories in the aftermath of sexual assault, serious injury or the threat of death.

Intimate relationships are an important part of the human experience and when conflict occurs it can be a profound source of stress. If you are dealing with relationship conflict, family violence breakdown or struggling to repair your relationship after infidelity, it may be helpful to seek relationship counselling, either with or without your partner.

Research into both healthy and unhealthy relationships has identified the characteristics and behaviours that are effective for building and maintaining happy and fulfilling relationships. Couples therapy can also help to resolve interpersonal difficulties. Alternatively, it can be helpful to receive objective support if you are contemplating leaving an abusive or unfulfilling relationship.

Grieving is a powerful and unavoidable aspect of human experience and can at times be complicated with other unexpected feelings following the death of a significant person in our lives. Grief and loss counselling can offer a safe and reflective environment that allows this important work to be done.

When children experience problems such as separation anxiety, sleep problems, bullying at school or exhibit challenging behaviour at home, parents often seek the expertise of a psychologist. We can offer support, information, and therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural and Behavioural Therapy to assist children and their parents.

Insomnia is a very common sleep problem affecting a large percentage of people. If you have difficulties in this area and you have previously (or are currently) using medication to help you sleep, you may wish to consider using a range of evidence-based psychological strategies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Relaxation Training as well as several other techniques to find relief from chronic insomnia. Mia has completed training in the “Sleep Better Without Drugs” program and has been successfully treating people with sleep difficulties for many years.

Hypnosis is a particular mental state in which people experience a greater level of concentration, focus and suggestibility. Mia is a Clinical Hypnotherapist with experience using hypnotherapy in conjunction with other treatments to address sleep problems, weight loss, smoking-cessation, reducing anxiety, phobias and to potentially enhance performance in a variety of areas.

Coaching involves the use of a range of techniques that have been drawn from the positive psychology field and other disciplines. These techniques are designed to help clients reach goals related to personal or professional growth.