I AM A TRAUMA THERAPIST with 20 years experience under my belt and also a SURVIVOR of narcissistic abuse.

If you have made it this far through my website, you will know that I am all about education, recovery and protection of women and the community from dangerous people. I specialise in supporting women to rebuild their lives, identities and self worth to break through the legacy of coercive control (mind control) that dangerous people inflict upon their victims.

‍ A big part of my practice is education as it is critical to a person’s recovery in this area of relationship abuse.

In my practice over the years generally speaking is, no matter the age, women and girls want to be in healthy, connected and functioning relationships in which they feel cared for, respected, heard, valued and safe and they are prepared to do their best to achieve this, whether this be attending counselling to improve themselves in relationship, or trying to support their partners and friends. Most of us just want a decent fulfilled life, partnered with someone we trust, right?

There is a bunch of reasons why this can be hard and I can support you with understanding the why’s.

Sometimes the why is we’ve had the unfortunate luck of being partnered with or raised by toxic people or dangerous people and this has left its mark. This is my area of speciality.

I have a very warm, authentic and some would say easy going approach SO PLEASE REACH OUT if you are needing support in this area. The very best, Sky

If you have been a victim of a crime such as domestic violence, sexual assault, coercive control or witnessed abuse yourself, you are eligible for 22 free counselling appointments with an approved Victim’s Services Therapist. To learn more click the link below.

Please contact me at psychologicalselfdefence@gmail.com

Ph: 0458 868 374

I have 20 years of experience supporting people with drug and alcohol presentations, complex mental health, domestic and family violence, intimate partner violence and suicide prevention.

THEORETICAL APPROACHES I DRAW FROM‍ ‍Feminist Theory, DBT, CBT, Schema, ACT, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Existential Theory, Person Centred and Strengths based approaches. I am also learning the ways of EMDR.

I am an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) and Counsellor (DipCouns) by trade.

WHAT IS AN Accredited Mental Health Social Worker I imagine some of you thinking?‍ ‍

• Highly trained mental health professionals in Australia with advanced education and experience in mental health.

• Like psychologists we must undergo a comprehensive accreditation process by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) to ensure we meet a high standard of professional regulation and ethical practice.

• Like registered psychologists we are recognised providers with Medicare and can be referred by GP’s under the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative. You might know it as a Mental Health Care Plan.

• We take a ‘person- in- environment’ approach to support which means we view people in the context of their relationships, environment and social systems that are affecting your wellbeing……… That’s the ‘social’ in ‘social work’

• We are trained not to stigmatise or make assumptions about people but to build relationship first in order to understand what is going on for you.

  Similar to psychologists as we learn clinical skills and work from Theories of Practice.

• We approach each person from a lens of ‘what’s happened to you’?

• Social Justice, Equality, Self Determination and Human Rights are at the core of any social workers worth the title.