About Teresa
I am a registered clinical counsellor and certified bereavement practitioner, specialising in loss, grief, and bereavement. In my practice I bring a sense of calm, compassion, empathy, humour, and gentle challenge when needed.
Everyone experiences difficult and challenging life events at different times in our life; it is part of being human. Such experiences can at times overwhelm us and disrupt our sense of self that leads us to question ourselves, others, and the world. My work is guided by the principle that with support and increased awareness each person has the capacity to access internal resources to achieve meaningful and sustainable change.
My special interest in grief and loss arose early in my work. Whilst loss is readily acknowledged in relation to death, loss can also be in the form that may not be as easily described or obvious. Such as loss of roles, retirement, ageing, ill health, end of a relationship, migration, loss of hopes and dreams. As a therapist, I seek to support people facing loss in its many forms to find their way on how to integrate their unique grief experience as they move forward in life.
My Approach
Counselling provides specific therapeutic interactions at a particular time in a person’s life. We are Always Becoming. Together, we discuss the length of counselling that would be beneficial and regularly review this depending on the work you would like to undertake.
My practice is person-centred. As a therapist, I apply an integrative approach drawing on principles of mainly humanistic modalities and respectfully work with a relational focus to tailor therapy to your needs.
I respect the uniqueness of each person’s life experience and seek to understand you within this context. I cultivate hope, connection, and empowerment as we engage in the therapeutic process. My intention is to create a supportive, collaborative, and trusting space.
I facilitate sessions in a way that supports you to raise your awareness of the way you show up in your life and in relationships. I encourage you to share your story and insights, offering new and deeper perspectives. We will work together to make sense of your concerns and work towards new possibilities that will support you to continue living in a way that matters to you.
Experience
I have over 25 years of experience in the community, clinical and health sectors. I have extensive experience in counselling, supervision, and education. My work has been across a variety of areas including crisis intervention, chronic and terminal illness, loss, grief, and bereavement; particularly providing counselling to people undertaking a caring role whose lives are affected by ASD, illness, dementia, or ageing, of a family member or friend.
I have wide-ranging experience and interest working with women who are in middle and late adulthood.
Qualifications
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Masters of Counselling & Psychotherapy
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Graduate Diploma in Counselling
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Graduate Certificate in Bereavement Counselling & Interventions
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Diploma of Community Welfare Work
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Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
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Certificate IV in Telephone Counselling Skills
Professional Memberships
I undertake regular supervision and attend ongoing professional development training to maintain my registration and practice requirements and to keep up to date on knowledge and skills.
Clinical Member
