For as long as I can remember, even as a young girl, I suffered with anxiety disorders and depression and like everyone else, I have endured loss and the pain that accompanies it. My best (and only) friend died when we were 9 and then my Dad died when I was 26. Between these events was no smooth sailing with recurring bouts of crippling depression and constant anxiety which consumed my mind all day, every day!

My main struggle was with emetophobia (meaning fear of vomiting). I’m not quite sure why I developed this particular fear and not something else, however I do know that low self-esteem and low self-worth (which was me through and through) is one of the single biggest contributing factors to developing any kind of mental health problem, such as an anxiety disorder or depression.

I had no idea how to help myself, who to turn to or what was wrong. I just knew that I had this intense fear of getting sick. It had no name, no label, there was no diagnosis made. I just lived with this physical feeling that I didn’t for a second attribute to ‘thoughts’ and I certainly didn’t realise that it was the cause of all my ongoing grief.

I went back and forth to Doctors asking why I felt sick and tired all the time, why I had lost my appetite, wasn’t sleeping properly, felt dizzy, got lots of headaches, was impatient, had no interest in anything, felt fearful for no good reason… you get what I’m talking about! Unfortunately, I wasn’t getting any answers. One Doctor wrote me a script for an anti-depressant (Zoloft) and told me to come back in 3 months. That was it. After talking with me for 5 to 10 minutes that was all he had to offer.

After being on this medication for 6 – 9 months (with no relief) I decided to look for a counsellor. I did the therapist hop for quite some time in a desperate search for answers and of course, a way out of this illness. I had bombed out again. I felt no relief, wasn’t getting any better, wasn’t getting any information so again, I passively resigned myself to the thought that there was nothing that could be done for me and went on to suffer for a few more years. Things were not looking good!

I decided to take matters into my own hands after years of getting nowhere. So, I scoured the library shelves and started a diploma in counseling & psychotherapy. I went on to study Mental Health and AOD (alcohol & other drugs) and studied extensively in neuroplasticity (the study of how the brain CAN and DOES change), brain dynamics and cognitive neuroscience. I learned a lot about myself during these years, what was wrong and how to recovery.

Finally, I had found the missing pieces that are absolutely vital for recovery and/or management: Cognitive therapy, Meditation and Behaviour therapy. Hooray, I was on my up from then on.

So this is the journey that lead me to become a counsellor and author. I now show others, just like you, that there is hope, no matter now bad you feel or where you have come from. Never give up because you can and will be well again. Trust me, trust yourself!

I have worked as a counsellor for many years in the area of anxiety disorders, depression and stress and has also worked in the aged care sector for 4 years as a counsellor/assistant nurse. I currently work in private practice and also run perinatal depression and anxiety support groups. 

I have had a great deal of success in treating both adults and adolescents living with anxiety disorders, depression, stress and relationship issues. My approach to therapy is planned specifically to each and every individual depending on their age, gender, personality, attitudes, beliefs and the many other aspects of a person’s life. I constantly remain open minded about all the different counselling approaches so the right one is used for a successful outcome. I prides myself on inspiring clients by educating them about mental illness and the theories behind exercises and ‘homework’.

So if you've had enough of living with mental illness or any other issues, please give me a call and see how I can help you today - 0410 138 196