We grieve that which we have valued very much and then lose. Dealing with loss is a very individual, mostly private, and even at times, lonely experience. I have worked as a loss and grief counselor for many years, and for 13 of those years, I was a bereavement counselor in palliative care. I know that those experiencing loss need understanding, support, patience, and acknowledgment in a safe and non-judgmental environment. And I know that grief has no timeframe and that grief takes as long as it takes. Not only do we grieve when someone close to us dies we also grieve for other losses. For example, the Covid pandemic has been a time of loss and grief. The loss of lives, as well as loss of lifestyles, has had an impact on many. While for some who are grieving, having their emotions validated and explained provides clarity after just one session, for others who are feeling overwhelmed and experiencing great sadness and aloneness and finding it is a struggle to get through each day, additional sessions may be required. I also provide hypnotherapy on request. As a professional member of the Australian Hypnotherapy Association and the Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists, I have been practicing hypnotherapy for over two years. Hypnotherapy utilises the heightened awareness of the hypnotic state to help a person focus on a problem more deeply. During the hypnotherapy session, a person becomes deeply relaxed and is guided through a process to induce a trance-like state that helps them focus their minds and respond more readily to suggestions. Hypnotherapy has had success with people experiencing anxiety and depression. When dealing with grief and loss, hypnotherapy helps create a state of deep relaxation, which allows access to the subconscious mind, and can help to teach the brain to focus on the positives shared with others rather than on the sadness of grief. Illustrated Projective Cards is another therapeutic tool that I have had success with. Illustrated Projective Cards is a method filled with imagination and creativity that promotes very precise and focused results that provide lasting, life-changing insights. I am also a Certified Quit Smoking Coach. When it's so easy to find information on how to quit smoking, you may ask, 'why would anyone want a quit smoking coach?' The fact is that most tobacco users need a coach because quitting smoking is much more than just knowing what to do. It's about helping the smoker discover how to move from knowing to doing. While the guidelines on how to quit smoking are similar for almost everyone, the barriers that hold each person back from quitting are unique and personal. As the person's quit smoking coach, I provide the backup needed to break through these barriers.

Counselling & Gestalt Psychotherapy.