About Anna

Areas of expertise 

I bring a broad range of experience and qualifications to my counselling and psychotherapy practice, and devote considerable time to furthering my knowledge and skills.

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​My clinical areas of interest include disordered eating and eating disorders, specialising in treatment for binge eating disorder and body image concerns. My passion for assisting people struggling with these issues led to seven years work with Body Positive Australia in Melbourne, co-facilitating the fabulous RIPE (Recovery is Possible for Everyone) group therapy program for adults struggling with binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa.  

I am a Health at Every Size® (HAES) advocate, and offer a non-dieting and weight-neutral approach to health and wellbeing.

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I also work with clients’ trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, low self esteem (and more!).  My therapeutic style is warm, sensitive and non-judgemental.  I'm passionate about helping people to get in touch with their emotions using evidence-based modalities such as Emotion Focused Therapy.  I believe it's vital to learn to understand and tolerate difficult emotions such as shame and sadness, and to heal overwhelming emotional responses such as chronic anxiety or anger.

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Why do I work as a counsellor and psychotherapist?

I chose counselling as my career as a result of my own life changing experiences working with a psychotherapist.  My scientific background provides me with a strong grounding in research and evidence-based practice, while my empathic nature allows me to provide intuitive and sensitive counselling.  I find it deeply rewarding to work with clients and be part of their journey toward greater self-understanding and fulfilment.

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Qualifications and training

I hold multiple postgraduate counselling qualifications, and I am registered with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).  As a registered counsellor, I work in accordance with the code of ethics of these associations.

My qualifications include:

• Master of Social Science (Human Services - Counselling), Swinburne University 

• Graduate Diploma of Genetic Counselling, The University of Melbourne

• Doctor of Philosophy (Pathology), The University of Melbourne

• Bachelor of Science (Hons), The University of Queensland

• ACT training, levels 1, 2, 3 and ACT trauma training (Russ Harris & Robyn Wasler)

• Fully accredited Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) practitioner via the Australian Institute for Emotion-focused Therapy (AIEFT)
   

Professional affiliations

• Member of the Australian Counselling Association (MACA)

• Member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)

• Member of the Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED)

• Member of Eating Disorders Victoria (EDV)

• Registered with Health at Every Size (HAES)

• Member of the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH)

• Member of HAES Australia

• Member of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA)

• Member of the Australian Institute of Emotion Focused Therapy (AIEFT)