The Trauma Therapist

Welcome, I’m Sage

I am a dedicated Counsellor and psychotherapist committed to accompanying you on your path to healing from trauma. My practice centres on holistic healing, tailored to address the complex effects of trauma on your mind, body, and spirit.

I integrate top-down (cognitive) approaches, which help you make sense of thoughts and beliefs, and bottom-up (somatic) methods that work with the body and nervous system to release stored trauma.

I specialise in assisting people who have experienced developmental trauma such as abuse, neglect, or instability during upbringing, relational trauma from interpersonal relationships, and intergenerational trauma that often passes down through family lines. These experiences often leave deep scars, leaving us question our identity and making it difficult to feel worthy, lovable and whole.

My Therapeutic Values

In my therapeutic practice, I uphold core values that are essential to creating a healing environment and supporting you through your journey.

Safety: I prioritise creating a safe and supportive environment where you can freely explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences without fear of judgment or harm. This includes safeguarding your physical, emotional, and psychological safety.

Trust: Building trust is fundamental. I strive to foster a relationship based on honesty, transparency, and reliability, ensuring you feel confident that I will always act in your best interests and maintain your confidentiality.

Collaboration: I view therapy as a partnership where we work together as equals. I respect your expertise on your own life and actively involve you in setting goals for therapy and making decisions about your treatment.

Empathy: Understanding and sharing your feelings is crucial to me. I commit to actively listening, reflecting your experiences accurately, and showing genuine care and concern.

Respect: I honor your autonomy, dignity, and worth as an individual. This means valuing your beliefs, values, and cultural background, ensuring that you feel respected and valued in our interactions.

Authenticity: Being genuine and real in our relationship is important to me. I am committed to being honest, maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, and ensuring that my words and actions are congruent.

Growth: I believe in your capacity for positive change and growth. I aim to foster hope, support your efforts to overcome challenges, and celebrate your progress.

My Approach to Trauma

At the core of my practice is deep respect for the connection between ourselves and our relationships with others. Initiating therapy often marks the first true moment of feeling seen, heard and validated.

In our sessions, you will find a safe and supportive environment where we explore the significant impact your past has on your present.

We focus on identifying and altering enduring patterns that influence your life, enhancing your autonomy, and increasing your resilience while deepening your connections with others and yourself.

This work is a profound journey towards feeling whole, where together, we address the grief that accompanies trauma, paving the way for empowerment and recovery.

My holistic approach deepens your understanding of trauma and its effects on you, addresses both conscious and unconscious thinking patterns, and enhances nervous system regulation — aimed at integrating the mind, body, and spirit.

This journey is about reclaiming wholeness by reconnecting with your spirit and authentically experiencing and expressing the profound joy and love available to you.

Credentials

I am a integrative therapist using evidence-based techniques tailored to your unique needs. These may include:

  • Attachment-Based Therapy
  • Compassion Therapy (Compassionate Inquiry and Compassion-Focused Therapy)
  • Emotion Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
  • Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Mindfulness
  • Person-Centred Therapy (PCT)
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Somatic (Sensorimotor Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Embodied Therapy, Polyvagal Exercises)

Professional Degrees

  • Master of Counselling & Psychotherapy (MCounsPsychTh) – Australian College of Applied Professions
  • Bachelor of Psychology (BPsychSc) – Griffith University

Published Research