Brave Therapy™ is a private psychotherapy and counselling practice in Woollahra, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. I work in person and online with people across Australia.
My approach is integrative. I bring together psychodynamic psychotherapy, somatic psychotherapy, EMDR, Brainspotting and Deep Brain Reorienting. I also draw on nervous-system-based approaches, including the Safe and Sound Protocol.
I combine academic knowledge with the body’s deep wisdom, all held within the therapeutic relationship.
I specialise in complex trauma and c-PTSD, attachment and relational difficulties, chronic illness, and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
How I work
Psychodynamic psychotherapy explores how earlier experiences shape the way we feel, relate and respond in the present. Some patterns are conscious. Others sit outside our awareness. Therapy helps us understand them with curiosity and compassion.
Somatic psychotherapy brings the body into this work. We pay attention to sensation, breath, movement and the state of the nervous system.
This matters because trauma does not live only in our memories. It can appear as a body that remains braced long after danger has passed. It can show up as startle, numbness, dissociation, pain or deep exhaustion.
The talking still happens. The body is simply not left out of the conversation.
When appropriate, I also draw on EMDR, Brainspotting and Deep Brain Reorienting. These approaches work in different ways. Each can support the processing of traumatic experiences that continue to feel present in the mind and body.
I may also use the Safe and Sound Protocol to support nervous-system regulation. This can be particularly helpful when the nervous system is sensitive, easily overwhelmed or frequently moves into fight, flight, freeze or shutdown.
There is no single method that suits everyone. My approach is shaped around the person, what they bring and what feels manageable. The work is collaborative and carefully paced.
What I work with
- Complex trauma and complex PTSD (c-PTSD)
- PTSD and traumatic experiences
- Attachment and relational trauma
- Relationship and interpersonal difficulties
- Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), including functional seizures
- Chronic illness and the impact of living with ongoing symptoms
- Dissociation, numbness and shutdown
- Anxiety and depression
- Difficulties with trust, boundaries and emotional regulation
- Long-standing patterns that have not shifted with other approaches
My training and background
I have worked in mental health for more than twenty years. This includes six years at South Pacific Private, first as a therapist and family therapist, and later as Program Director. Earlier roles include the Wesley Eating Disorder Unit, the AIDS Council of NSW, the Wayside Chapel and the Black Dog Institute.
I am a Clinical Lecturer in the Trauma Informed Psychotherapy Program at the University of Sydney. My psychodynamic training is grounded in the Conversational Model, a trauma-informed and relational approach to psychotherapy.
I completed my PhD at the University of Sydney. My research explored the lived experience of FND and the role of attachment in FND. I also hold a Master of Science in Medicine in Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy.
My understanding of the body has also been shaped by yoga and martial arts. I am a trained yoga teacher, and my martial arts experience has given me an embodied understanding of movement, groundedness and the body’s instinctive responses.
My additional training includes:
- Somatic Experiencing®
- EMDR Levels I and II
- Brainspotting Levels I and II
- Deep Brain Reorienting
- Adult Attachment Interview coding through the University of California, Berkeley
- Co-regulating Touch
- Safe and Sound Protocol
- Rest and Restore Protocol
I am a Clinical Member and Accredited Supervisor with PACFA, a Clinical Member of ANZAP, and a registrant on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. I am also a member of EMDRAA and EMDRIA.
Where I see people
In person in Woollahra. My practice is at 143 Edgecliff Road, Woollahra NSW 2025. It is close to Bondi Junction, Paddington, Double Bay, Bondi and Randwick.
Online across Australia. Sessions take place by secure video. This can be especially helpful for people living in areas where specialised trauma therapy is harder to access.
Sessions are 50 minutes, or you can book extended sessions for SE or EMDR. I work in English and Hungarian.
Common questions
Do I need a referral?
No. You can contact me directly. Some people are referred by a GP, psychiatrist or neurologist. I am happy to work alongside other practitioners involved in your care.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Much of this work can be done effectively online. Some people prefer the therapy room. Others feel safer and more comfortable in their own space. Some use a combination of both.
How long does therapy take?
It depends on what you bring and what you want from therapy. Some people come for a defined piece of work over several months. Others work for longer, especially with complex trauma and attachment difficulties.
This work needs to be carefully paced. We can talk about that at the beginning and review it as we go.
Do I have to talk about everything that happened?
No. Trauma therapy does not require you to describe every detail.
We begin by building safety, trust and the capacity to stay present. We work at a pace that respects your nervous system and your readiness.
What is the difference between a psychotherapist, a counsellor and a psychologist?
The titles overlap, and the differences are not always clear. Training, experience and therapeutic approaches vary within each profession.
You can read more in How to Find the Right Therapist in Australia.
Related reading
- The Body Speaks: How Our Physical Sensations Shape Our Emotional World
- Co-Regulation, Somatic Psychotherapy and Trauma Therapy in Australia
- Fascia and Trauma: Why the Body Belongs in the Mental Health Conversation
- Six Simple Ways to Regulate Your Nervous System
Book a session
Appointments can be booked directly online, in person in Woollahra or by secure video anywhere in Australia.
