• Why did I become a counsellor?

    My path to becoming a counsellor was a long and challenging one. My original career plan was to become a lawyer, because I dreamed of doing community legal work and helping people out of difficult spots and challenges. I decided to do a double degree and add psychology to my workload (I know, what an…

  • Using Creativity to Counteract Anxiety

    When it comes to managing anxiety, creativity is an underrated tool. Tapping into your creative side can help to soothe your anxiety and allow your mind to take a break when you’ve been running on a mental hamster wheel of rumination and fear. When we feel anxious, the amygdala in the left hemisphere of our…

  • Reassurance for parents of transgender kids.

    Parenting a teenager who is exploring their gender identity can be a rollercoaster. There are bound to be a lot of surprises, shocks and twists, and you can find yourself feeling totally unprepared for the task ahead of you. It’s easy to get caught up in providing support and care for your child and let…

  • Improving self-esteem to improve your life

    It’s astonishing how many personal and relationship issues flow back to self-esteem. More often than not, the way you feel about yourself, your belief in your own abilities and your own sense of self-worth is underneath the issue that’s bothering you. Low self-esteem can pop up in all kinds of contexts, and cause so many…

  • The reason why I don’t give my clients advice

    A lot of people seem to be stumped when I tell them that I don’t give my clients advice. Prospective clients will often ask “But if you won’t tell me what I should do, how can you help me?” It’s a fair question. If you’re in a dilemma, the best way for someone to assist…

  • You Can’t make someone change their behaviour (No matter how hard you try)

    I will often see clients who have come to counselling because they’re being impacted by someone else’s behaviour. Some examples of this include: These clients will show up to a counselling session with the question “How do I make them change?” Up until this point, their focus has been on trying to get the other…

  • Practice Values: Autonomy

    One of the key values of Fairy Wren Counselling is maintaining client autonomy. You have the right to make your own choices, without feeling like you’re being pressured or judged to do things in a way that doesn’t work for you. I aim to do my work as a counsellor in a way that respects…

  • How worrying impacts your life

    We all worry from time to time. When things become stressful, you’re facing unexpected change or trying to make a big decision, it’s typical to find yourself ruminating and worrying about what might happen down the track. These occasional worries don’t really have an impact on your life, and they can be an important part…

  • Why is it so hard to let go of anxiety?

    When I begin working with someone who is experiencing anxiety, the first question I like to ask is, “How long has this been going on for?” It’s pretty common for people to reach out for help when they’ve already been struggling with their anxiety for years, or even decades. They might have tried many different…

  • The freedom and frustration of non-monogamy

    When I ask clients why they chose to be non-monogamous, the answer I hear the most often is “Because it gives me so much freedom”. For many, non-monogamy is a way to place fewer boundaries and pressures on their intimate relationships. It gives them the option of having multiple relationships that are all fulfilling, rather…