Human beings are shaped by their environments, and healing depends on the environments we intentionally create.
This simple principle lies at the heart of the way I understand psychological change. It has been supported across decades of research in developmental psychology, attachment theory, neuroscience and psychotherapy, even though different approaches use different language to describe it.
The Sanctuary Approach is my attempt to bring those ideas together in a way that feels coherent, practical, and with deep respect for the power of the human mind and body to heal itself,
given the right conditions to do so.
The way we work together is shaped by you — your history, your relationships, your nervous system, and your unique way of being in the world.
Therapy is not about me as the “expert” applying interventions to fix you. You don’t need to be fixed, but you may need help becoming unstuck. I see my role as helping create the specific conditions that allow meaningful and lasting change to unfold.
Many people come to therapy already understanding themselves remarkably well. They may know why they think, feel or respond the way they do. They may have a clear vision of the change they want to create, along with the insight, motivation and skills to make that change happen, yet still find themselves caught in the same familiar patterns.
That's because lasting change involves more than intellectual insight, effort and skill. It requires new emotional and bodily experiences through which something different can become deeply felt, rather than merely understood.
Rather than rushing towards solutions or strategies, we begin by slowing down and becoming curious. Together, we make sense of the patterns your mind and body have developed to protect you, understand why they have made sense, and gently create opportunities for new emotional learning. Therapy unfolds at a pace that feels safe enough for real change, rather than pushing ahead before you are ready.
If this approach resonates, you’re invited to reach out.
Different therapeutic containers
I believe that healing is something that naturally emerges under the right conditions. The therapeutic relationship is one of those conditions, but it is not the only one. Time, pacing, rhythm, environment and opportunities for integration can all influence how therapeutic work unfolds.
For this reason, I offer a range of therapeutic containers. Together, we'll consider which approach is most likely to create the conditions that best support your individual goals, nervous system and stage of therapy.
Individual telehealth therapy:
After many years in practice, I have come to believe that the structure of therapy matters just as much as the techniques we use. For this reason, I now offer 75-minute sessions as my standard appointment length.
This change reflects my growing understanding of how meaningful therapeutic change unfolds. While traditional 50-minute sessions can certainly be valuable, I have found that they often require us to interrupt the natural arc of the therapeutic process just as it is beginning to deepen.
A longer session allows us to slow down, establish safety, explore what emerges, and gently integrate the experience without feeling hurried. It creates the space for the work to unfold naturally, while recognising that meaningful change often develops across many sessions rather than needing to be achieved within a single appointment.
The additional time is particularly valuable when working with approaches such as EMDR and Resource Therapy, allowing the process to unfold in accordance with your nervous system rather than feeling constrained by the clock.
Fees and rebates
Standard session (75 minutes): $310
With a valid Mental Health Care Plan, the current Medicare rebate is $149.05
Rebates for Chronic Condition Management Plans and private health insurance may also be available, depending on your individual circumstances.
Sanctuary Intensives - A different way of working:
While regular ongoing therapy is the right approach for many people, there are times when a longer, more immersive format can create opportunities that simply aren't possible within the constraints of a standard session.
A Sanctuary Intensive provides dedicated, uninterrupted time to work deeply with a particular issue or therapeutic goal. Rather than stopping just as important work begins to unfold, an intensive allows us to follow the natural rhythm of the therapeutic process—with time to prepare, explore, process, integrate and reflect.
Each Sanctuary Intensive is thoughtfully designed around your individual goals, therapeutic needs and readiness for deeper work. Depending on your goals, this may involve approaches such as EMDR, Resource Therapy (parts work), attachment-focused work, or simply creating the time and space for meaningful therapeutic exploration.
An intensive isn't simply more therapy. It creates the spaciousness for deeper therapeutic work to unfold naturally, without repeatedly having to pause and pick up the thread from one appointment to the next.
Intensives may be particularly helpful if you:
find it difficult to commit to regular therapy due to work , family or other life obligations
would like to make meaningful progress over a shorter period of time
feel that weekly or fortnightly sessions lose momentum between appointments
are working through a specific traumatic experience or significant life transition
would benefit from having the time to stay with important material, rather than feeling rushed by the clock.
are travelling from interstate or overseas
Because every intensive is tailored to the individual, there is no fixed format. We'll begin by discussing your goals and considering whether an intensive is the right fit for you. If so, I'll develop a personalised recommendation outlining the structure, timing and fee estimate.
Where appropriate, eligible Medicare or private health rebates may be applicable to components of this work.
What might a Sanctuary Intensive look like?
Every Sanctuary Intensive is individually designed, so no two are exactly alike. The examples below simply illustrate some of the different ways we might structure the work, depending on your goals, circumstances and therapeutic needs.
Focused Online Intensive
A two-day telehealth intensive designed to create therapeutic momentum while allowing time for rest and integration.
Example structure
Two-hour therapy session (morning)
Extended break for rest, reflection and integration
Two-hour therapy session (afternoon)
Two-hour follow-up integration session the following day or later that week
Blended Intensive
Preparation sessions via telehealth, followed by an extended in-person therapy day and a subsequent online integration session.
Immersive Sanctuary Experience
A bespoke in-person therapeutic experience combining extended therapy sessions with carefully curated opportunities for nervous system regulation, reflection and integration. Depending on your goals, this may include accommodation and restorative experiences that support the therapeutic process. For those choosing an in-person intensive, the experience is likely to be based in Kingscliff on the beautiful Northern Rivers coast. I intentionally chose to build my practice here because I believe that place matters. Stepping away from the demands, interruptions and familiar routines of daily life, and spending time in a naturally calming environment, can itself become part of the conditions that support rest, reflection and meaningful therapeutic work.
If a Sanctuary Intensive resonates with you, you are invited to contact me directly to explore options.
How I work:
The Sanctuary Approach
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do you work with?
I currently work with adults (18+) who are able to attend therapy independently.
What kinds of issues do you work with?
While diagnoses can sometimes provide a helpful framework, my work is centred around understanding patterns in how you feel, relate, and respond to the world.
Some people seek therapy following an overwhelming or traumatic event, or because they have been diagnosed with PTSD, Complex PTSD, or another clinical condition. Others come simply because they feel anxious, disconnected, emotionally exhausted, or trapped in patterns they can't seem to change.
In my experience, psychological distress isn't determined solely by whether an experience would be recognised as a major trauma. Many of the beliefs, expectations and protective strategies that shape our lives developed for good reason. They develop gradually through repeated experiences of disconnection, misunderstanding, criticism, shame or emotional invalidation. For some people—including many late-diagnosed neurodivergent adults—these experiences may arise not from a single traumatic event, but from years of trying to navigate a world that didn't fully understand or accommodate the way their nervous system worked.
Whether you've experienced a single overwhelming event or years of more subtle relational challenges, the patterns that emerge are no less worthy of understanding. If you recognise yourself in what I've described, I'd be pleased to hear from you.
What happens in the first session?
The first session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know each other and to gently explore what has brought you to therapy.
I allow 75 minutes for to ensure that our time together does not feel rushed, however this is only the beginning of us getting to know each other so there’s no pressure to “tell your whole story” or to have everything clearly worked out in our first meeting. We move at a pace that feels manageable, and I will guide the process so that you feel supported and not overwhelmed.
It’s also a chance for you to get a sense of how I work, ask any questions you may have for me, and gauge whether my approach feels like a good fit for you. A first meeting does not oblige you to continue if it does not feel right.
How can I get the most out of telehealth sessions?
Whilst I love working in person, I am currently only able to offer telehealth for my standard sessions. Telehealth can be a very effective and flexible way of working, particularly when you are able to create a space that feels private, comfortable, and free from interruption. Many people find it much more convenient than juggling the logistics of travelling to in-person sessions. It also allows me to welcome clients from anywhere in Australia.
If possible, I recommend:
choosing a quiet, private environment where you feel safe to speak openly
using a stable internet connection and a device that allows you to sit comfortably (rather than holding your phone)
allowing yourself a few moments before and after the session to arrive and settle
These small considerations can make a meaningful difference to how supported and present you feel in the work.
How often should I have sessions?
This can vary depending on your circumstances and what you’re hoping to get from therapy.
Many people begin with weekly or fortnightly sessions, as consistency helps to build momentum and allows the work to deepen over time. From there, we can adjust the frequency together in a way that feels sustainable and supportive. If you feel that you might get more out of a more focused block of therapy over a shorter time period you may like to consider a Sanctuary Intensive.
How long will I need to be in therapy for?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this.
The work I offer is depth-oriented and tends to unfold over time, rather than being focused on short-term symptom relief. Some people find benefit in shorter periods of work, while others choose to engage more longer-term as they continue to explore and integrate different aspects of their experience.
We will regularly reflect together on how the work is progressing and what feels right for you.
Do I need a referral?
You do not need a referral to attend privately.
If you would like to access Medicare rebates, you will need a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP or psychiatrist.
Do you offer bulk billing or work with third-party funding?
I am not able to offer bulk billing.
My practice is primarily designed for privately funded therapy, which allows me the flexibility to tailor treatment to each person's individual needs and to offer a range of therapeutic formats, including extended sessions and intensives.
I am happy to consider some third-party funded referrals on a case-by-case basis, particularly for clients located in Victoria, where I am registered to provide services under relevant schemes.
At this stage, I am not registered to provide services through New South Wales insurance or victim support schemes (including NSW Workers Compensation, CTP or Victims Support), and am therefore currently unable to accept referrals under these programs.
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a therapeutic approach that helps the brain and body process experiences that have become “stuck” or unresolved.
Rather than focusing only on talking or analysing, EMDR works more directly with how memories, emotions, and bodily responses are stored and experienced. Over time, this can allow previously overwhelming or confusing experiences to be integrated in a way that feels more manageable and less activating.
Although EMDR is often associated with trauma and PTSD, it can be helpful for a wide range of experiences, particularly where patterns feel persistent or difficult to shift.
It’s important to know that EMDR is not a quick fix.
In my work, it is used thoughtfully and at a pace that feels safe and manageable, with careful preparation and support along the way.
If you’d like to learn more, you can explore further information and videos on the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) website.
Is this the right therapy for me?
The Sanctuary Approach tends to suit people who are interested in understanding themselves more deeply, rather than focusing only on symptom relief or quick strategies.
You might find this work resonates if you:
notice recurring patterns in your thoughts, emotions, or relationships
feel that previous therapy has helped at a surface level, but hasn’t quite reached the root
are open to slowing down and exploring your inner world with care
are curious about how past experiences may still be shaping your present
This work requires a certain level of stability and capacity for reflection, so it may not be the right fit if you are currently in crisis or needing more immediate, structured support.
If you’re unsure, you’re welcome to reach out — we can briefly explore whether this approach feels like a good fit.