Meet Paige

I am an Accredited Mental Health Social worker who has a Master’s degree in Social Work and Bachelors degree in Psychological Science. I have over 8 years’ experience working in various roles within sexual assault, family violence and homelessness. I have worked with a range of people including adults, parents, adolescents and children.

I have spent the last six years working as a sexual assault counsellor advocate for CASA (Centre Against Sexual Assault) seeing adult and children victim survivors and children who display harmful sexual behaviours. Prior to this I was a family violence recovery counsellor at the Centre Against Violence for over 12 months.

My mission is to empower people to move forward, reclaim a sense of control, and improve their overall wellbeing after experiencing a challenging life event. I am driven by a desire to help people reclaim themselves post trauma. This involves assisting them to rediscover their sense of self, rebuild their self-esteem, and reconnect with their personal identity outside the trauma.

I am dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment for people to explore feelings, process their experiences and gradually work through the effects of trauma.

My Credentials

I have over 7 years’ experience working as a trauma counsellor. I specialise in trauma focused therapeutic interventions and have extensive experience in working with Sexual Assault, Family Violence, Trauma, PTSD and complex PTSD.

Courses and training I have undertaken include:

Masters of Social Work– LaTrobe University

Bachelor of Psychological Science Latrobe University

Level 1- EMDR- Psychology Training

Level 2 – EMDR Adult & Children – Psychology Training

Intro to Synergetic Play Therapy – Lisa Dion

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy –Dr Russ Harris

Symbols & Sand Tray – Sydney Centre for Creative Change

My
Methods

I utilise various evidence-based techniques and modalities. My main methods include EMDR (a form of psychotherapy) and Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT).

EMDR stand for Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing. EMDR has somewhat gained popularity in recent years, especially since more research has supported its effectiveness in treating trauma related conditions such as PTSD, as well as other conditions such as depression, anxiety, grief and loss and phobias. Numerous studies have demonstrated its efficacy, and it is considered a valuable tool in the treatment of trauma. Additionally increased awareness and acceptance of alternative therapies have contributed to its growing use in a clinical setting.

In essence, EMDR helps the brain process and integrate traumatic memories and allows normal healing to resume. EMDR’s main aim is to reduce the emotional distress associated with disturbing memories. 

During an EMDR session the therapist guides the client through recalling traumatic experiences while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation (BLS), such as following the therapist finger movements with their eyes or listening to alternating sounds or tactile sensations. This process is believed to facilitate the brain’s natural healing mechanisms, allowing the traumatic memories to be reprocessed in a way that reduces their emotional intensity and associated distress. 

EMDR

Synergetic Play Therapy

I offer Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT) – a non-directive approach for your child to be able to integrate any unprocessed trauma using a play-based model.

SPT is a researched-informed model that blends the therapeutic power of play with nervous system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, physics, attachment, mindfulness, and therapist authenticity. It emphasizes the therapist-child connection to promote healing and growth with children who have experienced trauma or developmental challenges.

SPT posits that the therapist’s ability to engage in mindfulness and model regulation of their own nervous system is the foundation for clients to learn how to manage their own nervous system.

By integrating mind-body approaches, many parents report noticeable improvements in their child's behavior and emotional regulation. Parents have noted that their child gained a greater sense of self-confidence, agency and connection with themselves and others, as well as improvements in their child's ability to express themselves verbally.  Through SPT Children and their families also gain insight into how trauma affects the brain and nervous system and it provides families with practical strategies for supporting their child's healing and recovery. 

All modalities and approaches I use are tailored to specific needs of each individual client.

‘The fastest way to heal trauma is to create environments of safety and belonging instead of separation and anxiety’

- Mastin Kipp

  • Provide a safe and warm therapeutic environment.

  • Build meaningful and purposeful therapeutic relationships. Trauma survivors often struggle with trust, so building a strong therapeutic alliance is crucial.

  • To be my authentic self as a therapist in the counselling process.

As a trauma therapist
I seek to:

  • Adapt therapeutic strategies and approaches to the person, everyone is unique with individual experiences.

  • See the person not the problem. By seeing the person, we acknowledge their feelings, struggles, and context.