Welcome to
Sage Counselling
Welcome, I'm Cheryl.
H.H Dip (A.Th), B.Th, GDip Counselling (Clinical Supervision), MACA
As a qualified, experienced, registered counsellor, the process of helping people work through their challenges and find meaning in life is something I am passionate about and deeply value. A significant amount of recent research supports that the relationship between the counsellor and client is key to successful therapy. I seek to establish an empathetic, trusting relationship, which provides the context for a deeper understanding of oneself and the difficulties being faced. There is no magic recipe that works for all people. In each new therapeutic relationship, I carefully work to adapt counselling to their particular needs, and desired outcomes.
I practice with a trauma informed, integrative approach to counselling that draws from a foundation of existential-humanistic/person-centered therapy, strengths-based support and I also utilise other types of therapies and techniques in the counselling process such as mindfulness and meditation. The integrative approach combines different therapeutic tools and techniques to fit the needs of the individual client. The existential-humanistic foundation keeps me grounded in a way that promotes values, a good therapeutic relationship, authenticity, genuineness, empathy, and a commitment to a deeper understanding of each person’s experience. In addition, I am also an expressive art therapist. Expressive arts therapy combines counselling and the creative process to promote emotional growth and healing.
My professional and personal experience inform all the work I do with clients, and I continue to undertake further study and professional development to enhance my professional and personal life. My own experiences of working through trauma and difficult experiences have also informed my passionate response to walking along side others in the counselling space. I find it a privilege to support anyone of any age, gender or cultural identity, and to be invited into their story, their life, in such a trusting context.
I desire to empower people to be the best versions of themselves possible, to be their true self, and to experience a better quality of life regardless of what may be perceived as or are limitations.
The privilege of a life time is to become who you truly are.
Carl Jung
A compassionate, holistic and integrated approach to therapy for individuals, families or groups.
Person-Centered Therapy
Person-Centered therapy is a conversation-based psychotherapy, founded on an insight that it is the therapeutic relationship itself can bring about healing. Extensive research has shown the effectiveness of this approach, and Person-Centered work now forms the foundation of the Humanistic therapies. As a Person-Centered counsellor, I build authentic relationships with my clients, based on genuine communication and empathy. Our sessions can be less structured than other types of therapies as we can allow the present moment awareness to guide the process. In using this approach you can discover that within you is everything you need to guide the healing process. You are the expert of your life.My goal as a Person-Centered counsellor is to recognise what is needed for your journey to unfold naturally, and to assist you in discovering your own capacity for insight, self-direction and personal transformation.
Humanistic / Existential Therapy
As a humanistic/existential counsellor I can support you in developing a stronger and healthier sense of self. The humanistic approach focuses on self-growth that leads to actualisation. This includes exploring and developing your creativity, freedom, strengths, spirituality, and values. Part of the healing process is to take personal responsibility, discover freedom of choice and self-mastery, and these are essential components of a humanistic experience. Existential counselling provides a constructive way to work through and face the difficult questions we have about life by exploring the themes of mortality, personal meaning, freedom and responsibility, you’ll discover the impact these themes are having on your behaviour and their place in the tensions you feel. Why am I here? What is my purpose? Who am I? What's the point? These are often the ‘big’ questions we ask ourselves, and they often emerge as we navigate a crisis, face our mortality, or arrive at a turning point in our lives.
My goal as a humanistic existential counsellor is to offer you a safe experience that is genuine, non-judgmental, and empathic; to hold space for you to freely and fully express yourself and explore options. I also support you in finding meaning in a genuine and compassionate way by fostering creativity, kindness, authenticity, and free-will, guiding you in the process of transformation. You learn to make more thoughtful decisions about how to live instead of letting outside events determine your feelings, thoughts and behaviours.
Expressive Art Therapy
It is a misconception that expressive art therapy is like art lessons, or only for people that are creative or artistic. Other misconceptions are that expressive art therapy is just for children or that anyone can facilitate art therapy because they have artistic qualities. In addition, there are often questions like, “Is my therapist an artist or a counsellor” or “is the therapist going to judge my art?”
The good news is the above are all misconceptions and misunderstood meanings of the expressive art therapy process. Expressive arts therapy combines counselling and the creative process to promote emotional growth and healing. Expressive arts therapy draws from a variety of art forms using art materials and methods for therapeutic purpose.
Within a trauma informed approach, expressive arts therapy is focused on supporting self-regulation and co-regulation. It is often used to help people identify and support the body’s experience of distress. Expressive arts therapy is also used to establish and support a sense of safety, positive attachment, and healthier social relationships. It can be used to support strengths and improve resilience. Expressive arts therapy supports and respects the individual’s preferences for self-expression, particularly of trauma narratives and difficult experiences going on to providing meaning-making ways to imagine new narratives post-trauma.
As an expressive art therapist, I integrate the other counselling approaches and incorporate art therapy into sessions to explore issues and themes and help create new healthy patterns in your life. I release you from having to perform and no experience is required. Through artistic expression, inner resources are identified and strengthened to help you overcome obstacles and move towards a better quality of life.
Guided Drawing Therapy
Based on the training, teaching, and experience of Cornelia Elbrecht (Healing Trauma with Guided Drawing: A Sensorimotor Art Therapy Approach to Bilateral Body Mapping) Bilateral Guided Drawing is a body-focused approach. You draw with both hands and eyes closed as you focus on your felt sense. Physical pain, tension, and emotions are expressed without words through bilateral drawing and often scribble movements. You will then, with an almost massage-like approach, find movements that soothe your pain, discharge inner tension and emotions, and repair boundary breaches. Jung archetypal shapes allow me as a counsellor to safely structure the experience in a nonverbal way. Guided drawing art therapy is a unique and self-empowering application of somatic experiencing--it is both body-focused and trauma-informed in approach--and assists clients who have experienced traumatic events to actively respond to overwhelming experiences until they feel less helpless and overwhelmed and are then able to repair their memories of the past.
Counselling Supervision & Mentoring
Counselling supervision for counsellors happens within a contractual, professional relationship. It is facilitated to specifically meet the learning needs and development of a counsellor or those who work as case managers, pastoral carers, or other roles within the community services sector. Counselling supervision provides a structured, professional relationship which develops skills, supports learning, and improves client outcomes.
As an experienced qualified and registered counsellor and registered supervisor with the Australian Counselling Association, I currently provide counselling supervision and mentoring to counsellors both new to practice to the more advanced. As a supervisor I prefer to work on a one-to-one basis and I can either see you face-to-face in my practice, by telephone, or via zoom. I use an integrated model for supervision, utilising the modalities and therapies I use in my own counselling practice. I ensure supervision is appropriate for the supervisee, whilst doing all that is necessary to meet professional standards.
My goal is to confidentially support you in your work with clients generally, and any issues that you may have with your ongoing clients, workplace, or personal life. I also look at how we can improve your knowledge base so that you can experience growth in your chosen area of practice. I will also keep you accountable in terms of the ethical and legal aspects of practicing as a counsellor. But most of all I will hold safe space for you to be authentic, transparent, and courageous about what experiences you are having professionally and personally that make impact your own well-being or that of your clients. Self-care as a counsellor is important for your own well-being and mental health, and is crucial for the prevention of burnout or vicarious trauma.
Workshops & Training For Workplaces
Workshop training and groupwork has an enormous amount of potential to create a supportive workplace for leaders and employees alike. Staff across any organisation, big or small, may gain access to training and/or experiences that they wouldn’t have otherwise known about or sought out for themselves. Management, leaders, and all employees who feel appreciated and challenged through training and workshop opportunities may feel more satisfaction toward their jobs which is a “win” for everyone. The following workshops can be provided in your workplace by Sage Counselling:
- Workplace Mental Health Training
- Self-Care
- Expressive Arts Therapeutic Workshops
- Well-Being for Workplace Employees
- Well-Being for Leaders and Managers
- Domestic Violence Awareness and Training
- Respectful Relationships and Boundaries in the Workplace
(Workshops can be created and/or adapted to suit your place of business).
Booking your session
In Person, Online (Zoom) or Phone Sessions Available
General Counselling
60 Minutes $110
90 Minutes $160
Expressive Art Therapies
60 Minutes $125
90 Minutes $165
Email: cheryl@sagecounselling.com.au
Phone: 0412 329 213
If you need to cancel your appointment please provide 24 hours notice to avoid cancellation fee (full cost of session) unless unforeseen circumstances have arisen.
