Honest Conversations
in an Unreal World
I invite conversations about how you're living, what you value, and whether your life feels true to the deeper pattern of who you are becoming.
Sometimes the parts of ourselves we reject quietly shape our lives.
My approach combines counselling with practical coaching strategies, offered as a free exploration into purpose, meaning and what makes your life worth living.
Hi, I'm Zoe. I'm interested in your unique experience of life and what brings meaning. I bring lived stories of hope, struggle and resilience, including my own; I've lived through plenty of failures and successes along the way. I don't see our conversations as only managing symptoms or fixing what's broken. It's rather a space to ask deeper questions: what do you value? Does your life feel chosen and decided, or inherited? Do you feel buried beneath the expectations of others?
In my practice, I combine my studies of philosophy, psychology, lived experience and a Master of Counselling. With a professional background in youth crime and complex social work, I've seen that change rarely comes from endless talk. I value dynamic, honest conversation over rehearsed assessments or frameworks. Rather than offering answers, I aim to meet people where they are, understanding their story as they find their own way forward. I want our conversations to be genuine and unfiltered.
Our minds have a way of tying themselves in knots. Together, we'll work to untangle them.
Drawing on Jungian psychology and the mythic tradition of storytelling is the idea that each person carries a unique pattern, a "genius" within. My approach treats your struggles not as problems to eliminate but as doorways. The places you're stuck often point straight at what matters most.
I don't see people as problems to be solved. Effective counselling should be practical, honest, short-term and individualised focused on meaningful change rather than endless reflection. We make sense once our story makes sense.
How we respond to uncertainty, suffering and change often reveals more about who we are than periods of comfort. Rather than seeing adversity as something to overcome, I'm curious about what it asks of us, what it reveals, and who it invites us to become.
Freediving has influenced this perspective. Beneath the surface there is little room for force or control. Progress comes through patience, trust, surrender and presence. Learning to remain calm in discomfort often changes not only how we dive, but how we move through life. Those principles quietly inform the way I approach my conversations.
Blog exploring meaning, connection and purpose..
"We don't wait for life to provide meaning; we create it through how we live."
01What happens in the first session?
We'll spend time getting to know each other, what's brought you here, what you're hoping to get out of it, and how I work. No pressure to have it all figured out.
02Is counselling confidential?
Yes. What you share stays private, with the standard legal exceptions around risk of serious harm to yourself or others. I'll explain these clearly at the outset.
03What's the difference between counselling and coaching?
Counselling tends to focus on understanding and working through difficult experiences, thoughts and emotions. Coaching is focused more on goal setting, motivation, practical steps. Most people benefit from a blend of both.
04How long are sessions?
Standard sessions run for 50 minutes, billed at the hourly rate. Longer or shorter sessions can be arranged.
05Do you offer online appointments?
Yes, all sessions are online, so you can access support from anywhere. Face to face appointments are available by request.
06Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed to book. As counselling isn't currently eligible for Medicare rebate, a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan isn't required either.
07How much does it cost?
Sessions are AU$90 per hour. Sliding scale available.
08Can I claim rebates?
Not through Medicare at present. Counsellors aren't yet included under the Better Access scheme, though the ACA is actively advocating for this to change. Some private health extras policies do cover counselling; it's worth checking your specific fund.
09What if I'm not sure counselling is right for me?
That's what the free 15-minute consultation is for: a friendly chat to see if I'm the right fit for you.