Working with April

I believe that the foundation of effective counselling lies in a strong therapeutic relationship between counsellor and client. My goal is to provide a warm, safe, and supportive space, free from judgment, where you feel valued and understood. This environment fosters exploration, allowing you to challenge established patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving while cultivating personal growth and meaningful change.

Through collaboration, I aim to help you clarify your needs, understand yourself on a deeper level, and make empowered choices that align with your values and aspirations. Together, we can navigate the challenges in your life, working toward the changes you desire.

I hold a Diploma of Counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology and am dedicated to ongoing professional development. By regularly engaging in further training, I ensure my practice remains grounded in the most effective, relationship-centered approaches. A comprehensive list of my additional certifications and training is available at the bottom of this page.

My experience spans a variety of roles, including work in the charitable sector, facilitating workshops and courses, and running my private practice. My early career in mental health began with MOSH Australia (Minimisation of Suicide Harm), where I gained a solid foundation in addressing the diverse mental health challenges adults face in today’s complex world.

Since then, I have expanded my expertise, supporting clients with a wide range of issues, such as:

• Navigating relationship breakdowns and finding closure

• Managing family dynamics and difficulties with parents

• Coping with workplace and academic pressures

• Building self-esteem and confidence

• Overcoming feelings of stagnation or being ‘stuck’

• Understanding and recovering from affairs

• Exploring identity, sexuality, and self-expression

• Confidence building, including dating coaching

• Navigating ethical non-monogamy and polyamorous/multi-partnered relationships

• Establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries

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I work with clients from diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent communities, and aim to create an inclusive, affirming, and welcoming space for all.

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At this time, I exclusively work with privately paying clients, allowing me to provide highly personalized and flexible support. I also recognize the importance of financial accessibility, so I offer a concession rate for those who find the full fee challenging. The concession rate is available on a no-questions-asked basis, and you are welcome to use it whenever needed.

If you’re considering counselling but feel unsure or nervous about starting, I invite you to reach out. I’d be happy to explain the process, answer your questions, and help you decide if counselling is the right step for you.

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Additional Training: 

 

Sensate Focus: The Art & Science of Mindful Touch

The Institute for Sexual & Relationship Therapy & Training

Define Sensate Focus, its assumptions, & its

relation to mindfulness practice

Describe the Senate Focus hierarchy, & its

pacing and processing

Demonstrate Sensate Focus instructions and

positions via video

Identify common problems

Offer modification specific to diverse demographic& clinical populations

 

Sensate Focus in Sex Therapy and Sexual Medicine Workshop

The Institute for Sexual & Relationship Therapy & Training

Define Sensate Focus 1 (Basic Sensate Focus) and 2 (Advanced Sensate Focus)

Identify the different patient populations for which Sensate Focus 1 or 2 are appropriate

List the therapeutic attitude differences between Sensate Focus 1 and 2

Compare Sensate Focus 1 and 2 techniques

Apply Sensate Focus 2 techniques to a variety of patient populations

Critique a symptom-oriented versus a depth-oriented approach to treating sexual concerns. 

 

Alternative Love styles: Working with Polyamorous Clients

How therapists can prepare to work with people who are exploring polyamory 

Introduction to the challenges & benefits of non-monogamous relationship structures

Definitions of common terms

How to apply what you already know about doing therapy with individuals and couples to non-monogamous relationship structures.

 

When The Kinks Won’t Sync: Working With Mismatched Desires In Relationships

Pink Therapy

Navigating conversations between partners

Exploring options 

Stepping away & moving forward

 

Authority Transfer / Power Exchange Relationships

Pink Therapy

A robust definition of power exchange/ authority transfer relationships including case examples of different relationship structures and patterns that fall in this category.

How to harness these relationship structures to help the clients address other challenges

 

AVERT Family Violence Basics (AVERTB)

Australian Institute of Social Relations

Key units:

Definitions and legal frameworks

Family violence myths

Prevalence

Integrated and multi-collaborative service responses

Family violence dynamics

Impacts on children

 

AVERT Safety and Screening (AVERTSS)

Australian Institute of Social Relations

Key units:

The Family DOORS (Detection of Overall Risk Screen) framework

Universal screening practices

Thresholds of risk

Conduct effective safety planning

 

Child Focused Practice 

Australian Institute of Social Relations

Explores the impact of homelessness and trauma on children and provides practical information about how to support children and their parents.

This training offers knowledge and skills to respond effectively to children in age appropriate ways.

 

Facilitating Art Therapy Groups

Milk Academy

What art therapy is, and various modalities

Why some people are more likely to benefit from art therapy than conventional talking treatments

What happens in a typical art therapy session

How art therapy can be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment

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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Practitioner Certificate

The Academy of Modern Applied Psychology

Key units: Introduction to CBT

CBT with Depression

CBT with Anxiety

CBT with Anger

CBT with difficult clients

CBT in the treatment of PTSD and OCD

Advanced disputation strategies

The ABC's of dysfunctional behaviour and emotional disturbance

Methods for replacing dysfunctional beliefs with more functional thoughts

Specific CBT approaches effective with children and adolescents

Behavioural management and contingency management

Parenting and consultation skills

  

Mindfulness Practitioner (level I, II, III and Master)                                                

The Academy of Modern Applied Psychology

 

Trauma and the Child Training

Emerging Minds

Key units: 

Trauma and Adversity

The Impact of Trauma and Adversity on the Child

A Trauma-Sensitive Approach

 

Responding to Abuse & Neglect 

Government of South Australia Department for Education

 

White Ribbon training - Understanding men's violence against women

Government of South Australia Department for Education

Define domestic and family violence

Describe what influences our attitudes and beliefs towards violence

Distinguish between the myths and facts in regards to violence against women

Outline the extent of the problem in Australia 

Describe how gender inequality links to violence against women