Supporting Healing and Connection Through EMDR and Couples Immersive Therapy
Experienced EMDR & Couples Therapist in Anglesea
working with people in Anglesea, Torquay, Geelong and Surf Coast & Australia-wide.
Hi there, I’m Rachael - pronouns: she / her
I’m a trauma and couples therapist, working alongside individuals and relationships as they navigate the complexities of emotional and relational life.
I bring 17 years of experience as a Social Worker in mental health, supporting people through trauma, connection, and change. I’m an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, an Accredited EMDR Consultant, a Clinical Family Therapist, trained in Schema Therapy for both individuals and couples.
Trauma Therapy
I feel deeply grateful for the trauma therapists I’ve worked with, who supported me to reconnect with my body and begin living more presently, with less fear.
What I care most about in this work is supporting you to feel safe enough within yourself — in your mind and body — to find your way back home.
My Path into Trauma Therapy
I’ve spent years trying to make sense of my own family dynamics.
I love supporting people like yourself to make meaning of your own story. I’m really passionate about family narratives; I’m particularly drawn to people - like you – who felt not seen, heard, or emotionally validated.
Growing in confidence to have a voice in your own story, knowing you have needs, asking for them to be met, and having a felt sense that you are deserving and worthy.
If you’re considering this therapy, you’re welcome to take the next step…..
Working as a couples therapist
I love working with couples. Often, we’re not given much guidance about relationships growing up — who we’re drawn to, what to expect, or how much care and attention relationships actually need over time.
I’m deeply interested in the family patterns, narratives, and experiences that shape how we see ourselves and how we show up in relationship — the threads we often carry with us without realising.
I’ve loved deeply too, and before I understood these patterns, I found myself in moments of confusion and conflict — just like many of the couples I sit with.
What I notice is that something begins to shift when couples start to recognise their own part in the dynamic, and move away from blame. When empathy grows, and emotional connection returns — that’s where the work really begins to open.
My Path into Couples Therapy
I’m deeply interested in relational dynamics, shaped in part by my own family experiences. I feel particularly drawn to working with couples where there has been infidelity, an affair, or a rupture of trust within a relationship.
These experiences often re-open older wounds and can feel incredibly raw and overwhelming. Together, we create space to gently navigate what has happened - whether that leads to repair, or to a different kind of ending that feels more honest and respectful for both of you, your children, and the wider family system.
One of my strengths is staying alongside you both in this process - holding the complexity, the pain, and the uncertainty, without losing sight of what is possible.
This work also invites a certain creativity - a way of working that is sensitive, curious, and at times even light, as you both begin to find new ways of relating.
If this feels like the kind of space you’ve been looking for, we can begin with a conversation……
How I Live This Work
I see this life as a journey - not something to fix, but something that continues to unfold.
My own landscape has changed over time; through family dynamics, relationships, conversations, and experiences of both grief and joy. Some have been deeply challenging, others full of meaning and growth.
Over time, I’ve found my voice within my own story. What matters most to me now is supporting others - to reconnect with their own voice and take up space in their lives.
The unfolding of my own life is what brings me here - to support you, or be with you and your partner.
How I Can Support You
Trauma does not exist in isolation. It moves through family systems and into our relationships, shaping how we feel, connect, and respond to one another.
Healing, too, can ripple outward - supporting not only you as an individual, but your relationship, your family, and the generations that follow.
My Life Outside of Therapy
When I’m not working, I’m often drawn to movement and stillness - yoga and meditation are grounding for me, and the breath is something I return to often.
If there’s a dance floor, I’m on it - moving freely, without thinking too much about how it looks. My inner child still loves roller skating, the wind in my hair, and those simple moments that bring back a sense of joy and lightness.
I value laughter - in life and in the therapy room. My cats, Mr Pickles and Mimpi, are dear companions, each with their own way of giving and receiving love.
I’m at my happiest on a road trip - whether solo or with my partner - the open road, music, podcasts, and long stretches of time to reflect and just be.
I also love making things - pottery, colouring, stitching, knitting and collage - alongside reading, creative writing, journaling, and getting lost in a thought-provoking movie.
Qualifications
Master’s of Clinical Family Therapy (The Bouverie Centre)
Bachelor of Social Work with honours (Gloucestershire University)
Bachelor of Anthropology (University of Wales Swansea)
AASW Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Member of AASW
EMDRAA Accredited Consultant
Trained in Individual and Couples Schema Therapy
Introduction to Havening Techniques®
200 Hours Yoga Teacher Training: Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, Mantra and Kriya Teacher (The Light Collective)