CPTSD counselling on the Gold Coast and online
Trauma-informed support for complex trauma, nervous system healing, and finding your way back to yourself
If you've been trying to understand why certain things affect you so deeply; why you react in ways that don't quite make sense, why relationships feel hard, why you can't seem to settle — you may be experiencing the effects of complex trauma.
You don't need a diagnosis to begin this work. And you don't need to have a clear story or the right words. Many people I work with aren't sure whether what they experienced was "bad enough" to count. It was.
What is CPTSD?
Complex PTSD (CPTSD) develops when someone has experienced repeated, prolonged, or relational trauma — often beginning in childhood. This might include emotional neglect, abuse, growing up in an unpredictable or unsafe environment, or living with the long-term effects of domestic violence or other harmful relationships.
Unlike a single traumatic event, complex trauma shapes the way the nervous system develops. Over time, it can affect how you feel in your body, how you relate to others, and how you see yourself.
It's less about a diagnosis and more about understanding how your system learned to survive.
How CPTSD can show up
Feeling easily triggered, overwhelmed, or like your reactions are "too much"
Emotional numbness, disconnection, or difficulty feeling present
A harsh inner critic, deep shame, or a persistent sense of not being enough
Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships
Hypervigilance — always scanning, bracing, waiting for something to go wrong
Physical tension, exhaustion, or a body that feels like it's carrying something heavy
Parts of you that react in ways that feel out of your control
If some of these feel familiar, you're not broken. Your system learned to respond this way for a reason. That's where we begin.
How I work with CPTSD
My approach to CPTSD is grounded in understanding the nervous system and the protective parts of you that developed long before you had a choice about it.
The body holds the story as much as the mind does. Which means talk alone rarely reaches the places that need the most tending. Together we work gently with what your body is holding, what your system is doing, and the parts of you that are still trying to protect you in ways that made sense then, even if they're getting in the way now.
I draw on approaches including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Compassionate Inquiry, somatic and nervous system work, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and attachment-focused therapy — always guided by what feels supportive and manageable for you.
This isn't about reliving or retelling. It's about creating enough safety that your system can begin to settle, and slowly, a reconnection with yourself becomes possible.
The relational wound often needs a relational repair. That means the therapeutic relationship itself is part of the healing — a steady, attuned space where something different can begin to be experienced.
Who I support
I work with adults navigating:
Complex PTSD and the long-term effects of childhood trauma
Developmental and attachment trauma
Dissociation and nervous system dysregulation
Trauma from domestic and family violence
Parenting while carrying your own history
Patterns in relationships that keep repeating
Sessions are available in person on the Gold Coast and online across Australia.
You don't have to have it figured out first
You're welcome to reach out even if you're not sure where to start. We can begin wherever feels present for you, and move at a pace that feels safe.
Ready to take a gentle first step?
Book a free 15 minute connection call to see if we're a good fit; no pressure, no commitment. Or, if you're ready, you're welcome to book a session directly.