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You Deserve to Feel Safe

Domestic Violence and Trauma Counselling

Domestic violence and trauma can affect every part of life, your sense of safety, your relationships, your confidence, your ability to trust. I offer a confidential, trauma-informed space to help you process what's happened, rebuild a sense of safety, and move forward at a pace that feels right for you.​​​

Signs You May Be Experiencing Trauma

The impact of trauma looks different for everyone, but it often shows up in a few common patterns:

Re-experiencing the event

  • Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts

  • Distressing memories triggered by certain sounds, places, or situations

  • Nightmares or disturbed sleep

Avoidance

  • Steering clear of places, people, or situations connected to what happened

  • Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected

  • Difficulty trusting others or staying close in relationships

Heightened alertness

  • Feeling on edge, jumpy, or easily startled

  • Trouble sleeping or falling asleep

  • Constant worry or hypervigilance

  • Difficulty concentrating or feeling "foggy"

Emotional and mood changes

  • Persistent negative beliefs about yourself, others, or the world

  • Guilt, shame, or hopelessness

  • Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

  • Irritability or sudden anger

Physical symptoms

  • Unexplained aches, tension, or pain

  • Fatigue or feeling constantly tired

  • Digestive issues or other stress-related physical symptoms

These signs can be mild or intense, and they can last days or years. However they're showing up for you, they're valid, and support is available.

About Domestic Violence and Trauma

Domestic violence isn't only physical, it can include emotional, financial, psychological, and coercive control, often building over time in ways that can be hard to name or recognise while you're in it. Trauma can result from a single frightening event, or from prolonged exposure to fear, control, or harm within a relationship or family.

 

No two people experience trauma the same way. Some notice intense symptoms straight away, others find the effects surface more gradually, sometimes long after the situation itself has ended. There's no "right" timeline for healing, and no requirement to have left an unsafe situation before seeking support.

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What Can Trigger a Trauma Response

Certain sounds, situations, or even anniversaries can bring feelings and memories back to the surface unexpectedly. Common triggers include:

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  • Being in a similar environment to where the harm occurred

  • Certain tones of voice, phrases, or arguments

  • Anniversaries of significant events

  • Feeling controlled, criticised, or unsafe in a new context

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Recognising your own triggers is often one of the first steps toward feeling more in control of your responses, rather than overwhelmed by them.

How Counselling Can Help

Support for domestic violence and trauma is always collaborative, and always paced around what feels safe for you. This can include:

Psychoeducation

Understanding how trauma affects the mind and body, so your reactions make more sense, and feel less frightening.

Trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches

Grounded in safety, choice, and your own pace, never pressure

Practical coping strategies

tools for managing anxiety, hypervigilance, or overwhelm as they arise day-to-day

Emotional processing

Working through difficult memories and feelings at a pace that feels manageable

Support for related challenges

Trauma can bring up other difficulties too, like anxiety, low mood, or relationship strain, all of which we can work through together

Support can also extend beyond individual sessions, with your consent, I'm glad to work alongside your GP, a Victims Services counsellor, or legal support, so your care feels joined-up rather than fragmented.

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What to Expect in Your First Session

Your first session is simply a starting point. There's no requirement to explain everything, no timeline you need to follow. We'll talk about what's brought you here, what safety and support look like for you right now, and what you'd find helpful moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is what I share confidential?

Yes. Sessions are confidential, with limited legal exceptions (such as risk of serious harm), which I'll always explain clearly and honestly, never as a surprise.

Do I need a referral?

No, you can self-refer at any time. If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may also be eligible for a Medicare rebate.

Is telehealth as effective as in-person counselling?

Yes. Many clients find telehealth just as valuable, and it can offer more flexibility and privacy depending on your circumstances.

What if I'm not ready to talk about everything?

That's completely okay. You're always in control of what, and how much, you share, and when.

What if I'm not ready to talk about everything?

That's completely okay. You're always in control of what, and how much, you share, and when.

How will I know if counselling is working?

​It's not always immediate, and healing isn't a straight line. Many people notice small shifts first, feeling a bit more settled, sleeping a little better, before bigger changes become clear. We'll check in on how things are feeling for you as we go.

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Ready When You Are

There's no wrong time to reach out, and no requirement to have everything figured out first.

A Note on Urgent Support

Fearless Footsteps is not an emergency or crisis service, and messages sent through this page or by email are not monitored in real time. IIf you are in crisis or need urgent support, please contact one of the services below, all available 24/7:

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  • 000 (Police/Ambulance), or

  • Lifeline on 13 11 14 

  • MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78 

  • 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 

Stay Connected With Fearless Footsteps

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