THERAPY
〰️
THERAPY 〰️
FOR DEEP EMOTIONAL HEALING
THERAPY
THERAPY
If you’ve tried traditional talk therapy and felt like something was missing, you’re not alone. Sometimes, understanding your patterns isn’t enough, you need to feel the shift in your body. This is a form of connection. In therapy and breathwork, we invite the mind and body to reconnect so that neither is the dominant of the two. We teach clients how to use this connection to better understand their own feelings, wishes, needs, and desires.
Often my clients self report not knowing what they want, feeling stuck, passive, and as though they are not steering their own ship. This is often caused by a disconnection to feelings and urges.
Sometimes, based on our experiences we may have learned ways to avoid facing our feelings and in some cases there may be a disconnect between our mind and body caused by a variety of reasons. Or sometimes we may have a brain that processes information differently and we may require a different approach to help us to better understand what is going on.
That’s why I combine Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) with breathwork, a powerful approach that moves beyond surface-level insight to create real, lasting transformation.
THE PLACE FOR CONNECTION
〰️
THE PLACE FOR CONNECTION 〰️
WHY ISTDP?
INTENSIVE SHORT TERM DYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
For the past seven years, I’ve specialised in ISTDP, a cutting-edge evidenced based psychotherapy model designed to get straight to the core of what’s holding you back. Unlike traditional talk therapy, ISTDP:
Targets the unconscious patterns keeping you stuck in anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional overwhelm.
Works with the nervous system to break through defence mechanisms in real time.
Creates deep emotional shifts so you don’t just understand your struggles, you move through them.
Before ISTDP, I spent six years training in evidence-based psychology, studying the complexities of the mind and human behaviour. But it wasn’t until I immersed myself in ISTDP that I saw true breakthroughs that contributed to deep transformational change.
Every tool I use is a tool that I myself have once been a client of.
want to know what you want?
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is a transformative, evidence-based approach that helps you break free from unconscious emotional blocks that keep you stuck in patterns of anxiety, self-doubt, avoidance, and emotional distress.
At its core, ISTDP teaches you how to deeply connect with yourself, to observe your emotional and physical experiences, recognise self-sabotaging patterns, and process your emotions in a way that brings lasting change.
Anxiety isn’t just in your head, it’s in your body. When we suppress emotions or avoid difficult feelings, anxiety often rises and appears as physical symptoms.
ISTDP helps you observe these symptoms as signals, rather than something to be feared. Instead of being controlled by anxiety, you learn to track how it moves through your body, bringing awareness to the unconscious emotions beneath it (Abbass et al., 2014).
We all develop defenses to protect ourselves from emotional pain—especially in childhood. These patterns may have once kept us safe, but as adults, they often disconnect us from ourselves and others.
Avoidance – Staying busy, numbing out, or intellectualising instead of feeling.
People-pleasing – Prioritising others’ needs while ignoring your own.
Perfectionism – Overworking, over-preparing, or never feeling good enough.
ISTDP helps you spot these defenses in real time, understand why they exist, and begin dismantling them, so they no longer control your thoughts, emotions, or relationships (Town et al., 2017).
When you stop avoiding emotions, you start hearing what they’re telling you. ISTDP helps you get comfortable with:
Feeling your feelings fully instead of pushing them away.
Recognising urges and impulses, whether that’s setting boundaries, speaking up, or making big life changes.
Trusting your body’s signals instead of overthinking every decision.
Instead of being disconnected or overwhelmed, you learn to be fully present with yourself, using your emotions as a guide, rather than something to fear.
A POWERFUL APPROACH
At the core of my therapy services is ISTDP, a powerful approach that digs into the root causes of emotional distress. This isn’t just about surface-level change - ISTDP helps you uncover and process unconscious emotions, resolve inner conflicts, and break free from negative patterns holding you back.
-
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
At the core of my therapy services is ISTDP, a powerful approach that digs into the root causes of emotional distress. This isn’t just about surface-level change - ISTDP helps you uncover and process unconscious emotions, resolve inner conflicts, and break free from negative patterns holding you back.
-
Emotional Exploration: We dive into your emotions to uncover what’s really going on.
Intensive Focus: Focused, time-limited sessions designed for big, meaningful breakthroughs.
Dynamic Techniques: We use a range of interventions to spark emotional breakthroughs and promote deep healing.
My therapy is for those who are ready to make a real change in their lives, even if you’re not quite sure where to begin.
If you’re ready to turn self-criticism into self-love, heal from the past, and take control of your life, then MY therapy is for you. Let’s work together to create a life filled with joy, clarity, and connection. I have helped 100’s of women and men to lead happy, nourished, and connected lifes.
At Zenso House, therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience. Together, we’ll set clear, personalised goals that align with your unique needs and aspirations. Whether you’re seeking to overcome anxiety, heal from past traumas, or find balance in your busy life, our focus will be on achieving the outcomes that matter most to you.
At the end of your therapy journey, the goal is for you to feel empowered, self-sufficient, and equipped with the tools you need to continue growing and thriving on your own. You’ll have a deeper understanding of yourself, healthier relationships, and a greater sense of peace and fulfilment.
-
From the very first session, we’ll dive into what you want to achieve through therapy. Whether it’s reducing anxiety, improving relationships, or simply finding more peace in your day-to-day life, we’ll work together to define specific, actionable goals that guide our work.
-
Therapy sessions are typically scheduled weekly or bi-weekly, depending on your needs and availability. This regular rhythm helps build momentum and keeps you progressing steadily toward your goals. As we move forward, the frequency of sessions can be adjusted to suit your evolving needs.
-
The length of your therapy journey will depend on the goals we set together. Some clients achieve their desired outcomes in a few months, while others find value in a longer-term approach. We’ll regularly review your progress, ensuring that our work together is effective and continues to meet your needs.
-
Therapy is a collaborative process, and your active participation is key to achieving the best outcomes. We’ll work together, but the real transformation happens when you take what we discuss in sessions and apply it to your everyday life.
the zenso method
Through over a decade of training and thousands of client sessions, I’ve created my own approach, a fusion of ISTDP and breathwork designed for deep, embodied healing.
We start with psychology – identifying the root cause of your emotional struggles, the patterns keeping you stuck, and the defences your nervous system has built.
We bring in breathwork – bypassing the overthinking mind, releasing stored emotions, and creating a felt experience of change.
We integrate it all – so you leave each session with more clarity, emotional resilience, and a deeper connection to yourself.
This isn’t about endless talking or quick fixes. This is about real, lasting transformation.
ISTDP X BREATHWORK
THE BENEFITS
Releases stored tension and emotional blocks that talking alone can’t reach.
Regulates the nervous system, helping you shift from survival mode to ease.
Gets you out of your head and into your body, where true healing happens
QUESTIONS
〰️
QUESTIONS 〰️
ANY QUESTIONS?
-
Eager to work with me? Hop onto our contact page and let us know how you’d like to collaborate. Heads up, though—my waitlist is currently 2 to 6 months long. Because of this, I am unable to take on clients with urgent needs, like those at risk of suicide or managing chronic health issues. If you’re in need of immediate support, your GP can help with referrals. But if you’re ready to wait, we’d love to hear from you!
-
To get started, book an appointment with your GP to create a Mental Health Care Plan and get a referral to a psychologist of your choice. Bring that referral to your first session with us, and we’ll help you claim your Medicare rebate right away. After your first five to six sessions, you’ll revisit your GP, and if it’s beneficial, we’ll request additional sessions for you (up to 10 per calendar year).
-
Booking with us is a breeze! Just give us a call at (07) 5627 0551 or use our contact page. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
-
Absolutely! When you make your appointment, let us know, and we’ll guide you through the process. Be sure to check in with your insurer to get all the details on your coverage.
-
You bet! Whether you're outside the Gold Coast or just prefer the comfort of home, you can still access therapy with us online. We love using Zoom for our sessions, and you’ll get a link the day before your scheduled appointment.
-
My fee is $350 for each 50-minute. The Medicare rebate for seeing a Clinical Psychologist is currently $145.
If you have private health insurance with mental health coverage, you might be able to claim with your provider, rather than use Medicare.
We also offer extended sessions for ISTDP block therapy, ideal for those outside the Gold Coast or with tight schedules. These sessions range from 1.5 to 3 hours—chat with our admin team if this sounds like your thing.
-
I’ve got the expertise and experience to support you every step of the way. I hold a Bachelor of Psychology (First Class Honours) from The University of South Australia and a Master of Psychology (Forensic) from Bond University. On top of that, I have completed core training (3 years) and an extra 3 years of advanced training in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). Recently, I have added Breathwork Training to my skill set (you won't believe how much of a game changer this is until you try it), becoming an accredited facilitator.
-
ISTDP, or Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, helps us uncover how early relationships—like those with our parents—shape our present lives. Picture this: unresolved emotional wounds from the past can create anxiety and stress that seep into our current relationships, often without us even realising it. This emotional baggage can affect not just our mental health but our physical health too, leading to issues like heart problems, digestive troubles, and even a weakened immune system. ISTDP is about digging deep, facing those hidden feelings, and transforming them to live your best life.
-
ISTDP is a hands-on, interactive therapy where you and your therapist team up to identify how you experience anxiety and the defences you use to keep painful feelings at bay. By working through these emotions, you can reduce anxiety, change behaviours, and build healthier relationships.