About Me.
I bring attunement, respect and humility in my engagement with clients; understanding the complexity and intersection between mental health, relationships and trauma. I am a qualified and experienced mental health therapist offering a personalised approach in my work; appreciating each person is unique and do not fit into any 'neat' diagnosed criteria.
I am passionate about helping you reconnect back to your innate worth and develop internal and external resources to overcome barriers to be able to live a life that you get to define is most important to you.
I tailor my modalities according to the needs of each client. I am also a trained trauma-informed, EMDR and person-centred process oriented therapist. I believe what makes therapy most effective and helpful is the person of the therapist and the ability to provide a safe therapeutic relationship. I am also committed and engage in ongoing professional supervision and training to ensure I maintain and provide ethical, and current clinical knowledge and practice.
I draw primarily on my knowledge, training and skills from the following modalities:
- Neurobiology of attachment, safety and resilience
- Person-centred process oriented approach
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Trauma informed therapy including Somatic approach
- Mindfulness and Recovery Oriented Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Systems and strengths based
I have worked in a variety of practice settings including:
- private practice working with adults and older adolescents, young adults
- workplace counsellor (Employee Assistance Program)
- school counsellor working with children and adolescents and offering professional mental health development education to school staff and leadership.
- several community organisations working with vulnerable families and children, domestic violence, and offering group parenting training and workshops,
- a brain injury unit in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation hospital and
- in a government child protection agency including court work.
Prior to re-training as a therapist I had worked over 10 years as a Public Relations/Communications consultant in various workplace settings including consultancy, local government, non government and education.
I currently practice in my rooms in Sydney CBD and offer limited online/telehealth sessions.
The Human Stuff...
When not working you will likely find me in some dance class! I have even taken the brave leap (excuse the pun) and appeared in a number of dance showcases and dance video projects too. Some would call my love of dance a mild obsession and possibly an addiction, I would refer to it as a serious hobby to keep me sane!
I grew up in Sydney and like many Sydneysiders am a proud coffee snob and foodie. When not having a boogie or dancing, you will find me absorbed in an inspirational or psychological kindle book or catching up with close friends and family eating something delicious!
Individual Therapy | Supervision | Coaching
I am passionate about working with clients who need support with the following challenges:
● Anxiety and stress ● Complex trauma, PTSD ● Childhood/Developmental Abuse
● Depression ● Self-harm and suicidality ● Sexual/ Physical/ Psychological/ Spiritual Abuse
● Family difficulties ● Relationship issues/abuse ● LGBT ● Eating disorders/Body image
● Addictions ● Grief and loss counselling ● Workplace issues
TRAUMA THERAPY
I have specialized trauma therapy training as an EMDR trained therapist and work with clients under Victim Services who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, family violence or victims of violence.
I also work with clients who have had a history of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) which involve longer term developmental trauma and in particular attachment trauma and difficulties. This can present as difficulties in relationships (in particular intimate relationships) including the following:
- Insecure, anxious attachment, low self worth
- History of abusive or codependent relationships
- Difficulties with setting boundaries
- Intense and difficulties regulating emotions, thoughts and behaviour in relationships
- Extreme sensitivity to perceived rejection, abandonment
- Tendency to lose oneself when in a relationship
ADHD COACHING
As a clinician with my own lived experience of late ADHD diagnosis I am passionate about coaching high functioning individuals who struggle living with ADHD challenges especially how it impacts work, study and their relationships.
The daily struggle as a neurodiverse person living in a society structured for neurotypical people can take a toll on your physical and mental health. It takes a lot of self understanding, compassion and commitment to navigate the unique challenges and having a coach can support you in your specific challenges.
How coaching can help:
- Improve your functioning and achieve personal goals in your work/study and relationships
- Psychoeducation about ADHD and its effect on the brain and functioning to empower yourself with knowledge and self understanding
- Learning practical skills to develop your executive function skills such as planning/organizational skills, time management/prioritization, impulse control, working memory, emotional control, focus/distraction, flexibility/rigidity, creativity and task initiation/procrastination.
- Proven behaviour-change skills to manage mood disorders, ODD, ASD
PARENTING COACHING
I offer support working with only older adolescents in partnership with parents/caregivers:
● Mental health; anxiety, depression, suicidality, self-harm
● School related issues; bullying, social skills
● Family and relationship challenges
● Parenting skills and coaching
Memberships and Accreditions
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Full Membership Australian Association of Social Work (AASW)
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Full Membership of EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA)
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Accredited Social Worker (ASW)
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Full Member Golden Key International Honour Society (based on academic achievement, top 15% in course)
Therapy | Supervision | Coaching Services
All sessions can be in Person or Telehealth:
$220.00 (incl GST) per hour - Individual sessions
$260.00 (Incl GST) per hour - Supervision sessions (no Medicare rebates are applicable)
If you have a GP mental health care plan or a referral from your psychiatrist you may be eligible to receive a medicare rebate for sessions. Medicare rebates apply under Better Access Mental Health Care Plan. Clients can receive up to 10 sessions per calendar year *$85.20 rebate. Claims can also be made through some *private health insurances depending on level of cover.
* Including Teachers Health Fund, HCF, Bupa, Nurses & Midwives Health, UNiHealth Insurance
'I am profoundly inspired by my clients and feel immensely privileged to be entrusted to hold space and be a compassionate witness and sojourner in their lives.
I believe it is their courage, authenticity and vulnerability which opens up a new aliveness and vitality in their lives and it is an honor to share in this process with them'
Cecilia Ma