Hi, I’m Anne and thanks for reading my bio and for taking steps to find support. It’s really important to start out feeling confident that you will have a good fit with your therapist which is why you’re here.

From the commencement of counselling, all people need to feel welcomed, comfortable and informed about what happens in sessions and that starts here with me describing what counselling is and what I bring in terms of my approach and expertise. The main focus of my career across the past 15+ years has been to work therapeutically with people – mostly individually.

In our initial assessment and therapy session we will commence with a discussion about your rights to confidentiality and privacy and my professional and ethical responsibilities toward you. We will explore what brings you to counselling and the context of your life – family, health and wellbeing, relationships, interests, work/study/life focus and the stresses and strengths across those areas. Our first session will cover what you are expecting from counselling and how I think I can be of assistance. It is important to me that you feel the ability to open up and feel cared for and that I am genuine and compassionate in my responses.

All people who seek counselling do so for different reasons. I have consciously diversified my skills and frameworks of practice across the past 15+ years to ensure that I can meet the needs of people who come to see me – as opposed to imposing a particular therapy on a person. I am trained in Narrative Therapy, ACT, CBT, Compassion Focused Therapy, EFT and Somatic techniques, Resource Therapy, Grief and Loss/Bereavement counselling, Domestic Violence counselling and Flash Technique for reprocessing of disturbing memories. All of these therapeutic models are delivered from a Trauma Informed/Response based practice framework. Whist I don’t offer couples counselling, I am a Level 1 trained Gottman Couples Therapist as this framework is important for working individually with people in relationships – as we are all in the midst of relationships all the time. I also have a special interest in carer support in the field of dementia care and have been trained in the facilitation of Living with Memory Loss groups by Alzheimer’s Australia.

As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, I draw on evidence-based frameworks of practice (psychological, philosophical, anthropological and social theories) that include a deep understanding of how people are impacted by broader structures and systems such as family, friendships, workplaces, legal/justice/health systems and social/cultural norms. A social work view is to understand a person’s individual psychological well being in the context of these environments and the nuances of how this is for you personally and what might assist you. My goal is to meet your specific or changing needs and that our process evolves to fit for you as we go.

You are able to see me under a variety of programs as I provide counselling via the Medicare program (Mental Health Care Plan), I am an approved trauma specialist counsellor for the NSW Victim of Crime Program, I offer EAP counselling, am approved to provide Open Arms counselling for Defence Force Veterans and family members and I also work with clients by private arrangement.

I love the opportunity to provide professional supervision to other social workers, allied health or welfare workers, and my clinical experience in a therapeutic setting, in Hospitals, with Dementia/Memory Loss & Carers, Family and Community Work and as a social work academic, informs and supports this work.

I currently work in rooms Tuesday and Friday at New Lambton and via tele/videohealth on Thursdays.

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Anne Walker | Bachelor of Social Work (Hons & University Medal), University of Newcastle 2007 | Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (Medicare Provider) | Member Australian Association of Social Workers | Victim of Crime Specialist Counsellor | Open Arms Outreach Program Counsellor & Supervisor