Suite 1, Level 1, 4A Collier Street
Woodend 3442
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Soul Solutions for the Heart, Mind & Spirit
Soul Solutions Counselling Psychotherapy is a holistic and integrative health-care practice that provides therapeutic services for individuals (adults, adolescents & children); for couples in intimate relationship and family groups. The services include:
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Counselling Psychotherapy: informed by classical depth-oriented, analytical and psychodynamic approaches (i.e. C. G. Jung; E. Gendlin); and contemporary psychological trauma-informed and PTSD methods (i.e. Levine, van der Kolk, Rothschild, Ogden).
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Spirituality and Christian Counselling: provides a unique perspective on the human experience, acknowledging that individuals are created as complex beings with multifaceted needs, including psychological, emotional and spiritual motivations, yearnings and concerns; supported by Christian theological principles, values & standards (ref. CCAA).
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Marriage and Intimate Partner Relationship Counselling
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Trauma Therapies - TRTP, (The Richards Trauma Process); EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing), TFT ( Though Field Therapy); Focusing (E. Gendlin), Hypnosis (Rick Collingwood Method), Sandplay Therapy ( Sandplay Therapy Australia - Marg Garvan- Jungian Sandplay / Gestalt - adults, adolescents & children/ individuals & couples).
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Naturopathy & Functional Medicine Counselling - focus on conditions resulting from sustained physical, mental, emotional - nervous system stress, trauma, burn-out and exhaustion. Clinical pathology & functional tests - i.e., Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), Biochemical Analysis- Metabolic Profile, Essential Mineral Profile, Toxic/Heavy Metal Profile (i.e. lead, Mercury, Aluminium etc.). Functional Medicine treatments address the root cause of symptoms--toxic accumulation, pain & inflammation, restoring metabolic balance and system vitality.
This comprehensive array of therapies caters to the most common spectrum of mind-body -physical and psychological problems (including mental, emotional, relational and spiritual) that most people seek help for at one time or another, in the life-long pursuit of health happiness and wellbeing.
Your Therapist...
Laura is an experienced Counselling Psychotherapist and integrative healthcare practitioner who also provides complementary services in Naturopathic therapies, herbal medicine and functional nutrition.
Laura is trained in classical depth-oriented, analytical and psychodynamic methods of Counselling Psychotherapy (i.e. C. G. Jung; E. Gendlin); and practices an extensive array of contemporary Psychological Trauma-Informed approaches (i.e. Levine, van der Kolk, Rothschild, Ogden).
Laura's emphasises a psycho-spiritual approach to counselling, which is informed by Christian values, theological and biblical principles and ethics (CCAA).
helps clients understand and gain insights and awareness into habitual patterns of relationship, behaviour and emotion, often rooted in unconscious core-beliefs, values, memories and trauma. Giving voice to unconscious content in therapy, free's one from being ruled by patterns and impulses that they previously had no insight into, nor language to describe
Clients learn to identify, manage & speak comfortably about difficult /painful experiences or feelings - i.e. anger, anxiety, sadness, grief, loneliness, depression, shame and despair. As individuals develop healthier intra-personal dynamics, expectations and beliefs about themselves and the world change; and relationships with others also improve. As people develop agency, resilience & maturity, relationships become more intimate, deeply connected, empathic, mutually balanced, satisfying & rewarding.
She uses Functional Mineral Screening and nutritional medicine to support metabolic function and detoxification processes; aiding with chronic conditions, such as stress, trauma, PTSD, nervous and immunological exhaustion, burn-out and/or chronic fatigue.

Laura specialises in Trauma Therapy. She is expertly trained in the most contemporary and effective trauma-informed approaches, including: TRTP (The Richards Trauma Process), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing - Shapiro), Active Imagination (Jung); Focusing (Gendlin); Hypnosis (The Rick Collingwood Method) ; TFT (Thought Field Therapy) & Sandplay therapy. Laura competently and sensitively uses these interventions in the treatment of chronic stress and complex trauma & PTSD (i.e., from life-threatening events, injuries, accidents or abuse) and other sustained trauma-related issues, such as anxiety, depression, fears and phobias.
She understands how long term stress & trauma (i.e., carer exhaustion; violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse/neglect; drug/alcohol misuse; personality disorders & other mental health issues) can impact victims, partners and family members in profound ways. Laura understands how unresolved stress, particularly involving family history and repeat childhood exposure to physical violence and abuse, emotional neglect, drug and alcohol misuse, personality disorders and other mental health issues can systemically and inter-generationally, impact individuals, families and communities in profound ways. Laura recognises the characteristic patterns of traumatised and other difficult personalities, as well as the signs and symptoms of PTSD and chronic complex trauma.
As a qualified Sandplay therapist, Laura competently applies this effective symbolic strategy, with adults and children, individually, & with couples. Sandplay immediately and concretely extends perception beyond superficial awareness and provides new visual perspectives about the inner and outer psychological factors influencing the problems at hand.
Laura is a qualified and experienced naturopath, nutritionist and herbal medicine practitioner. She extends her expertise beyond functional psychology to complementary alternative medicine (CAM), to specialise in the identification and recovery of complex and systemic affects of chronic stress and trauma. She applies functional biomedical testing with other therapeutic assessments with life-style and dietary advise, nutrition and herbal medicine treatments to support metabolism, bring balance to the central nervous system, restore tissue and organ function after physical illness, injury, infections, resolve inflammation and recover from physical, emotional or psycho-social burnout, exhaustion and trauma.
Laura has worked as an academic lecturer providing education and mentoring services to natural health practitioners at Endeavour College of Natural Health. She has taught Counselling Skills; Mental Health Assessment Processes, and Psychological First Aid to trainee practitioners. She is a trained clinical supervisor and professional mentor for professional counsellors & psychotherapists. As an educational mentor, natural health practitioner and counselling psychotherapist, Laura conveys genuine interest, care and understanding of a broad range of the most common problems and challenges that people encounter in life. She is encouraging and supportive of clients, in their personal experiences of ill-health, through frustration and challenge, on their path toward physical, emotional, social & spiritual health and wellbeing.
Specialising in...
Counselling Psychotherapy & Naturopathy
Counselling Psychotherapy
Counselling Psychotherapy is a growth promoting strategy used to develop psychological - relational, emotional & spiritual foundations for healthy connection, functioning & wellbeing.
Safe. respectful, honest and authentic therapeutic relationships allow individuals to define their values and find purpose and meaningful standards and expectations for their life; and to insightfully address problems such as anxiety, depression, emotional conflict or distress, trauma & relationship concerns.

Spirituality & Christian Counselling
Christian Counselling provides a unique perspective on the human experience by acknowledging that individuals are created as complex beings with multifaceted needs, including psychological, emotional and spiritual motivations, yearnings and concerns.

Trauma & PTSD
Trauma is and enduring emotional
response to distressing event(s), where an individual's life has been threatened and their ability to comprehend or cope with the event is overwhelmed.
Trauma can result in PTSD - constant, intrusive memories and feelings of pain, fear, anxiety, hopelessness despair, isolation and depression.
Psychotherapy is proven effective for helping individuals process trauma and developing new narratives of inner-strength, hope and connection.

Relationship Therapy
Relationship problems are the main reason that people seek help from counselling psychotherapists in Australia. Relationship therapy works with married partners and committed couples to improve communication, connection and love.
It helps people invest in creative solutions to conflict, and establishes healthy and enduring relationships based on honest communication and trust, and open channels of love and affection, that keep on growing.

Sandplay Therapy
Sandplay therapy is an experiential depth psychotherapy where sand, water and small figures are arranged in a tray, to symbolically reflect the clients internal world & psychic dynamics. It is a non-verbal method that facilitates the natural human capacity for self-reflection and insight into ones problems; with capacity for correction, self-organisation & growth.
Although Sandplay is an effective therapy for children, it is also a very effective therapeutic process for iadolescents and adults, as well as couples and family groups - especially individuals processing memories involving histories of complex trauma or abuse.

Naturopathy
Naturopathy is a holistic medical system, rooted in ancient wisdom traditions that believe that life, health and disease follow certain natural laws and principles (such as Vitalism & Holism). Understanding and living by these laws is the easiest way to retain health and live well.
Naturopathy uses these natural principles as remedy - in herbal medicine, nutrition therapy, diet and lifestyle adjustments to support the body's natural healing mechanisms & functions; restoring vitality & health.
