Hi, I’m Joanna
I’m an ACA-registered counsellor, a Separation Consultant and a trained Holistic Health Coach.
I’ve always been curious about how people make sense of their lives - especially during times when things feel unsettled, heavy or in transition. That curiosity, and a long-standing interest in psychology, is what eventually led me here.
Talking with a counsellor is different from talking with a friend. Friends care, but they can also judge, worry or try to fix (with love). With me, there’s no need to explain yourself perfectly or rush toward solutions. I don’t jump in or try to tidy things up. I let you talk, unpack, circle around things if needed - and when it feels right, we look at practical ways forward that actually fit your life.
I’m often told I have a calm presence. My aim is to offer a space where you can slow down, speak honestly, and feel genuinely heard - no fixing, no performing, no pressure to have it all worked out.
A background shaped by real life
Before training as a counsellor, I spent many years working in corporate roles, and later freelancing within the health and lifestyle space. I worked closely with people who were building things, carrying a lot, and often trying to hold everything together while navigating change.
Along the way, I set up a small business called The Healthy VA, supporting professionals quietly behind the scenes, and later wrote a book about that experience. I’m also a trained Holistic Health Coach, and alongside my counselling work I support clients as a Separation Consultant, helping people move through separation and divorce with clarity, steadiness and care.
All of this has shaped the way I work - making room for both the practical things people are dealing with and the emotional layers underneath.
Alongside my professional work, I’ve lived through significant personal transitions, including moving overseas, divorce and becoming a single mum. Those experiences continue to shape how I show up in my work, with compassion for uncertainty and respect for the realities of life.