
Hi, I'm Gail
I have been working as a psychotherapist in private practice for 24 years. I am a Clinical Member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Being a member of PACFA comes with rigorous requirements for ongoing professional development, clinical supervision, first aid currency and professional insurance.
I’m a counsellor and a psychotherapist. Counselling is usually for a particular issue or issues. Psychotherapy is deeper and works with the internal wounds, blocks and motivations in a person. Psychotherapy, I feel, is more of a soul pursuit.
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My guiding belief is that we all have within us a drive towards wholeness and it is my job to help clients access and harness this drive.​
A bit about me
My first career was in Early Childhood Education. I then trained with Lifeline and became a Telephone Counsellor. After living in Papua New Guinea for 6 years, having my twin sons at 36 then moving to Malaysia when they were 12 months old, I returned to Brisbane in 1999 to enrol in a Masters of Gestalt Psychotherapy which I completed in 2004.
I have also completed over 300 hours of additional training with Pat Ogden's Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. Other healing arts I have studied include Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping), Intention Based Energy Process, Family Constellation Facilitation, Hakomi, Yoga, Meditation, Havening, Brainspotting, Flash Technique, Australian Bush Flowers, Breathwork, Trauma Release Exercises and Hypnotherapy.
I blend various aspects of modalities I have trained in to help you achieve rapid, lasting results.
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I love people and am curious about what makes them tick. I love supporting people during difficult times and helping them to identify and remove blocks. I find it a joy to celebrate their progress and success.
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Before becoming a therapist, I volunteered for Lifeline and I also did my own intensive therapy – so I know what it’s like to be on the other side. I’m committed to ongoing personal growth and professional development as I love learning and am eager to find better ways of supporting my clients.
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Things that sustain me are … the arts, movement, exploring wild places pretty well anywhere but especially in South East Queensland, Tasmania and New Zealand*, learning, being loved and growing my capacity to love.
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*Images on this website are of places that have resonated with me in my travels. Photographs taken and generously shared by Helen Burrell.
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Qualifications and Training
Diploma of Teaching - Early Childhood - 1987 - Brisbane College of Advanced Education Kelvin Grove
Masters in Gestalt Therapy - 2005 - Gestalt Association of Queensland Inc.
Certificate - Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) - 2003 - EFT Downunder
Certificate - Integrative Breathwork Therapy (IBT) - 2011 - QUT
Certificate - Systemic Family Constellation Facilitation - 2011 - Family Constellations Pty. Ltd.
Certificates in Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) - Levels 1 & 2 - 2011 - Trauma Release Australia
Certificate - Level 2 Australian Bush Flower Essences - 2011 - ABFE
Certificate IV - Clinical Hypnotherapy - 2012 - Career Accelerators
Certificate - Level 1 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - 2013-2014 - Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute
Certificate - Level 2 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - 2014-2016 - Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute
Brainspotting - Phases 1 & 2 - 2016 - Brainspotting Australia Pacific
Havening - 2017 - Centre for Havening Research & Training
Psychobiological Approach to Couple Counselling (PACT) - Level 1 - 2017 - PACT Institute
Brainspotting Phase 3 & Masterclass with David Grand - August 2019 - Brainspotting Australia Pacific
Emotional Mind Integration - October 2020 - Family Constellations Pty. Ltd.
Emotional Focused Individual Therapy - September 2021 - Dr. Sue Johnson
Flash Technique for Trauma Reduction - February 2022 - Philip Manfield PhD
Intention Based Energy Process (IEP) - Level 1 - May 2022 - EFT Downunder
Intention Based Energy Process (IEP) - Level 2 - November 2022 - EFT Downunder
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (A.R.T.) - Basic - April 2024 - Rosenzweig Centre for Raid Recovery
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