Meet our Therapists - Melbourne
Anna
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Phyllis
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Rob
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We are a team of highly trained and professionally accredited Relational Gestalt Psychotherapists and Somatic Experiencing intermediate level practitioners.
Gestalt Therapy is a psychotherapy that focuses on here-and-now experience. The objective of Gestalt Therapy is to support and enable the individual to become more fully and creatively alive in order to achieve optimum satisfaction, fulfillment and growth.
We also incorporate Somatic Experiencing (SE) which is a potent psychobiological method for resolving trauma symptoms and relieving chronic stress, and increases people’s vitality, equanimity, and capacity to actively engage in life.
We specialise in grief counselling, treatments for depression and relationship counselling (Melbourne) and much more.
For full therapist profiles including areas of specialty, please see below.
Anna Skolarikis
Specialties
Addictions, trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, inner critic/judge/super ego, shame, grief, loss, anxiety, depression, self harm. Intermediate level Somatic Experience Practitioner.
In Anna's own words
Psychotherapy is an integrative approach that attends to the person from a holistic perspective. My approach is explorative, curious and respectful in nature. People generally fall into despair when they are not able to form and maintain enduring and gratifying relationships.
It is difficult to know the exact nature of what is happening out there for clients but sitting together presents an opportunity to learn and give light to what is occurring within the context of the “therapeutic relationship”.
I actively engage with clients to help develop a sense of awareness. Building on the capacity to notice, recognise and allow what is. When we are in touch with our sensations and are no longer deflecting, desensitizing and/or resisting, we are able to identify with what we need and want from the core of our being. An opportunity emerges to connect with a fuller and more holistic sense of self.
As an emerging Somatic Experience Practitioner (SE) I have incorporated a scientific and physiological approach to dealing with ALL levels of distress, anxiety, depression and overwhelm. Clients have reported a significant improvement in as little as 5 sessions. My approach is to support clients to successfully manage and regulate stress levels in the present moment using SE strategies. Clients learn to successfully neutralize and resolve their distress within the sessions and how to use the same strategies in their day to day life.
The combination of Somatic Experience and Relational Gestalt Therapy makes this approach incredibly powerful, transformative and healing.
Locations
Carlton, Carlton North
Direct contact number
Mobile: 0430 443 346
Rob Watson
Specialties
Anxiety, depression, life challenges, addiction, trauma, relationship problems, family difficulties, mental illness and couples and relationship counselling (Melbourne).
Qualification
Adv.Dip. in Relational Gestalt Therapy, GANZ, Mindfulness Practioner, Intermediate level Somatic Experience Practitioner
In Rob's own words
I’m a gestalt therapist with 11 years experience working in the community sector, which has seen me in roles as a drug and alcohol counsellor and working as therapist with people who suffer from mental illness
My passion for counselling and therapy stemmed from my time as a volunteer counsellor at Lifeline which ultimately led me to Gestalt Therapy and more recently to Somatic Experiencing. Gestalt therapy promotes being with others from a relational perspective that is grounded in empathic acceptance whilst cultivating authentic ways of being in the present moment.
Somatic Experiencing, which a is body based approach to healing unresolved trauma, compliments Gestalt therapy as they both use mindfulness based approaches that lead to greater access to personal choice, increased life energy and freedom from limitation.
I believe in working from a holistic perspective that embraces body, mind and spirit that is geared towards addressing the presenting concern in a caring, compassionate person centered approach. I endeavour to work in a collaborative manner that respects each individual’s perspectives, beliefs and values.
As well as my counselling and therapy training I draw upon my own spiritual values and perspective that are derived from both Eastern (Buddhist and Hindu traditions) and Western (Diamond Essence) philosophies.
Locations
Ringwood, Croydon, Wantirna, Fairfield & Surrounds
Direct contact number
Mobile: 0468 827 740
You can also find me on
HealthShare
Phyllis Traficante
Specialties
PTSD, relationship difficulties, separation, divorce, life after divorce and re-partnering with or without children. Developmental trauma (such as childhood neglect and abuse and ongoing medical and/or physical issues) and shock traumas such as car accidents, assaults, operations, and falls). Loss, grief, anxiety and depression.
Qualifications
Master of Counselling HMCOUN , Adv. Dip Relational Gestalt Psychotherapy; Somatic Experiencing intermediate level practitioner; Member of the ACA and GANZ. Phyllis is an educator delivering units from the Diploma of Counselling and the Diploma of Community services at Australian College of Applied Psychology.
In Phyllis' own words
People have a cauldron of emotions that can often overwhelm them and shut down their systems. Even though they are shut down the emotions are still there. Every so often 2 or 3 may emerge and we respond to them by doing something with them. We feel them, push them away or let them spew out. We all do something with emotions when they start to surface.
Coming to work with me is an invitation of coming to work with your feelings. This work is in support of becoming more alive and being able to feel better. My work with clients involves helping them notice when they feel an emotion, what they do with the emotion, and to help them feel without being overwhelmed.
I work with life challenges such as:
Relationship difficulties
Divorce
Single parenting
Re-partnering
Re-partnering with children
Abusive ex- partners
Grief and loss
Trauma
Locations
Carlton North, Blackburn, Heidelberg, Armadale
Direct contact number
Mobile: 0412 306 965
Specialties
PTSD, relationship difficulties, separation, divorce, life after divorce and re-partnering with or without children. Developmental trauma (such as childhood neglect and abuse and ongoing medical and/or physical issues) and shock traumas such as car accidents, assaults, operations, and falls). Loss, grief, anxiety and depression.
Qualifications
Master of Counselling HMCOUN , Adv. Dip Relational Gestalt Psychotherapy; Somatic Experiencing intermediate level practitioner; Member of the ACA and GANZ. Phyllis is an educator delivering units from the Diploma of Counselling and the Diploma of Community services at Australian College of Applied Psychology.
In Phyllis' own words
People have a cauldron of emotions that can often overwhelm them and shut down their systems. Even though they are shut down the emotions are still there. Every so often 2 or 3 may emerge and we respond to them by doing something with them. We feel them, push them away or let them spew out. We all do something with emotions when they start to surface.
Coming to work with me is an invitation of coming to work with your feelings. This work is in support of becoming more alive and being able to feel better. My work with clients involves helping them notice when they feel an emotion, what they do with the emotion, and to help them feel without being overwhelmed.
- Gestalt therapy and Somatic Experiencing are a potent blend of psychotherapy that works with both the mind and the body. Clients reflect having experienced a safe, contained, caring and respectful environment. With an open, non-judgmental empathic heart, clients are gently supported toward restoring inner balance, enhancing resilience to stress, increasing vitality and their capacity to engage in life.
I work with life challenges such as:
Relationship difficulties
Divorce
Single parenting
Re-partnering
Re-partnering with children
Abusive ex- partners
Grief and loss
Trauma
Locations
Carlton North, Blackburn, Heidelberg, Armadale
Direct contact number
Mobile: 0412 306 965
