Mrs Lorena Fernandez Collazo Counsellor (Registrar)

I am a qualified and experienced counsellor based on the Central Coast, holding a Master of Counselling and accredited membership with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). I am currently in my second year of a Professional Doctorate in Therapeutic Arts Practice, with a special interest in children, adolescents, trauma, and domestic and family violence. I work with individuals, couples, families, children, and adolescents, including people living with disability or neurodivergence, those navigating relationship breakdowns, and children experiencing big emotions or emotional regulation difficulties. I also support adults facing anxiety, depression, life transitions, or the impacts of past or recent trauma, grief and loss. My practice is trauma-informed, evidence-based, and client-centred, integrating approaches such as CBT, DBT, and ACT, alongside creative and expressive therapies, mindfulness, emotional regulation strategies, and practical coping tools. Creative approaches — including art, play, poetry, photography, and narrative work — can be especially supportive when words feel difficult to access, for both children and adults. Alongside my professional training, my work is informed by lived experience. I am a Domestic Violence Advocate, a cancer survivor, and a single mother of two, which shapes my deep respect for resilience, safety, and the realities many clients face. Coming from a diverse cultural background, I value inclusivity, dignity, and culturally responsive care. I aim to provide a safe, calm, and non-judgmental space where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered. Therapy with me is collaborative and paced, focused on restoring a sense of safety, strengthening relationships, and reconnecting clients with their strengths and sense of self. Outside of my clinical work, I enjoy the outdoors, spending time in nature, and volunteering with organisation such as Surf Life Saving, reflecting my commitment to community care and wellbeing. If you are looking for professional counselling on the Central Coast, I offer a warm, grounded, and compassionate approach to support healing, growth, and meaningful change across all stages of life.