Gentle, trauma-informed counselling on Ngunnawal Country, Canberra
Support for adult survivors of childhood trauma in healing from cPTSD
This practice is committed to the principles of social justice. I respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, water and dreaming held within these Communities.
Welcome
Sometimes the things we’ve tried to hold together start to come undone.
Old beliefs surface: ‘I’m too much’, ‘It’s all my fault’, ‘I don’t matter’, ‘I’m not enough’.
We begin to crack under the weight of everyday life.
If you’re here, you might be looking for a safe place to land. A space where you don’t have to explain everything or be ‘fixed’, a space where you feel understood, seen, and supported to move forward.
Kate Lawson
Member, Australian Association of Social Workers
Hi, I’m Kate Lawson (she/her)
I am an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, based in Deakin, ACT.
I offer counselling and trauma-informed therapy for adults 18+, with a special interest in supporting people navigating the lasting impacts of early childhood trauma, neglect, family violence, and sexual abuse.
Entering my 20th year as a social worker, I appreciate that every individual has a unique story and ability to heal. Attuned to the dynamics of power and control, narcissism and coercive/ abusive relationships, I bring language of empowerment and human rights into the room.
I certainly don’t have all the answers, nor will I advise you. I will treat you as the expert in your own life, and I will work hard to give you choice, transparency, and space.
Together, we’ll go at your pace with calm, care, and clarity.
Who I Help
I support people interested in exploring the impacts of developmental trauma, family violence and sexual assault; including young adults who want to develop healthier relationships, parents triggered by their children’s behaviour, individuals and elders rebuilding their lives.
Childhood developmental trauma is cumulative and relational — it shapes the child’s sense of who they are and what they deserve. Developmental trauma can often involve absence; neglect, and loss; impacting people psychologically, physically and spiritually.
Most often, people want space to make sense of attachment wounds that can show up as:
Emotional distress
Panic attacks
Somatic symptoms
Difficulties with trust
Sleep issues
Confusion with boundaries
Relationship struggles
Burnout or chronic ‘busyness’
People-pleasing
Dissociation
Anxiety / Depression
Suicidal thoughts
Transforming Trauma: Women’s Mindfulness Group
This is a trauma-informed mindfulness space open to all women 18+ of any background.
2026 dates to be announced
6 sessions of calm connection
gentle nervous system regulation
guided breathwork
no experience necessary
Thursdays 10-11.30am
How I Work
Therapy isn’t about fixing you, because you’re not broken. It’s about creating space to better understand what has happened, what didn’t happen, and how aspects of the past are still showing up in your life. Trauma therapy does not require you to recall and talk about all aspects of your past.
As healing is complex and layered, we’ll work at your pace, restoring choice, updating your nervous system and supporting you to make shifts that are felt and embodied, both in and outside the therapy room. Sessions aim to increase your ability to stay present and respond to difficult states of mind, feelings and sensations - developing tolerance for dual awareness.
My approach is warm and relational, and inclusive of all people.
What you can expect
A calm, compassionate presence
Validation for your defences
Respect for your community and culture
Empowerment in exploring boundaries
Referral to alternate services if requested/required
Therapeutic Styles
Attachment theories and understanding how we are hard-wired to form bonds for survival are the backbone of my approach.
Feminist frameworks bring relevance and structure to the context in which gendered abuse occurs in society.
Neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology bring hope and inspiration that change and updating are possible.
If you want to read more, here are some of my approaches:
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Core Self Reclamation Therapy (CSRT)
An attachment-focused psychotherapy that locates vulnerable younger parts holding onto pain, shame states and false survival rules. Grounded in affective neuroscience, CSRT targets the self-condemning meanings behind suffering.
Disempowering the past and empowering the present.
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The 'Shark Cage' Framework
Establish boundaries, identify coercive control and distinguish safe connections from predatory behaviours. A powerful, trauma-informed approach using the metaphor of the ocean. Parents helping the next generation to build strong ‘cages’. Also delivered in groups.
Reclaim your personal safety and self-worth.
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Triphasic Framework
Finding Solid Ground; i) Attending to initial stabilisation with grounding strategies, reducing crisis and increasing emotional regulation. ii) Processing trauma. iii) Making space for reconnection with self and others.
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Regulation
Moving at a speed your unique nervous system can handle. Breathwork, Havening, Diaphragmatic and Mindfulness exercises can help reconnect to your body’s cues and establish a sense of calm and present moment awareness.
Increase your somatic awareness; reducing overwhelm.
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Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)
A trauma-informed psychotherapy that targets the brainstem to heal deep-seated psychological wounds. Unlike traditional talk therapies, DBR works by identifying the precise moment of a threat response, safely discharging stored physiological tension, and processing trauma from the ground up.
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Identity & Culture
Exploration and validation for your unique family history and cultural background. Making space to speak up about politics, gender, sexuality and intersectionality. Therapy with an interpreter if you need it.
Welcoming your whole identity.
Counselling is a place where your pain is seen, your experience honoured, and you are fully welcomed with care and understanding.
Availability and Fees
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Appointment Fees
Initial Appointment
75 minutes | $195Standard Appointments
60 minutes | $180Concessions may be available. Please enquire directly.
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My Availability
In-person | Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Telehealth | Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Telehealth sessions are available when suitable and appropriate.
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Referrals
Welcome: Self-referrals, GP referrals, and Victims Support Services ACT.
If your GP has sent a referral on your behalf and you are a new client, please note that I require direct contact from you to proceed with the referral.
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Medicare Rebates
A Medicare Rebate of $89.50 per session is available for up to 10 sessions per calendar year with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP.
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How Many Sessions?
Some clients come for a handful of sessions. Others return over time. There is no right way; all healing and transformation takes time.
This is therapy and support at your pace.
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Cancellations
If needing to reschedule or cancel due to unpredictable life matters, please give as much notice as possible as your session can be filled by someone else waiting.
Non-attendance for a scheduled appointment will incur session fees.
Location and Access
Tuesdays & Wednesdays: face to face and telehealth
Deakin, Canberra, ACT
Ground floor, wheelchair accessible
Quiet bushland surrounds
Comfortable and private waiting area
Restrooms, wheelchair accessible
Free parking nearby, public transport access
Exact location provided upon booking
Thursdays: telehealth only
Get in touch
If you’d like to explore whether we’re a good fit, you’re welcome to book a free 15-minute phone consultation.
You can also contact me by email or the enquiry form. Please note, I work part-time and only check emails intermittently during business hours.
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Kate Lawson Counselling is not a crisis service. If you need immediate assistance, please contact a crisis support service.
If you need crisis support:
Full Stop Australia — 1800 385 578
Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT — (02) 6280 0900
Canberra Rape Crisis Service — (02) 6247 2525
If you are worried about your mental health or experiencing suicidal thoughts:
If there is danger to life, please dial 000.
Access Mental Health ACT — 1800 629 354