- Carl Rogers
Ms Carolin Skipka
Holistic Counsellor, Psychotherapist
Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy for Women
Castle Hill, Sydney NSW 2154
In Person + Online Therapy Australia-wide
Philosophy & Vision
Sometimes we forget how much strength and courage it takes to seek help, and that it's often the first step towards healing and change. In my practice, I work with women — including those who feel, or have been told, they are too sensitive — welcoming all parts of you warmly, with compassion and deep interest in what brings you to therapy.
Maybe you are struggling with anxiety or depression? Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed by feelings, thoughts or behaviours that are keeping you stuck? Maybe you are going through a big life transition — a change in your career or relationship, a pregnancy, or menopause?
No matter where you are at, I will travel alongside you, guiding and supporting you so you can feel safe getting to know parts of you that may have been hidden or hold important information. My work is trauma-aware, informed by Hakomi (mindful somatic psychotherapy) and psychodynamic theory. I see clients in person
Background
I originally completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy in Germany but changed careers after moving to Australia, where I completed a Graduate Diploma in Counselling at the Australian Institute of Counselling in Sydney. I also graduated in Hakomi, a gentle yet powerful form of mindful somatic psychotherapy.
Over the years, I have worked with a broad range of clients and presenting concerns, giving me a solid grounding across many areas of therapeutic work.
In my private practice in Castle Hill, I am passionate about supporting women who feel stuck in unconscious patterns — often showing up as overwhelm, a strong inner critic, and constant self-doubt. I support women to find more inner freedom and reconnect to a sense of peace and agency.
Services
I offer individual therapy for women seeking support with recent or current challenges, as well as those wanting to address deeper, underlying patterns — including women who feel, or have been told, they are "too sensitive."
Whether you are looking for short-term counselling or a more in-depth approach through psychotherapy, informed by Hakomi (mindful somatic psychotherapy), I offer a compassionate, safe space, free of judgement, along with my care and guidance. Sessions are available in person in Castle Hill or online across Sydney and Australia-wide.
Quality Provision
I am a registered member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) - registration number [31059].
I participate in regular clinical supervision, both individual and group, and I am committed to ongoing professional learning and development — including my own personal therapy.
Areas of Interest
Accreditations
- Graduate Diploma of Counselling - 2010 - Institute of Counselling
- Bachelor of Pharmacy - 2000 - University of Bonn, Germany
- Certificate in Hakomi - 2026 - Hakomi Institute
Modalities
Attachment Theory - Emotionally Focused Therapy - Experiential - Hakomi - Holistic - Inner Child - Mindfulness - Person Centred - Psychodynamic - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
Apart from the different approaches that inform my work, my main intention is to create a safe and non-judgemental space for you to bring any challenge, difficult experience or pain you are struggling with.
With gentleness and sensitivity, I support you to feel safe to explore any issue at your own pace and in a way you are comfortable with. While I bring my skills and experience to our sessions, I will be guided by you — you are the expert of your life, and the one who knows best what decisions to make and the direction you want to take.
Approaches that inform my work are Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy (Hakomi), Psychodynamic theory, parts work and Person-Centred practice.
Professional Associations
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
Practice Locations
15 Terminus Street
Castle Hill NSW 2154
Appointments
I offer flexible appointment times across most weekdays, including morning and afternoon sessions. Please get in touch to find a time that works for you.
Fees & Insurance
My standard fee for a 1 hour session is $160. I don't currently offer Medicare or private health insurance rebates. This allows for lower session fees and no limit on the number of sessions. I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation — please get in touch to arrange a time.
Languages
English
German
Payment Options
Bank transfer or cash
Contact Carolin
Please contact me to book a 15 minute free initial consult
A conversation with Carolin Skipka
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My path here wasn't direct — I originally trained and worked as a pharmacist in Germany. Over the years, through my own life experiences and the support I received from other women while navigating challenges of my own, I became deeply drawn to the process of healing and self-understanding. I saw how transformative it could be to be truly heard and supported, and I wanted to offer that same experience to others. That led me to retrain in counselling after moving to Australia.
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My work is grounded in Hakomi, a gentle yet powerful form of mindful somatic psychotherapy that works with the mind-body connection. I also draw on psychodynamic theory, attachment theory, parts work, and Person-Centred practice — approaches that share a common thread: a deep respect for each person's own inner wisdom, and the belief that real change happens when we feel truly safe and understood.
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I'm especially interested in the inner lives of women — the unconscious patterns we carry, often from childhood, that quietly shape how we relate to ourselves and others. I'm drawn to working with women who feel, or have been told, they are "too sensitive," and to the life transitions that ask us to grow — whether that's a change in career, relationships, or navigating something like menopause. I'm also deeply interested in the mind-body connection, and how the body holds and expresses what words sometimes can't.
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I primarily work with Hakomi, a mindful, somatic approach that invites you to slow down and tune into what your body is holding, alongside psychodynamic theory, attachment theory and parts work. In practice, this means we don't just talk about what's going on — we get curious together about the thoughts, feelings and sensations underneath. Above all, the process is guided by what feels safe and right for you.
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This really depends on what brings you to therapy, and whether we're working together in a counselling or psychotherapy capacity. Counselling tends to focus on a specific, current challenge, so you may notice some clarity or relief within the first few sessions. Psychotherapy goes deeper — working with longstanding, often unconscious patterns — so progress tends to unfold more gradually, and looks less like a single moment of "aha" and more like a steady shift in how you relate to yourself and your life over time. Either way, we'll check in regularly about how the work is landing for you.
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Having walked this path myself for many years, my own therapy has been one of the most valuable parts of my personal and professional growth. It's shown me how much healing happens in relationship, not in isolation — and given me a lived understanding of what I now offer others: a safe space to be met with compassion, not judgement. It's also deepened my empathy and respect for how much courage it takes to sit across from someone and be vulnerable, which shapes how I show up for my own clients every day.