Mrs Lisa Paul
Counsellor, Mental Health Nurse CMHN
Lisa Paul Counselling & Psychotherapy
Windsor, NSW 2756
In Person + Online Therapy Australia-wide
Philosophy & Vision
I am an integrative psychotherapist and supporting women through perinatal mental health concerns, deep trauma, grief and life experiences. I work with women during pregnancy, after birth and early parenthood, including those experiencing anxiety, depression, birth trauma, pregnancy loss, relationship difficulties or the demands of motherhood. I support women affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, childhood abuse and trauma, including clients accessing counselling through NSW Victims Services.
I provide a compassionate and non-judgmental space so you can feel heard, understood and safe. My approach is collaborative trauma-informed and tailored to your needs. Therapy may include EMDR, Internal Family Systems, attachment-based approaches, mindfulness, grounding and nervous-system regulation. When requested and appropriate, I may incorporate Acutonics® to support relaxation, regulation and mind-body connection.
Background
My approach is grounded in over 25 years of experience as a nurse/midwife, with the past eight years focused on mental health, psychotherapy and trauma recovery. I support women experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, pregnancy loss, birth trauma and the challenges of early parenthood. I also work with women affected by domestic and family violence, sexual assault, childhood abuse and trauma, including clients through NSW Victims Services. My practice is compassionate, collaborative and trauma-informed, drawing on EMDR, Internal Family Systems, attachment-based therapy and nervous-system regulation. As an integrative therapist, Acutonics Integrative Sound Therapy can be an additional support where requested.
Services
I spent many years supporting women and couples as they transitioned into parenthood. My love of learning and growing interest in emotional wellbeing eventually led me from hospital-based care into specialised perinatal mental health, psychotherapy and trauma work.
Today, I draw on my experience as a Midwife/Nurse, Counsellor/Psychotherapist to support women through motherhood, grief, birth trauma and other difficult life experiences. I also work with women affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and childhood trauma through NSW Victims Services. My approach is compassionate, trauma-informed and integrative, recognising the connection between mind, body and nervous system.
Quality Provision
My approach combines traditional counselling and psychotherapy with trauma-informed and holistic care. Drawing on my experience in perinatal and infant mental health, midwifery and Circle of Security, I tailor therapy to each woman’s needs. Where appropriate, sessions may also incorporate sound-based therapy and other complementary approaches to support emotional, physical and nervous system wellbeing.
Areas of Interest
Accreditations
- Grad Cert. Mental Health Nursing - 2020 - Western Sydney University
- Graduate Diploma in Counselling - 2015 - Australian College of Applied Psychology
- Diploma in Nutrition - 2009 - Nature Care College
- Advance Diploma Homeopathy - 2005 - Nature Care College
- Graduate Diploma in Midwifery - 1995 - Western Sydney University
Modalities
CBT - Compassion-Focused Therapy - DBT - EMDR - Focusing - Holistic - Integrative - Internal Family Systems - Meditation - Mindfulness - Person Centred - Psychodynamic - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
I’m an integrative therapist combining counselling, DBT-informed strategies, EMDR, Internal Family Systems and Circle of Security within trauma-informed, recovery-focused care. I also offer holistic approaches, including Acutonics® sound-based therapy, to support emotional, physical and nervous system wellbeing. Together, we create a warm, supportive space where you feel heard and can move towards healing at your own pace.
Professional Associations
- Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia - Clinical
- International Institute for Complementary Therapists
Practice Locations
Old Hawkesbury Hospital
6 Christie Street
Windsor NSW 2756
Windsor - Parking off street in Christie Street or underground parking (signposted)
Gassho Wellness Centre
40 Yeo Street
Neutral Bay NSW 2089
Appointments
Face to Face appointments or Online options are available.
Available Tuesdays and Thursdays Windsor NSW
Mondays - Neutral Bay NSW
Fees & Insurance
$150 per 50 min session.
Health Fund rebates available with select funds. These are listed on my website, Please check that you are covered in order to receive this. Receipts will be issues at end of consultation.
Payment Options
Initial $100 direct deposit will confirm your appointment.
Details will be sent in an email.
Balance is payable via EFT,. Credit card/EFTPOS at session.
Contact Lisa
Please either text me or leave your message.
A conversation with Lisa Paul
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I saw there was a gap in the health system in supporting mothers and fathers especially with the transition to parenthood. Everybody focuses on the birth of this baby and the baby itself when it comes but how many times do YOU feel heard? How many times do people check in and ask how your going?
In my experience, while having a baby is a wonderful experience, it also comes with an enormous trailer load of different feelings - which can be different for everyone. Commonly, issues around not being a good enough mother, loss of your identity, relationship difficulties and all the psychosocial aspects around finances, employment, previous mental health complaints and traumas - its a list that is as individual as the birth experience itself.
I wanted to support mothers, to help them find in them their own sense of worth as a mother, to show them that its not a perfect set up and nor should it be, that its ok to make mistakes. I also have a passion to work with those wounded mothers, those who have had difficult childhood experiences, traumas from childhood or from the birth. Mothers who have had anxiety that it feels like its crippling and depression so deep that you struggle just to "be there" for your child. -
My main approach which has also made a huge difference in my own life has been the work of Dr Richard Schwartz. He developed the evidence based Internal Family System model of therapy and I have embraced this whole heartedly both professionally and personally.
I love the gentleness, simplicity and the non pathologizing aspect of this model.
I don't believe that people come into mental health problems as a baby, I believe that it comes through our experiences and influences from our families, culture and society as we are growing up.
His model has resonated so deeply with me and when I describe it to my clients, its like something clicks in them. -
The Perinatal area from pregnancy to postnatal period of first couple of year and women who have a trauma background who feel ready to work with that.
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Internal Family Systems
Person-Centered
Mindfulness
Compassion Focused Therapy
EMDR
CBT
DBT informed
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That varies on how open the client feels to start to heal an how motivated they are for therapy.
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Oh I love it.
I cannot see me doing anything else now.
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Seeing my clients start to get that self awareness and insight. That's when healing begins.
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Hell YES Lol.
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Wow where to I start............
Social Media - while I have it, I hate it too......
I think communication is a huge problem, we are losing the ability to know how to interact with each other personally.
Less tolerance towards each other and so much judgement and criticism.
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Becoming Us by Elle Taylor for parents who have just had a baby. Great book on how relationships change and why.
Hold me Tight by Dr Sue Johnson - great one for helping relationships in general.