COTWA Directory

Hello. My name is Sonia. I am a clinical psychologist in private practice; and I am also the coordinator of the Perth Complex Trauma Mental Health Professionals Network, and chairperson for Complex Trauma WA. I am passionate about doing whatever is within my power to protect children; and to help make sure that people who got hurt by the very people who should have protected them, get the kind of help they need when they ask for it.


I understand how hard it is to actually go to a therapist, so I thought I’d say a little bit about what you could expect at my practice if we were to work together. I also anticipate that you may need a few sessions before you can really get a feel for whether I might be the right kind of therapist for you or not, and that is perfectly fine with me.

I run a fairly standard clinical psychology practice, but most of my clients are adult survivors of complex trauma and I do what I can to adapt for what they need in order to best make use of psychotherapy. At our first meeting, I will listen closely to whatever you feel ready to tell me about, and I will probably ask a few questions about your family, and what it was like when you were at school, and what you found useful or not if you had sought help before. This helps us to determine where you’re at at the start of therapy, and how to prioritise what we focus on first. During the course of treatment, I will help you to make sense of what happened to you; teach you how your brain works and how it has done remarkable things to protect you; and introduce you to practical strategies to help you cope better with everyday life. Sometimes, during consultations, that means that people may walk around or lean against the consulting room door while we talk. Sometimes they play with kinetic sand or other sensory items (such as squishy stress balls, or an ice pack), or use of a weighted blanket, or just hold onto the massive Therapy Elephant until their nervous systems return to a manageable Window of Tolerance. Much of the work we do, will directly or indirectly target your attachment trauma too, to help improve your sense of your-Self and your capacity to recognise, tolerate, and manage your feelings in ways that better serve you. This can be helpful to re-establish your trust in yourself and in other people; and the way you manage your relationships in ways that serve you rather than undermine your needs. Whether in between, if you’re up for it, or only when you feel better equipped to do so, we process traumatic experiences in ways that are best indicated for your needs.

I love my work, and I feel privileged to work with the people I do. I have the utmost respect for the tremendous courage, tenacity, and resourcefulness of every survivor of childhood complex trauma, irrespective of what you’ve had to do to survive. You can trust that I do what I need to do to look after myself too, so that you don’t have to, and so that I can be a reliable resource for you on your healing journey.

I am a registered Clinical Psychologist and have been working in Private Practice for 8 years now. I am self-employed and have a lovely bright and airy office in Como, with river glimpses. It is a warm and inviting space, and many of my client's comment on how "at home" they feel in this space.

My particular interest lies in treating trauma-related conditions (i.e. attachment difficulties, difficulties with self-regulation, difficulties in sustaining healthy relationships, PTSD, and BPD), and I draw on a range of treatment modalities including trauma focused-CBT, DBT, Schema Therapy, and EMDR. Each year, I attend ongoing professional development to enhance my skills and ensure I am equipped with the most up to date and evidence-based treatment approaches.

I pride myself on being a warm, authentic, and compassionate therapist, who focuses on identifying my client's strengths, rather than focusing solely on the problem itself. My aim is to create a relaxed and supportive therapeutic environment, that encourages client's to feel safe to explore their presiding difficulties at their own pace.

Jay is a experienced clinician, who has worked with people for many years. She has a lovely friendly therapy dog who can join you for your sessions if you find that beneficial. Jay uses several different techniques and has broad training, to assist clients to feel safe and be able to discuss whatever it is that is beneficial. Jay has a strong focus on life now, and living to enjoy life and looks forward to meeting you.

My name is Annaliese and I am a Clinical Psychologist and Gestalt therapist, and I work in private practice in Perth. My office is located within a friendly physiotherapy practice, Karrinyup Physiotherapy, and I use their reception and reception staff. I have a lovely bright office space on the 1st floor, with big windows overlooking bushland.
I see adolescent and adult clients with a range of difficulties, and I have done extensive training in the treatment of complex trauma. I have been practicing as a Clinical Psychologist for over 20 years, and I have completed an additional 4-year training in Gestalt therapy.
My philosophy when working with clients is that we both bring expertise into the room – they with their knowledge and expertise of themselves, and me with my training, and that our work is a co-creation influenced by our combined expertise. I aim to pace therapy at the speed a client is comfortable with, with the aims of therapy collaboratively planned.
I am in awe of the incredible courage and strength of survivors of trauma, and the creativity of the human body and mind to find a way to survive and adapt.

Ana Santos is a registered clinical psychologist in private practice. She has practiced, trained in, and managed Trauma and Psychological First Aid with the United Nations services in Kosovo and East-Timor, Portuguese Red Cross, fire-fighters, police forces, correctional services, as well as in private-practice contexts. Ana has extensive experience working with diverse populations across the life span. She has facilitated group workshops across Europe, Africa, and Australia.

My name is Dr. Stephanie Marie Jones, my pronouns are she/her, and I am a clinical psychologist. I completed my clinical doctorate of psychology at the University of Western Australia in 2013, after which I worked for two years with people facing barriers to employment. I then spent two years in private practice in Joondalup, before moving down to Bunbury, where I have been at the South West Wellbeing Centre ever since.

I have enjoyed working with clients with complex trauma throughout my career, and over the years I have expanded my skill set to enable me to assist these clients more effectively. I particularly enjoy working with clients experiencing voice hearing and dissociation, and honouring the important purposes that these phenomena serve. I welcome clients of diverse gender and sexuality, neurodivergent clients, and clients of all cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds.

In my spare time I enjoy digital painting, growing fruits and vegetables, baking bread, and table-top roleplaying games such as Dungeons and Dragons.

Please see my website for more details.
At the first session I always allow some extra time for you my client, which is included in the fee. This allows you time to settle in and adjust to your new surroundings.
It also gives plenty of time to complete the paperwork and clarify any questions that you may have regarding my work, experience or about me as your therapist and the modalities that I may utilise to assist you on your courageous journey of discovery, understanding and healing.
I have two cats, which are not therapy animals per se, however one of them always seems to know when my clients need that little bit extra comfort.
I utilise a variety of resources to empower, enable, encourage, enrich my clients that caters for each clients different learning style.
Therapy is always a collaboration with my client as this is your session, so we go where you need to go in that specific moment in time.

Diana has lived in the Bunbury region since 1982, having been born and bred on a farm in the wheat belt of W.A. She did her secondary education at Albany HS and tertiary at UWA. Diana first worked as an educator in senior science and zoology in high schools and at UWA with undergraduate students, after which time she had, and raised, four children. Then for 23 years she managed her husband’s law practice and while doing this in 1995 began studying for her own career in analytical psychotherapy, graduating from Churchill clinic in 2000. She has been in private practice in Bunbury since 1996, first as a student under supervision, and then in her own right since 2000. Diana's practice is very mixed as practices are in country regions; from full on analytic work that extends over several years, to counselling and relationship issues, from teens through to seniors including various types and stages of mental illness, and all life stages and difficulties. Diana's is a very full practice within which she works in the psychodynamic way, dealing with the childhood issues and their impacts on future lives. Diana has worked with trauma sufferers for over 20 years, including many clients who have suffered complex trauma, with and the resulting dissociative disorders and DID. Diana cares deeply about complex trauma sufferers and is dedicated to helping them heal. Diana is a clinical member of PACFA, an accredited PACFA mental health practitioner and an accredited PACFA and AAoS clinical supervisor

Valerie holds a Doctor of Psychology degree and has studied and worked in a number of industries from health to law. Her academic qualifications are in both psychology and business. She has had involvement in counselling, training, multicultural affairs and business management. Valerie's work experience includes local and overseas work in Perth and South-East Asia. This has equipped her for providing a variety of psychological services.

In terms of counselling, Valerie has a focus on anxiety, depression and trauma. She can assist people in transitioning through life stages, dealing with conflict (in particular adolescent and family issues), work related stress (including responding to critical incidents and post-traumatic stress) and general life skills. Valerie uses a trauma informed model of care as recommended by Blue Knot Foundation and ISSTD.