Hello, my name is Maria, and I am a Certified Registered Counsellor with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Association of Australia (PACFA).

Growing up in a culturally diverse, bilingual environment sparked my interest in becoming a healthcare professional and in driving significant change in the field. My lived experience taught me how childhood circumstances may influence both beneficial and detrimental actions. My journey into counselling to pursue therapeutic work started 11 years ago, when I suddenly lost my mother.

This tremendous loss and despair that consumed my whole being caused me to think, feel, and act in ways I never imagined conceivable for myself. To cope, I told myself, “she’s gone on a holiday”… to get me through those initial months. Then came the day when it became clear that the “she’s gone on a holiday” statement needed to be addressed.

My passion for how the brain and mind interact, why we do what we do, and how our behaviours evolve has become my new passion and work.

That’s when I enrolled in a master’s program in counselling and psychotherapy to discover how I might help others seeking greater meaning in their lives, and a clearer direction when faced with mental health concerns.