top of page

Small Steps Counselling

Counselling for Counsellors: supporting those who support others...

Business logo featuring an image of a foot, coloured green with the image of a smaller white foot inside, alongside the business name
Selfie-photo of counsellor sitting on lounge wearing a maroon t-shirt and blue reading glasses
Image by Egor Myznik of a street sign in front of tree hedging displaying two arrows, one facing right, one facing left
Selfie-photo of counsellor in nature wearing sunglasses overlooking a rocky water-filled creek bed

Hello and welcome...

Hi, I'm Kristy, counsellor and owner of Small Steps Counselling.

​

I offer compassionate, personalised support to counselling students and newly graduated counsellors as they navigate the complexities of managing their personal struggles alongside studies, client work and early career development.​​

​

Supporting Counsellors in Their Personal Journey

What I offer is personal counselling for counsellors – not professional supervision. Our sessions focus on supporting YOU through your personal experiences.

 

The Unique Challenges We Face

As counsellors, we're pretty good at supporting others. We listen deeply, hold space compassionately, and guide our clients through some of their toughest most vulnerable moments. But what about us? What happens when the weight of our work starts to feel too heavy or when our personal struggles begin to bubble up alongside our professional responsibilities? 

 

I've been there myself. Many times.

​​

The truth is, counselling is emotionally demanding work. We absorb stories of pain, trauma and loss daily. And, while we're trained to be resilient, we're still human. Our own unresolved experiences, past wounds and current life challenges don't magically disappear just because we've chosen a helping profession.

 

Why Personal Counselling Matters for Counsellors

Seeking therapy, as a therapist, isn't about weakness. It's about wisdom. When we invest in our own personal learning, growth and healing, we become:

  • More authentic in our professional practice

  • Better at maintaining clear personal and professional boundaries

  • More resilient to compassion fatigue and burnout

  • More deeply present with our clients

  • Clearer about our own mental and emotional landscape 

​

Personal counselling helps us understand ourselves more deeply. It's a chance to process our own experiences, unpack our unhelpful patterns and develop greater emotional intelligence. And let's be real here – this benefits not just us, but everyone we interact with, both personally and professionally.

 

A Genuine Space for Growth

The guiding motivation for seeking support with me at Small Steps Counselling isn't about fixing something that's broken. You're not broken! It's about learning to understanding yourself more fully, processing your experiences, developing positively from them and creating the life you want. Whether you're navigating past traumas, battling current challenges or simply seeking deeper self-awareness, Small Steps is a space dedicated to your growth.

 

Think of it as professional development - for your whole self.

 

Ready to take the next step?

You spend your days supporting others through their most vulnerable moments. But now it's time to invest in your own healing and personal development. Because when you take care of yourself, everyone around you benefits.

 

Let's Connect

If counselling for counsellors resonates for you and you feel you might like some support, let's take the first step and start the conversation. Together, we can explore how this journey might support you in creating the balance, clarity and transformation you desire and deserve.

​

​I'm here to help you find your footing again. I’ll support you every step of the way.

Because even counsellors need someone to talk to sometimes!

​​​

- Small Steps, Big Breakthroughs -

_edited_edited.jpg

Why Choose Small Steps Counselling?

At Small Steps the support you receive is:

​

 Individually tailored to your specific needs 

Centred on your overall growth and wellbeing

 Integrative, eclectic and collaborative in approach 

 Nonjudgemental, inclusive, neuro-affirming and trauma-informed 

Welcoming, affirming and safe for LGBTQIA+ and gender diverse individuals

 Delivered by a qualified, registered and experienced counsellor 

Support Areas may include...

Exploring Triggers

Addressing lived experience or vicarious trauma

Boundary setting

Self-reflection and insight

Developing your self-awareness & confidence

Processing countertransference

Minimising Stress, Tension & overwhelm

self-care & burnout prevention

Enhancing your competence & resilience

Perfectionism or fear of failure

Isolation or lack of support

Identity or diversity issues

coping skill & Strategy building

Ethical dilemmas or professional conduct

Client Stories...

(For privacy and confidentiality reasons - names, ages and client stories are fictionalised examples of real cases) 

Client - "Sarah, 34 yrs"

Background: Sarah is currently enrolled in a post-graduate diploma in counselling. She has always been passionate about helping others and felt drawn to the field of counselling due to her own experiences with mental health issues in the past. Sarah comes from a supportive family but has struggled with anxiety and low self-esteem since her teenage years. She decided to pursue counselling as a career to better understand herself and help others navigate similar challenges.

Current Situation: As Sarah progresses through her counselling course, she finds herself increasingly triggered by course material that delves into topics such as trauma, attachment and family dynamics. Discussions about these subjects bring up painful memories from her own past and intensify her feelings of anxiety and self-doubt. Sarah worries that her personal struggles will hinder her ability to be an effective counsellor and fears being judged by her peers and instructors.

Goals for Counselling: Sarah sought a safe and supportive space where she could explore her personal issues, gain insight into how they impact her reactions to course content and develop coping strategies to manage her emotions more effectively. She also wanted to address unresolved issues from her past and build confidence in her ability to navigate the challenges of both her training and future career as a counsellor.

Services...

two people sitting across from each other in wooden chairs

Intake Counselling Session - New Clients

student counselling / counselling for counsellors

​​

​1-to-1, Adult Clients, Telehealth Session​

1 hr I $140

​​

​Read More

two people sitting across from each other in wooden chairs

Counselling Session - Ongoing Clients

student counselling / counselling for counsellors

​​

​1-to-1, Adult Clients, Telehealth Session​

1 hr I $140

​​

​Read More

Picture of a tree-lined pedestrian pathway with several people walking on a sunny day

'TALK & TREAD' COUNSELLING SESSION 

Ongoing Clients Only        

​​​

​

​​1-to-1, Adult Clients, BRISBANE-BASED, Designated Location

​​1 hr I $140

​​​​

​

Read More

two people sitting across from each other in wooden chairs

Peer Supervision Session      

​​​

​

1-to-1, Student / Graduate Clients, Telehealth Session

​45 min I $90

​​​

Read More

a girl in a room with headphones on writing in a notebook while watching a tutorial on a laptop

Student Support      

​​

​​​

1-to-1, Adult Students, Virtual Session

Course Tutoring / Study Skills / Assessment Help

​45 mins I $90

​​

Read More

Woman therapist sitting on a red armchair in an office talking to a man via a laptop screen

Counselling - general     

​

​​​​1-to-1, Adult Clients, Telehealth Session 

​​​​

If you are not a counselling student or new counsellor, though you feel we would connect and you'd like to attend counselling with me, please book an INTAKE COUNSELLING SESSION via "book now". Read more...​​​

​​

​60 mins I $140​​

Woman smiling while sitting at desk in an office using laptop and talking on mobile phone

15-Minute Enquiry Call

​

​​​1-to-1, Adult Clients, Phone Call 

​

​Considering counselling? Book a free 15-minute call to explore your goals for therapy and address any questions. This brief 15-min call gives us a chance to clarify what you’re looking to achieve and ensure you feel comfortable and informed before moving forward.

​

​​​​​​15 mins I FREE​​

A Little Bit Of Inspiration...

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity."

Amelia Earhart

Contact
bottom of page