Hey, I’m Vanessa - though most people call me Ness.

I’m a registered, Masters-level ANZACATA Creative Arts Psychotherapist, mental health clinician, and trainer. I believe that healing and making sense of our lives is a personal, ongoing process that unfolds over time.

Understanding ourselves is a deeply human experience, and there is no single path that fits everyone.

My practice is grounded in a relational, inquiry-based approach, drawing on Creative Arts Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Together, these frameworks support curiosity, connection, and self-compassion, helping people understand their inner experiences in a way that feels safe and meaningful.

Over the years, I’ve worked with people aged 3 to 65 across a wide range of settings, including mental health services, rehabilitation and detox programs, forensic units, disability services, corporate organisations, and community contexts. I support people navigating anxiety, uncertainty, loss, dysregulation, addiction, and those simply seeking greater self-understanding and clarity.

At the heart of my work is creating a space where people can feel supported to reconnect with themselves and move toward ways of being that feel more aligned and sustainable.

You might be feeling uncertain, noticing familiar patterns repeating, or carrying experiences that are hard to put into words. You may be seeking more meaning, space, or steadiness in your life. These experiences are familiar, and you don’t have to work through them alone.

Here, nothing needs to be fixed or forced. This is a space where your story is respected, your experiences are explored at your pace, and understanding can emerge gently over time.