Sandra Haynes
Grief and Loss Counsellor
Port Stephens, Medowie & Online in Australia
Professional support for loss, bereavement and significant life changes...
One thing we know for
sure is that change is an inevitable part of life. Some changes will be
exciting, planned, and anticipated. Some are natural transitions that allow us
to grow. Others turn our life upside down and alter who we are forever.
Change is often
accompanied grief and a period of intense unsettlement as we try to adjust to
what’s been lost. This grief can affect us emotionally, physically, mentally,
and spiritually. While we have a remarkable capacity to adjust, and grief is a
natural and normal process, it can sometimes place immense demands on our
coping resources.
Grief is also deeply
personal, and because no two people will experience it in the same way, it can
be hard to talk to friends or family who may not fully understand what you’re
going through. This is why counselling can be such a valuable resource.
When
we take a little time out for ourselves, we make space to process our
experience by talking to someone who will understand, listen and be objective,
who can help us develop coping strategies if needed, and gain a fresh
perspective on how we’re seeing things right now.
“In any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth
or to step back into safety.”
Abraham
Maslow
About Me
Hi, my name is
Sandra, and I’m a clinically registered counsellor with fifteen years’
experience in both private practice and not-for-profit organisations. I offer specialised online counselling support
in Australia and face-to-face sessions in Port Stephens, Medowie, and Soldiers
Point for:
Bereavement and grief counselling: following the death of a loved one or
family member, or the unresolved grief that has been carried for a long
time
Relationship and separation
support: helping you emotionally
navigate a relationship breakdown and the major life changes that follow.
Pet loss counselling: honouring and processing the deep
grief of losing a beloved animal.
Stress, anxiety and depression: creating a supportive space and
help for strengthening emotional resilience
Lifestyle transitions and change: helping you navigate the
uncertainty of deciding to change something, as well as coping with the
loss of a home or a job.
Grief, Loss and Post-Bereavement Counselling
We
heal at the depth we were wounded; honour
the time your heart needs to rebuild its chambers.
Etheric Echoes
Grief
affects every part of us - emotionally, physically, mentally and
spiritually. While we have a remarkable capacity to adjust to change,
grief can sometimes place immense demands on our coping resources, especially
after a significant loss. Grief is also deeply personal, and no two
people will experience it in the same way, so sometimes it’s hard to talk to
others who may not fully understand what grief can be like and what you’re
personally going through. This is where counselling can help.
The process
of grief counselling isn’t about forgetting the past and what you’ve lost, or
‘fixing’ your grief. It’s about gradually realising that a life can be
lived where grief and happiness can exist side by side, and together, we can
find ways to make small, intentional shifts that will help you move forward at
your own pace.
Depending
on your own unique situation, you may wish to meet up with me for one or two sessions
or come and see me more regularly if it will be helpful to you.
Find Out More
Personal Growth Coaching Sessions
Knowing
Yourself is the
Beginning of All Wisdom.
Aristotle
Coaching is different to
counselling in that it is more outward looking and focused on taking some
action to doing something different. It
can provide practical tools and strategies tailored around your own unique
situation to change something that will make life better.
As coach Mary Lee Robinson once
said, ‘counselling helps you get on your feet; coaching helps your feet to
begin moving forward!’
My personal growth coaching sessions
will help to facilitate the right kind of conversation to provide clarity
around what’s important to you, what might be missing in your life that you
long for, and what thoughts and beliefs might be keeping you stuck.
Depending on
your needs, you are invited to commit to four to six coaching sessions, to give
you the time to lay some groundwork toward change. We will discuss this during our first contact
call together. Let me help support you
to stay focused on what you want to change.
How I work
- My appointments are
held by phone or online in Australia, via Zoom, WhatsApp or Facetime.
- Some face-to-face appointments are now also
available for clients who live in the Port Stephens area.
- I
offer reasonable rates, and concession discounts are available.