Individual Therapy - Initial Consultation (On-site or Telehealth)
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75 Minutes
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Specialist Psychotherapy $150
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Sunet Gopaul, our specialist psychotherapist, offers expertise in Trauma Therapy and general psychotherapy. Sunet is skilled in a range of modalities including CBT, DBT, TIR, EMDR, Brainspotting, and Neuropsychotherapy.
With experience in treating Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Anger issues, phobias, and more, Sunet provides comprehensive support tailored to your needs.
Individual Therapy - Subsequent Sessions (On-site or Telehealth)
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60 Minutes
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Specialist Psychotherapy $130
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Sunet Gopaul, our specialist psychotherapist, offers expertise in Trauma Therapy and general psychotherapy. Sunet is skilled in a range of modalities including CBT, DBT, TIR, EMDR, Brainspotting, and Neuropsychotherapy.
With experience in treating Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Anger issues, phobias, and more, Sunet provides comprehensive support tailored to your needs.
Q&A Triage Call with a Psychotherapist
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15 minutes
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Free
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Sunet Gopaul, our specialist psychotherapist, offers expertise in Trauma Therapy and general psychotherapy. Sunet is skilled in a range of modalities including CBT, DBT, TIR, EMDR, Brainspotting, and Neuropsychotherapy.
With experience in treating Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Anger issues, phobias, and more, Sunet provides comprehensive support tailored to your needs.
Ralphie the Giraffe
Brainspotting Trauma Therapy Assistant
Meet your Psychotherapist.
Sunet Gopaul
What a journey it has been!
I started as a young, traumatized farm girl living near a small town with just one horse, a liquor store, and no mental health services. My path led me through a challenging journey as a psychology student, where I took on even more trauma.
Eventually, the weight of it all brought me to a point where I had to take responsibility for my own healing. I sought help from therapists, devoured books, attended trainings, and immersed myself in my studies—doing whatever it took to find relief.
This journey took me around the globe, where I lived and worked in diverse cultures, faced culture shock, learned a new language, and experienced burnout. Despite the challenges, the lessons I learned were invaluable.
I understand firsthand what it means to be in the client’s seat. I’ve felt it deeply and can confidently say that there is profound hope. While the process is not easy and involves a financial investment, the rewards of healing from trauma and burnout have been the most fulfilling experience of my life.
A Bit More About My Background
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences with a major in Psychology and a three-year advanced certificate in Narrative Therapy. I am trained in various therapeutic approaches, including CBT, DBT, EMDR, Traumatic Incident Reduction, Brainspotting, Somatic Exercizes, Neuropsychotherapy, and more.
I provide therapy to individuals aged 17 and up, offer group therapy, and conduct mental health trainings. Fluent in English and Afrikaans, I use Turkish for basic communication only.
As a Level 4 Registered Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) I offer both in-person and online psychotherapy to ensure accessibility.
Both NDIS and private clients are welcome.
Sunet Gopaul
Specialist Psychotherapist (Trauma) (EMDR l Brainspotting l TIR l Somatic Exercises and more)
Mental Health & CALD Training Developer and Trainer
EAP add-on program developer
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences and distressing memories. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR has gained widespread recognition as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions.
How EMDR Works
EMDR involves a structured eight-phase process that includes the following steps:
History Taking: The therapist gathers information about the client’s history and identifies target memories for processing.
Preparation: The therapist explains the EMDR process, establishes a trusting therapeutic relationship, and teaches the client self-soothing techniques.
Assessment: The client identifies specific memories to target, along with negative beliefs associated with those memories.
Desensitization: Using bilateral stimulation (often through guided eye movements), the therapist helps the client reprocess the traumatic memories, reducing their emotional charge.
Installation: The client focuses on positive beliefs they wish to integrate while continuing bilateral stimulation.
Body Scan: The therapist guides the client in noticing any residual tension or discomfort in the body, helping to release these physical manifestations of trauma.
Closure: The therapist assists the client in returning to a state of equilibrium, ensuring they feel safe and stable before leaving the session.
Reevaluation: In subsequent sessions, the therapist checks in on the progress made and addresses any new material that may have emerged.
Benefits of EMDR
Rapid Results: Many clients experience significant relief from symptoms in a relatively short number of sessions.
Trauma Processing: EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories, allowing individuals to integrate them into their life narrative.
Holistic Approach: EMDR addresses emotional, cognitive, and physical aspects of trauma, fostering a comprehensive healing experience.
Who Can Benefit?
EMDR is suitable for individuals of all ages who have experienced trauma, including those with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other related conditions. It is particularly effective for processing distressing memories related to:
Abuse and neglect
Accidents or disasters
Medical trauma
Combat experiences
Grief and loss
Complex Trauma
Phobias
Conclusion
EMDR offers a powerful and transformative approach to trauma therapy, helping individuals reclaim their lives and foster resilience. If you’re interested in exploring EMDR as a treatment option, consider reaching out to a qualified EMDR therapist to discuss your needs.
What is Brainspotting?
What is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a powerful therapeutic technique developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003. It focuses on the relationship between eye positions and emotional experiences, helping individuals process and heal from trauma, anxiety, and other psychological challenges. This innovative approach is based on the premise that where you look can affect how you feel.
How Brainspotting Works
Brainspotting is a relatively straightforward process that involves the following steps:
Identifying Brainspots: The therapist guides the client to focus on a specific issue or traumatic memory. As the client speaks about their experience, the therapist helps them identify "brainspots," or eye positions that correspond to the intensity of their emotional response.
Focusing on the Brainspot: Once a brainspot is identified, the client maintains their gaze on that specific spot. This focus helps access deeper emotional and physiological experiences, allowing the brain to process and integrate unresolved trauma.
Processing: As the client remains focused on the brainspot, they may experience a range of emotions or sensations. The therapist supports the client in processing these feelings, facilitating a natural healing response.
Closure and Integration: After processing, the therapist helps the client return to a state of equilibrium, ensuring they feel safe and grounded. The session often concludes with discussions about insights gained and how to integrate these experiences into daily life.
Benefits of Brainspotting
Direct Access to Trauma: Brainspotting allows clients to access and process traumatic memories that may be difficult to articulate or confront through traditional talk therapy.
Reduced Emotional Distress: Many individuals experience a decrease in anxiety, depression, and other symptoms after sessions, often leading to profound emotional relief.
Holistic Healing: The technique addresses both the emotional and physical manifestations of trauma, promoting a sense of overall well-being.
Flexibility: Brainspotting can be adapted to various therapeutic contexts, including individual therapy, group sessions, and even remote or online therapy.
Who Can Benefit?
Brainspotting is effective for individuals of all ages dealing with a range of issues, including:
PTSD and trauma
Anxiety and depression
Performance anxiety and stress
Grief and loss
Relationship issues
Conclusion
Brainspotting offers a unique and effective approach to trauma therapy, harnessing the connection between eye movement and emotional processing. If you’re looking for a way to address unresolved trauma or emotional distress, consider exploring Brainspotting with a trained therapist. It could be the key to unlocking deeper healing and resilience in your journey.
What is Traumatic Incident Reduction?
Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals process and resolve traumatic experiences and distressing memories. Developed by Frank Gerbode in the 1990s, TIR is a client-centered technique that focuses on helping clients confront and work through specific traumatic incidents, allowing them to reduce the emotional charge associated with these experiences.
How TIR Works
TIR involves a structured process that guides clients through the exploration of their traumatic memories. The core components of TIR include:
Identifying the Incident: The therapist collaborates with the client to identify a specific traumatic incident or distressing memory that the client wishes to address. This could be a single event or a series of related incidents.
Detailed Recall: The client is encouraged to vividly recall the incident, describing it in as much detail as possible. This process helps bring the memory to the forefront, allowing for a thorough examination of emotions, thoughts, and sensations associated with the trauma.
Processing Emotions: As the client recounts the incident, the therapist facilitates the processing of emotions and physical sensations that arise. This may involve exploring feelings of fear, anger, or sadness, and identifying any negative beliefs that have developed as a result of the trauma.
Desensitization: Through repetition and focused attention, TIR aims to desensitize the client to the emotional intensity of the traumatic memory. This can help diminish the distressing effects of the memory, allowing the client to reframe their understanding of the incident.
Integration and Closure: Once the emotional charge has been reduced, the therapist helps the client integrate the experience, fostering a sense of closure and allowing for a healthier perspective on the incident. The session typically concludes with the client reflecting on their experience and discussing any insights gained.
Benefits of TIR
Effective Trauma Processing: TIR provides a safe and structured environment for clients to confront and process traumatic memories, leading to significant emotional relief.
Empowerment: By actively engaging with their trauma, clients often feel a greater sense of control and empowerment over their healing process.
Flexibility: TIR can be tailored to individual needs, making it suitable for a wide range of trauma-related issues and varying levels of severity.
Long-lasting Results: Many individuals report lasting changes in their emotional responses and an improved quality of life following TIR sessions.
Who Can Benefit?
TIR is beneficial for individuals dealing with various types of trauma, including:
PTSD and acute stress disorder
Childhood abuse and neglect
Loss and grief
Life-threatening events (accidents, violence, etc.)
Natural disasters
Conclusion
Traumatic Incident Reduction is a valuable therapeutic approach for those seeking to heal from traumatic experiences. By providing a structured and supportive environment for processing distressing memories, TIR can help individuals reclaim their lives and foster resilience. If you are interested in exploring TIR as a treatment option, consider reaching out to a qualified therapist who specializes in this technique.
What are “Somatic Exercises?”
Somatic exercises are body-based techniques designed to help individuals release stored trauma and tension within the body. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily focuses on cognitive processing, somatic exercises emphasize the connection between the mind and body, recognizing that traumatic experiences can be held in physical sensations and movements.
Understanding Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy is grounded in the belief that our bodies can store emotional experiences, particularly those related to trauma. When we experience stress or trauma, our bodies may respond with tension, rigidity, or other physical symptoms. Somatic exercises aim to release these pent-up emotions and restore a sense of safety and ease in the body.
How Somatic Exercises Work
Somatic exercises often involve a combination of movement, breathwork, mindfulness, and awareness of bodily sensations. Here are some key components of somatic exercises for trauma release:
Mindful Awareness: Clients are guided to develop an awareness of their body and its sensations. This involves paying attention to areas of tension, discomfort, or heaviness, as well as noticing how emotions manifest physically.
Breathwork: Conscious breathing techniques help regulate the nervous system and promote relaxation. Clients may be encouraged to breathe deeply and slowly, allowing the body to release tension and create space for healing.
Movement and Expression: Gentle movement, stretching, or specific exercises can help release physical tension and facilitate emotional expression. Clients may be guided to shake, sway, or engage in spontaneous movement that feels intuitive to them.
Grounding Techniques: Grounding exercises help clients reconnect with their body and the present moment. This may include visualizing roots growing from their feet into the ground or focusing on physical sensations that bring a sense of stability.
Resourcing: Clients are encouraged to identify positive memories, sensations, or images that evoke feelings of safety and comfort. This helps build resilience and can be used during challenging moments in the healing process.
Benefits of Somatic Exercises
Release of Stored Tension: Somatic exercises can help individuals release physical tension associated with trauma, leading to greater relaxation and emotional relief.
Increased Body Awareness: Clients develop a deeper understanding of their body and its responses, fostering a stronger mind-body connection.
Empowerment: By engaging with their bodies, clients can regain a sense of control and agency over their healing process.
Holistic Healing: Somatic exercises address both emotional and physical aspects of trauma, promoting overall well-being.
Who Can Benefit?
Somatic exercises are suitable for individuals dealing with various forms of trauma, including:
PTSD and anxiety disorders
Childhood trauma
Grief and loss
Chronic stress or tension
Emotional and physical abuse
Conclusion
Somatic exercises offer a valuable approach to trauma release, helping individuals reconnect with their bodies and emotions. By engaging in these body-based techniques, clients can facilitate healing and restore balance in their lives. If you're interested in exploring somatic exercises as part of your therapeutic journey, consider reaching out to a qualified somatic therapist who can guide you through the process.
Testimonials:
Sunet treated me for high anxiety when flying and treated the underlying trauma that was causing this. A caring, understanding and highly recommended Professional
Stuart W
I've been seeing Sunet for almost 2 months now and I already feel lighter in my day to day life. I've still got a long way to go and I'm still processing through things with her, but starting to see her is honestly the best gift that I have ever given myself.
Maddie L
Sunet is the best counsellor! She is absolutely amazing. She helped me work on healthy boundaries and recover from burnout. I highly recommend her as a counsellor!
Ziling Z