Hi, I’m Biannka
I am a passionate couples counsellor and psychotherapist. I am trained in Gestalt Psychotherapy which is a holistic way of practising psychotherapy. It is rich, relational, and profoundly meaningful. The founders of Gestalt rejected the ideas and popularity of consumerism and mass industrialization. Instead, they wanted to create a psychotherapy that was an agent for human freedom, social progressivism and something that would encourage a new potential for deeper meaning and satisfaction in one’s life.
Why Gestalt Psychotherapy?
HERE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY I AM SO PASSIONATE ABOUT GESTALT PSYCHOTHERAPY - WHICH WILL LIKELY GIVE YOU SOME IDEA ON THE VALUES I HOLD TOO:
You are the expert of your life. As the therapist, my role is to guide you back to yourself.
It is process driven. We focus on how you do life, not the content. In other words, we don’t just talk about it, we look at the how and why.
It is based in the here-and-now. Gestalt was ahead of its time in so many things including this one, in that it brings us back to the present moment.
To change, all you need to do is become more of who you are now. This is beautiful because too often we want to remove parts of ourselves and/or change who we are. Gestalt Psychotherapy recognizes that in our brilliance to protect ourselves from the sometimes overwhelming experiences throughout our lives, we have made creative adjustments.
Understanding the “how” and “why” is the key to our freedom.
It is relational. The relationship between the client and therapist is where the magic happens – you are seen and heard as you are. To be deeply listened to with curiosity and in the absence of opinion, advice, or interpretation is wonderfully transformational.
It is holistic. We look at ALL of you - your body, spiritual beliefs, culture, historical experiences, political views, religious persuasions and so on.
Bodily experience is relevant. We use the body’s intelligence to uncover what might really be going on.
Gestalt Psychotherapy can be used in settings with individuals, couples, groups, communities and organisations.
I LIKE TO KNOW THE ‘WHY AND HOW’ BEHIND BEHAVIOUR AND ACTIONS FROM BOTH A PERSONAL/INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVE TO LARGER SOCIETAL TRENDS AND INFLUENCES AND HOW THESE ALL INTERSECT AND CREATE THE GLORIOUS HUMAN BEINGS WE ARE.
I have experienced many things in my life which have shaped the way I think and have further driven my interest in the human experience.
I hold relationships dear to my heart and I believe that having awareness of ourselves and the skills to navigate relationships are foundational to creating more peace and joy. I am both an Ashtanga yoga student and teacher and I travel to spend time with my teachers both here in Australia and India, as often as I can. The Ashtanga yoga practice for me is like coming home to myself and I have learnt so much about how I “do” life by simply rolling out my mat every day. I will continue to deepen my practice and study of yoga as a student and teacher and am currently completing a course through Mindful Birth Australia where I am studying how yoga can support women through pregnancy, birthing and beyond. I have the honor of living on a decent size patch of land in Kuranda which tends to keep me grounded and absorbed in terms of tending the food gardens and dreaming of new ones.
From a more professional perspective
My curiosity and love for learning has led me to complete the following qualifications;
Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Bahasa Indonesia)
Graduate Certificate (Human Services)
Master International Community Development
Master Gestalt Therapy
I have worked in the human services industry since 2007 in various capacities and I am a current member of Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia (PACFA).