About
Rachael’s down-to-earth, evidence-based, and holistic approach offers practical, compassionate support for improving mental health and relationships. With over 15 years’ experience, she specialises in working with children, adolescents, and young adults, her style welcomes anyone who values an open-minded and relaxed therapeutic environment.
At Mixed Bag, you are the boss. You don’t work for Rachael — she works for you. We are committed to reminding you of your position of power at every opportunity. Many people come to Mixed Bag with histories of harm, trauma, and abuse. Rachael’s humble, genuine, and strength-based approach is trauma-informed and person-centred — meaning her priority is ensuring you feel powerful, in control, and, above all, safe. Safe from shame, judgment, or further harm.
At Mixed Bag, we genuinely want to help you achieve your goals, recognising that long-term therapy isn’t realistic, or helpful, for everyone. Rachael’s hope is to support you in building skills for life, empowering you to a point where you no longer “need” to attend regular counselling appointments.
Together, you and Rachael will co-create a care plan tailored to your unique needs, preferences, and situation. This provides a clear direction and puts you in control. You’ll have intentional opportunities to offer feedback along the way including what’s working for you and what isn’t. Typically, you’ll set weekly or fortnightly sessions at a regular time that suits you, setting check-in points around the 6th and 12th sessions to review your progress and satisfaction with the therapeutic approaches offered to you.
Having a ‘Mixed Bag’ of therapeutic skills means Rachael can adapt her approach as needed, offering new tools and strategies to best support you.
Care plans can be extended if needed, including assistance with funding applications, so you never feel rushed in your recovery journey. Once your therapy goals are met, you’ll have the option of scheduling sessions as needed, helping you stay on track for your life’s chosen path.
Sometimes, Rachael may not be the best professional fit — and that’s completely okay. We are committed to supporting you in finding someone who is right for you. Rachael can facilitate a warm handover to another professional who better matches your needs, preferences, or style at no cost.
We know that counsellors are the ‘tool of their trade’, so feeling comfortable with who you work with is essential. Nothing is ever taken personally; even the smallest things, like the colour of your counsellor’s hair can trigger unsafe responses for you and we honor that and will refer you on, considering what was a concern for you here at Mixed Bag.
Rachael’s hope is to remain a safe and supportive steppingstone in your journey — whether time together is brief or ongoing.
We can’t wait to work with you…
Qualifications & Experience
Education
Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Counselling)
Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying)
Certifications
Rachael is committed to ongoing professional development, continually undertaking specialised training across a broad range of issues and therapeutic approaches. This ensures her clients receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based, and individualised support possible. Some examples of additional training and certification include:
Privacy, Confidentiality, and Informed Consent in Therapy
Certification in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) — Introductory Skills Training
Trauma, Shame, and Self-Loathing — Evidence-Based Approaches in Counselling
Symbols and Sand Play in Therapy
Schema Therapy Foundations
Strengths-Based and Solution-Focused Therapy
Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm (Harm Minimisation)
Accreditations
Rachael is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (PACFA Reg. 28336).
Fully accredited and insured through the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) — Australia’s peak body for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Mixed Bag upholds PACFA’s Code of Ethics and Professional Standards.
You are entitled to upmost professionalism and to be offered a cost-effective service when accessing counselling support. Access information ‘what to expect’ when accessing and receiving ethical counselling and psychotherapy is available here
If ever your counselling experience goes against those outlined and recommended by PACFA please contact ethics@pacfa.org.au.
Rachael is an Appointed Victims Services Counsellor.
Accreditation Number: A3863