Service
Christian Counselling
Therapy from a practising Catholic counsellor for women who want their faith taken seriously as part of their healing.
For many Christian women, the hardest part of seeking counselling is the quiet fear that their faith will be misunderstood — treated as a symptom to be managed, a belief to be challenged, or a topic the counsellor will politely skirt around. It is exhausting to explain yourself to someone who speaks a different language about the deepest things.
Aana is a practising Catholic and a parishioner at Our Lady of Mercy, Mount Barker. Her counselling practice is grounded in a Christian anthropology: the conviction that every woman has inherent dignity, that the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — is worth caring for, and that grace and healing are not opposed to evidence-based therapy.
That does not mean every session is about faith. Most sessions are not. It means that when faith matters to you — when your prayer life, your parish, or your relationship with God is part of what you are working through — you will be understood rather than deflected. And when faith feels complicated, heavy, or wounded, that too will be held with care.
Counselling is not spiritual direction, and it is not a substitute for the sacraments, pastoral care, or the guidance of a priest. It is a complement to them. We are happy to work alongside your parish and, with your consent, communicate with clergy where that would be helpful.
In Session
What We Help With
- Anxiety, depression, and faith that feels heavy
- Trauma survivors wrestling with questions of suffering
- Mothers struggling with guilt and perfectionism
- Women navigating infertility and pregnancy loss in a faith context
- Marriage difficulties and preparation for the sacrament
- Religious trauma and spiritual abuse
- Grief and the questions it raises about God
- Discernment and major life decisions
Our Approach
Catholic-Informed, Not Exclusively Catholic
Women of every Christian tradition — and women of no particular tradition — are welcome at Safe Refuge. Our Catholic roots shape the language we are comfortable with and the questions we are not afraid of. They do not limit who we serve.
If you are unsure whether Safe Refuge is the right fit, a discovery call is the gentlest way to find out.
Take the Next Step
Book a Discovery Call
A short, free conversation to explore what is troubling you and whether Safe Refuge is the right next step. No referral, no diagnosis, no pressure.