Welcome

I’m glad you’re here.

If you’ve arrived feeling shaken, exhausted, or destabilised after a breach of trust — whether by a person or a system you relied on — you’re not alone.

This is a calm, confidential space for women who are carrying a lot, often quietly. You don’t need to know exactly what you need yet. You don’t need the right words. You don’t need to be ready to decide anything.

Just a willingness to begin.

Online Counselling for Women After Betrayal, Harm, and Emotional Exhaustion (Australia-wide)

Some experiences don’t just hurt — they can shake your sense of safety, identity, and trust.

You might be here because:

  • something you trusted caused harm

  • the ground shifted suddenly, and you’re still trying to regain footing

  • you’re functioning on the outside but unravelling inside

  • exhaustion, grief, or disorientation have taken hold

  • you’re tired of holding it together alone

Here, there is room to slow down and understand what you experienced — without pressure, fixing, or performance.

Together, we work toward steadiness, clarity, and a renewed sense of strength — at a pace that respects what you’ve been through.

Start with a First Steps Session →

Does Any of This Feel Familiar?

You might be:

  • mentally and emotionally depleted, with little left to give

  • struggling to concentrate, sleep, or make clear decisions

  • carrying shock, grief, or loss of trust that hasn’t settled

  • unsure whether to stay, leave, rebuild, or simply breathe again

  • questioning yourself after something that didn’t make sense

Betrayal — especially when it comes from a person, workplace, institution, or faith community you trusted — doesn’t just affect emotions.
It disrupts safety, confidence, meaning, and day-to-day functioning.

Here, you don’t need to prove what happened.
You don’t need to justify why it affected you.

Counselling can help you move out of survival mode and toward clearer thinking, stronger boundaries, and a greater sense of agency — without rushing or minimising what you’ve lived through.

Hi, I’m Amanda. 🤍

Qualified Counsellor | Trauma-Informed | Online

I support women navigating the aftermath of betrayal, harm, and prolonged emotional strain — using a calm, respectful, and evidence-based approach.

Alongside private counselling, I also provide training, resources, and consultation to aftercare teams supporting survivors of exploitation.

My work is grounded in:

  • trauma-informed counselling

  • narrative and strengths-based therapy

  • nervous system regulation and emotional stabilisation

  • practical tools that support everyday functioning and decision-making

You won’t be rushed.
You won’t be told what to do.
You don’t need to have everything figured out.

We work collaboratively, at your pace, with care and clarity.

Learn more about Amanda →

How I Can Support You

Counselling Pathways for Betrayal & Harm

While every story is unique, many women arrive after harm that falls into one of the following experiences. Each pathway is supported with care, structure, and respect for your pace.

Pathway 1

Institutional, Workplace & Spiritual Betrayal

This is a specialised counselling pathway for women navigating betrayal within systems, organisations, or faith communities.

For women who have experienced harm, betrayal, or disillusionment following broken trust or the misuse of power:

  • workplaces or professional settings

  • churches, ministries, or faith communities

  • schools, organisations, or high-control environments

  • leadership structures where power was misused or protection failed

  • situations where spiritual language or scripture was used to control, justify harm, silence concerns, or override personal boundaries

Often this kind of betrayal leads to:

  • shock and disbelief

  • loss of meaning or identity

  • deep mistrust of authority or systems

  • emotional collapse after long-term over-functioning or pressure to comply

  • disconnection, isolation, or loss of belonging after separation from a former community

  • grief that others may not fully understand

Support may include:

  • stabilising after shock or sudden rupture

  • making sense of what happened without minimising or blaming

  • processing grief, anger, and moral injury

  • rebuilding trust in yourself and your judgment after gaslighting or silencing

  • recognising survival patterns such as people-pleasing or over-responsibility, and reframing them into healthier beliefs and responses that support safety and self-respect

  • clarifying boundaries and next steps, without pressure

You don’t have to explain why this affected you so deeply. What happened mattered — and it makes sense that it disrupted you.

Pathway 2

Relational Betrayal, Infidelity & Coercive Harm

This is a specialised counselling pathway for women navigating betrayal or harm within close relationships.

For women who have experienced harm, betrayal, or coercive dynamics within close relationships, including:

  • intimate partnerships or marriages

  • relationships where trust was broken

  • family relationships that involved manipulation, control, or emotional harm

  • emotionally abusive or controlling relationships

  • relationships involving gaslighting, coercion, or repeated boundary violations

  • situations where consent, safety, or emotional security were compromised over time

Often this kind of betrayal leads to:

  • shock, disbelief, or a sense of unreality

  • loss of trust in yourself, your judgment, or your instincts

  • confusion about what was real, what was promised, or what changed

  • grief for the relationship, the future you imagined, or the version of yourself you were

  • emotional exhaustion after prolonged vigilance, caretaking, or self-doubt

  • shame or isolation, especially when the harm was hidden or minimised by others

Support may include:

  • stabilising after discovery, rupture, or relational shock

  • making sense of what happened without minimising, blaming, or rushing forgiveness

  • processing grief, anger, betrayal, and relational trauma safely

  • rebuilding trust in yourself and your perceptions

  • clarifying boundaries, decisions, and next steps at your own pace

  • strengthening emotional safety and self-agency moving forward

You don’t have to justify why this affected you so deeply. What happened mattered — and it makes sense that it disrupted your sense of safety and trust.

Pathway 3

Sexual Harm, Coercion & Abuse Recovery

This is a specialised counselling pathway for women navigating the impact of sexual harm, coercion, or boundary violations.

For women who have experienced:

  • sexual abuse in childhood or adulthood

  • coercion or pressure where consent was compromised

  • unwanted sexual experiences within relationships

  • exploitation or boundary violations

  • experiences that felt confusing, shame-filled, or difficult to name

Often this can lead to:

  • shame or self-blame

  • disconnection from your body

  • anxiety or panic responses

  • difficulty trusting others

  • emotional numbness or overwhelm

  • confusion about what “counts” as abuse

Support may include:

  • stabilising the nervous system before processing

  • working gently and at your pace

  • reducing shame and self-blame

  • rebuilding body awareness and consent confidence

  • strengthening boundaries and agency

  • restoring a sense of safety in yourself

You will never be pressured to share details before you are ready.

Counselling for Sexual Harm & Abuse →

Pathway 4

Burnout & Emotional Exhaustion

Many women arrive here feeling burnt out — but burnout is often the result, not the cause.

Prolonged harm, betrayal, or misalignment can quietly erode internal resources over time, showing up as:

  • chronic exhaustion

  • emotional numbness or overload

  • difficulty thinking clearly

  • loss of confidence or motivation

Our work focuses on restoring nervous system stability, sustainable rhythms, and steadiness — rather than pushing you to cope harder or perform through depletion.

Read more about burnout support →

What Counselling Is Like Here

Sessions are:

  • online and confidential

  • calm, structured, and responsive to your capacity

  • focused on both emotional support and practical outcomes

You are not expected to:

  • relive everything at once

  • appear healed, positive, or “together”

  • commit to a set number of sessions

You remain in control of what we talk about, when, and how deeply.

Many clients begin with a small block of sessions to stabilise, build skills, and review progress together — always collaboratively, always with choice.

A Gentle Way to Begin

First Steps Session – 30 minutes | $50

A structured, introductory session for women who are unsure where to start.

This session is designed to:

  • understand what’s been weighing on you

  • provide gentle stabilisation and support

  • clarify whether ongoing counselling feels like the right next step

There is no pressure to continue.
We focus on what feels most helpful right now.

Support You Can Trust

Qualified. Experienced. Registered.

  • BA (Psychology)

  • Postgraduate Certificate (Human Services)

  • Diploma of Counselling

  • Diploma of Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapy

  • Registered Counsellor — Australian Counselling Association (ACA)

I commit to ongoing supervision, training, and ethical practice.

My work is:

  • trauma-informed

  • neurodivergent-affirming

  • grounded in safety, consent, and collaboration

Free Resources

Support for women navigating betrayal, burnout, and emotional exhaustion

These open-access resources are offered as a place to begin — whether you’re considering counselling or simply looking for understanding and steady guidance.

Each resource is written through a trauma-informed lens and designed to support reflection, clarity, and nervous-system regulation.

You’re welcome to explore at your own pace. There’s no sign-up required.

Masking, Fatigue & Burnout in Women

Many women learn to cope by staying capable, quiet, or accommodating — even when they’re overwhelmed inside.

When Harm is Denied (DARVO)

When harm is followed by denial, blame-shifting, or reversal of responsibility (often referred to as DARVO), the impact can feel especially confusing and destabilising.

Why Boundaries Feel Hard After Harm

If saying no brings guilt, or disappointing others feels unbearable, you’re not broken — your nervous system may have learned that staying connected meant staying quiet.

Early Attachment Wounds & Adult Betrayal

Sometimes the pain of betrayal feels bigger than the present moment — because it touches older experiences of being unseen, unsafe, or unsupported.

Finding Steady Ground Starts with One Step

You don’t need to be ready.
You don’t need to be certain.

Just willing to begin.

Not Sure Where to Start?

If you’re unsure what kind of support fits your situation — or whether counselling is right for you — you’re warmly welcome to reach out.

📧 admin@yourstoryint.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest. I hope this helps bring clarity to your questions.

1. What kind of issues do you support women with?

I support women navigating the impact of betrayal, harm, and prolonged emotional strain. This includes experiences within relationships, workplaces, organisations, churches, schools, or other systems where trust was given and later broken.

Many women I work with feel shaken, disoriented, exhausted, or unsure of themselves after these experiences. Counselling focuses on helping you regain steadiness, clarity, and a sense of agency — at your pace.

2. What if I’m not sure whether what I experienced “counts” as betrayal or harm?

You don’t need to label or prove your experience in order to seek support. If something disrupted your sense of safety, trust, or wellbeing, that is enough.

Counselling is not about deciding whether something was “bad enough.” It’s about understanding how it affected you and what you need now.

3. Will you tell me what to do or push me to make decisions?

No. Counselling is collaborative and client-led. My role is to support you to make sense of what you’ve experienced, clarify what matters to you, and strengthen your capacity to make decisions — not to tell you what choices to make.

You remain in control of the pace and direction of the work.

4. What if I’m not ready to talk about everything yet?

That’s completely okay. You are never required to share more than feels safe or helpful.

Early sessions often focus on stabilisation, understanding what’s weighing on you, and building a sense of safety and clarity before going deeper — if and when you choose to.

5. What is your cancellation policy?

Appointments are reserved especially for you.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, please provide at least 48 hours’ notice for a full refund. Cancellations within 48 hours or missed appointments are not eligible for refund.

If something urgent or unavoidable arises, please contact us as soon as possible at admin@yourstoryint.com.

6. How many sessions will I need?

There’s no set number. Some women begin with a small block of sessions to stabilise and gain clarity, while others choose ongoing support. We regularly review progress together, and you’re free to pause or stop at any time.

7. Do you offer in-person sessions?

All sessions are currently offered online, allowing flexible access across Australia.

If You Need Immediate Support...

You are not alone.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsafe right now, immediate support is available.

In an immediate emergency (danger to life or safety):
📞 Call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

24/7 crisis support in Australia:

  • Lifeline (crisis support & suicide prevention): 13 11 14 — phone or online support.

  • Suicide Call Back Service (free counselling): 1300 659 467 — phone, online or video support.

  • Beyond Blue (support for depression, anxiety & mental wellbeing): 1300 224 636 — phone and online counselling.

  • Kids Helpline (ages 5–25): 1800 55 1800 — confidential counselling.

  • 13YARN (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support): 13 92 76 — support.

These services can provide immediate emotional support, safety planning, and connection to further help — no referral required.