GET TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
Kellie Ward
What isKellie's favourite thing
ABOUT COUNSELLING?
'It is such an honour being the person that people open up to and share their life with. I love getting to know and understand who a person is, then supporting them to connect to that inside themselves.'
​
​For Kellie counselling is not about giving anyone the answers but supporting them to access their own internal resources to be able to feel more settled in their daily lives.
Kellie is an experienced registered counsellor who has a holistic approach to therapy that works with both physical and psychological fitness for life. Kellie has a strong focus on really getting to know and understand who her clients are and provides a safe space free from judgment and biased outcomes. This has been found to assist clients to deepen and explore different aspects of their own lives and bring more understanding to themselves and those around them.
​
Kellie has a strong focus on personal and professional development, always going deeper with every aspect in her own life to be able to support others to do the same.
​
Kellie came to the field of counselling and psychology in a round about way. Starting out in the health and fitness industry then moving to childcare, Kellie's love for supporting people to connect to themselves and their children has only deepened. She has always had the innate qualities of a counsellor and often people came to her for advice well before she entered the field professionally.
​
She has volunteered with the Australian Breastfeeding Association, Lifeline and Headspace which has given her a steady foundation in counselling by supporting people in vastly different circumstances and of all ages.
​Qualifications
Masters of Counselling
Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)
Diploma of Counselling
Diploma of Fitness
Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Leadership
Cert. IV in Breastfeeding Education & Counselling
Cert. III & IV in Children’s Services
Registered Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Member
NDIS Registered
PEERS Social Skills Training Certified
APPROACHES & TECHNIQUES
GOTTMAN COUPLES THERAPY
The Gottman Method is an approach to couples therapy that includes a thorough assessment of the couple’s relationship and integrates research-based interventions based on the Sound Relationship House Theory. The goals of Gottman Method Couples Therapy are to disarm conflicting verbal communication; increase intimacy, respect, and affection; remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy; and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship.
SOMATIC PARTS THERAPY
Somatic parts therapy for trauma is a body-based, integrative approach that recognises how traumatic experiences are stored not only in the mind but also within the nervous system and the body. This approach combines somatic awareness with parts-based work to help individuals safely connect with different internal “parts” that hold survival responses such as fear, shame, or hypervigilance.
Through gentle, guided attention to bodily sensations, movement, breath, and nervous system regulation, clients learn to build safety, increase self-awareness, and develop compassion for these protective parts. Over time, somatic parts therapy supports the release of stored trauma, restores a sense of control and embodiment, and promotes healing without requiring individuals to relive or retell traumatic events in detail.
NARRATIVE THERAPY
Narrative therapy is a collaborative, strengths-based approach to counselling that helps individuals understand and reshape the stories they tell about their lives. It is based on the idea that people are not the problem—the problem is the problem—and that difficulties are often influenced by experiences, relationships, and social contexts rather than personal flaws.
Through guided conversations, a counsellor supports clients to externalise challenges, explore alternative perspectives, and identify moments of resilience, values, and personal strengths that may have been overlooked. By re-authoring their life stories, individuals can develop a stronger sense of identity, empowerment, and hope, supporting meaningful and lasting change.
PERSON CENTERED
Person-centred therapy is a humanistic counselling approach that places the individual at the centre of the therapeutic process, recognising each person’s innate capacity for growth and self-healing. Developed by Carl Rogers, this approach emphasises a non-judgemental, empathetic, and supportive therapeutic relationship built on unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and deep understanding.
Rather than directing or advising, the therapist creates a safe space where individuals can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences at their own pace. Through this process, clients gain greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, and confidence, empowering them to make meaningful changes aligned with their values and sense of self.
MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING
Motivational interviewing is a person-centred, evidence-based counselling approach that supports individuals to explore and strengthen their own motivation for change. Rather than directing or advising, the therapist works collaboratively with the client to elicit their values, goals, and reasons for change in a respectful and non-judgemental way.
This approach recognises ambivalence as a normal part of the change process and uses open questions, reflective listening, and affirmation to build confidence and self-efficacy. By empowering individuals to take ownership of their decisions, motivational interviewing supports sustainable behaviour change that aligns with what matters most to the person.
Emotion-Focused Therapy
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based, humanistic approach that helps individuals understand, process, and transform difficult emotional experiences. It is grounded in the belief that emotions are central to identity and play a key role in guiding needs, decisions, and relationships.
Through a supportive and empathic therapeutic relationship, clients are guided to safely access, explore, and make sense of their emotions, particularly those linked to past experiences or unmet needs. By learning to regulate overwhelming feelings and transform maladaptive emotional responses into healthier ones, Emotion-Focused Therapy supports emotional healing, self-compassion, and lasting personal change.