About Mirna

My commitment to trauma work spans over 30 years, grounded in a deep belief that healing and growth are possible. I support individuals who have experienced trauma and adversity to build the confidence, resilience, and skills needed to live meaningful and fulfilling lives. I also facilitate capacity building and empowerment for professionals so they can provide the best possible care while maintaining their own wellbeing.

My career began in education, before I followed my passion into supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence and coercive control. This included work in refuges, counselling services, crisis lines and specialist programs for migrant and refugee families. Over time, I have developed a practice that combines therapy, supervision, and training — supporting both personal healing and professional growth.

I have held senior training and development roles with leading organisations such as the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies, the Education Centre Against Violence, and the Blue Knot Foundation. In these roles, I designed and delivered programs on trauma, domestic violence, child protection, cultural diversity, professional boundaries, and vicarious trauma. My training is known for being practical, engaging, and directly applicable — giving people tools they can use immediately and the confidence to apply them in complex situations. I continue to deliver training, facilitate groups, and present at conferences — all with the aim of equipping individuals and organisations to respond to trauma with confidence, compassion, and effectiveness.

In my clinical practice, I offer therapy for those dealing with the lasting impacts of childhood trauma, domestic and sexual abuse, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, and complex post-traumatic stress. My approach is collaborative and empowering, helping people move forward with greater self-understanding, resilience, and capacity to thrive.

As a supervisor, I provide a  reflective space where practitioners  can pause, make sense of their experiences, and strengthen their practice. My role is not just to guide, but to equip others with the insight, strategies, and self-awareness that allow them to excel in their work while sustaining their own well-being.

At the core of my work is a belief in people’s capacity to grow, learn and succeed when they feel supported and connected. Whether I am working with an individual, a team, or a whole organisation, my goal is the same: to help people do their work well, and to feel well while doing it.

My values are aligned with the key principles of trauma informed practice, including connection, trust and collaboration in a safe, non- judgemental environment.

My therapeutic mission is to provide counselling that is grounded in neuroscience, polyvagal and attachment theories. I recognise that healing occurs when an individual feels safe, supported, and understood. My knowledge of how stress and trauma affect the nervous system enables me to tailor therapy to each person’s unique needs and pace.

A key goal is to assist people to develop insight, strengthen coping strategies, and make meaningful changes that allow for a more authentic, connected, and fulfilling life. I believe that trauma can be transformed and that people can live a life beyond the impacts. I use EMDR to effect positive transformation and it is a key tool in my work.

Bachelor of Education
University of Sydney

Graduate Diploma in Counselling
Australian College of Applied Psychology

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

Registered Clinical Counsellor
Psychotherapy and Counselling
Federation of Australia (PACFA)

Accredited Supervisor
Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)

Member
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Association of Australia (EMDRAA)

Accredited with Griefline

Accredited with Victims Services NSW

My Therapeutic Approach

My practice is grounded in Trauma-Informed Principles (TIP), which recognise the importance of safety, trust, and collaboration in the healing process. I aim to create a therapeutic relationship where you can experience genuine connection, emotional safety, and the freedom to explore at your own pace. Healing begins in the presence of another human being who listens with empathy, respect, and curiosity.

I also incorporate Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidence-based approach that helps individuals process distressing memories without the need to retell or relive traumatic experiences in detail. EMDR supports the natural healing capacity of the brain, allowing painful experiences to lose their emotional intensity and become integrated in a way that restores balance and wellbeing.

“I actively communicate empathy and acceptance of the individual while providing them with the comfort and containment needed to explore and resolve past trauma and shame-related experiences.”  

Daniel Hughes Ph.D.

My work is deeply influenced by the Humanistic model of counselling, which forms the foundation of many contemporary psychotherapeutic and trauma-informed approaches. Central to this model is the belief that healing occurs within a trusting and authentic relationship. I strive to create a supportive, non-judgmental, and confidential space where you can explore and process your feelings, experiences, and concerns.

At times, we may not fully understand what is causing our distress — only that something feels unsettled or that we long for change. My approach gently supports you in uncovering what may be holding you back from living a more fulfilling and meaningful life. I work collaboratively with you in the present moment, honouring your unique experiences, wisdom, and goals, while helping you build the insight and resilience needed for lasting change.

I draw on:

• Person Centred
• Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing
• Attachment Informed Mindfulness based approaches
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Somatic Approaches
• Emotional Freedom Techniques
• Internal Family Systems

“Healing of trauma requires the establishment of an environment of safety, without judgement or prejudice… Cultural safety is the identification a person makes with factors that are derived from the culture, belief systems or worldviews that allow them to feel safe while being with those to whom they have gone to help.”

Professor Judy Atkinson – Recovery Voices