Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Certification
Community Education and Public Engagement
Digital and Educational Content Development
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Giana Gomes

Trauma-Informed Counsellor | Compassion Fatigue Specialist
MOONEE PONDS
Giana Gomes

Summary

Trauma-informed counsellor with a Master of Guidance and Counselling (Distinction) and specialized training in EMDR-informed trauma approaches, Trauma-Focused CBT, grief support, and compassion fatigue. Dedicated to supporting individuals experiencing burnout, emotional fatigue, grief, stress, and life transitions, with a focus on caregivers, healthcare professionals, and those in high-responsibility environments. Over 20 years of experience as a veterinarian, researcher, and educator across Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Brazil provides a deep understanding of the emotional demands faced by professionals in high-pressure settings. Recently relocated to Melbourne (March 2026) and seeking counselling roles within community organizations, wellbeing services, or clinical settings that prioritize trauma-informed and resilience-focused approaches.

Overview

23
years of professional experience
11
Certifications
2
Languages

Work History

Trueselfhealing Online

Founder and Counsellor
01.2022 - Current

Job overview

  • Provide counselling and resilience-focused support to individuals experiencing:
  • Burnout and compassion fatigue
  • Stress and emotional overload
  • Grief and loss
  • Career and life transitions
  • Responsibilities include:
  • Trauma-informed counselling sessions
  • Psychoeducation on emotional regulation and stress physiology
  • Development of wellbeing resources and guided practices
  • Delivery of workshops and talks on burnout prevention and resilience

Multiple
Multiple, Multiple

Veterinary Scientist and Academic
01.2003 - 01.2023

Job overview

  • Held research and academic roles involving teaching, mentoring, community engagement and international collaboration. These position include academic roles at James Cook University, City University of Hong Kong, Department of Primary Industries Queensland, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory - Singapore, among many others over 20 years.

Transferable Professional Skills

• Advanced observational awareness and ability to recognise subtle behavioural and emotional cues
• Empathic listening and clear, respectful communication across diverse professional and cultural settings
• Supporting individuals through uncertainty, stress and complex decision-making
• Mentoring and guiding students, colleagues and professionals in personal and professional development
• Ability to translate complex scientific or emotional concepts into accessible and supportive conversations
• Emotional regulation and calm presence in high-pressure or sensitive situations
• Cross-cultural communication developed through international work in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Brazil
• Reflective thinking and structured assessment of complex situations and behavioural patterns
• Ethical professional practice, confidentiality and strong professional boundaries
• Facilitation of dialogue, collaborative problem-solving and supportive learning environments.

Education

James Cook University
Singapore

Master of Guidance and Counselling from Distinction
01-2025

James Cook University
Australia

PhD in Science from Aquatic Animal Health and Welfare
01-2017

Universidade Federal Rural De Pernambuco
Brazil

Master of Veterinary Medicine
03.2008

Universidade Federal Rural De Pernambuco
Brazil

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine
08.2003

Skills

Burnout and compassion fatigue

Trauma and emotional regulation

Grief and loss support

Caregiver and high pressure professional stress

Youth emotional wellbeing

Resilience and stress management

Professional wellbeing for healthcare workers

My counselling approach integrates trauma-informed practice with neuroscience-based understanding of stress and emotional regulation

Modalities and training include:

Attachment-Focused EMDR (Level 1 and Level 2)

Parnell Institute – Dr Lauren Parnell

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)

Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT)

Clinical Hypnotherapy

Psychological First Aid

Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Prevention

Grief-informed counselling approaches

Somatic and nervous-system regulation strategies

Training in Neuroscience for Change at Work (APMG International) also informs my understanding of stress, behavioural adaptation and emotional resilience

Accomplishments

    Received training in Attachment-Focused EMDR (Level 1 and Level 2) Parnell Institute – Dr Lauren Parnell

    Awarded Certification in Neuroscience for Change at Work from APMG International - UK

Affiliations

  • Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC)
  • Recently relocated to Australia and currently exploring membership with the:
  • Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
  • Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)

Certification

Neuroscience for Change at Work – APMG International (2026)

Community Education and Public Engagement

  • Delivered talks and presentations on emotional wellbeing and compassion fatigue.
  • Selected engagements:
  • Vet Show Singapore (2024) Retention and resilience: emotional fatigue in the workplace
  • Singapore Veterinary Association (2024) Navigating emotional fatigue and wellbeing in the veterinary profession
  • Vet Show Singapore (2023) Let’s Start a Conversation About Compassion Fatigue
  • Swiss Cottage Secondary School (2025) Teacher wellbeing and resilience
  • Creator and host of the Paws & Palms Podcast focusing on wellbeing, compassion fatigue and resilience.
  • Founder of the Hashtag Fish educational YouTube channel, producing more than 100 educational videos.

Digital and Educational Content Development

  • Experienced in developing psychoeducational resources, presentations and wellbeing content using modern digital tools and AI-assisted platforms.
  • Creator of podcast and video-based educational material, including:
  • Paws & Palms Podcast
  • Hashtag Fish educational media platform

Timeline

Founder and Counsellor

Trueselfhealing Online
01.2022 - Current

Veterinary Scientist and Academic

Multiple
01.2003 - 01.2023

James Cook University

PhD in Science from Aquatic Animal Health and Welfare

James Cook University

Master of Guidance and Counselling from Distinction

Universidade Federal Rural De Pernambuco

Master of Veterinary Medicine

Universidade Federal Rural De Pernambuco

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

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Giana GomesTrauma-Informed Counsellor | Compassion Fatigue Specialist