Psychology and Counselling
Zara Kitchingman
Redcliffe,QLD
Summary
Experienced with therapeutic techniques and client-focused care. Utilises active listening and empathy to create a supportive environment. Knowledge of crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, neuro-affirming practice and individualised treatment planning, ensuring effective support for diverse client needs. Adaptive and dependable with a focus on strength-based approaches, building attachment, and problem-solving.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
2
2
Certification
Work History
Owner and Counsellor
Counselling by Nature
01.2023 - Current
Opened a sole-practice to balance further study and family commitments while continuing to provide therapeutic services to existing clients.
Lifeline Volunteer
Uniting Care
08.2023 - 06.2024
Provided remote crisis support to help seekers via text and chat options using the CARE framework, de-escalating heightened emotions, assessing risk, developing collaborative safety plans, facilitating referrals, and working closely with ISS if further crisis intervention was deemed necessary.
Counsellor and Admin Support
Left of Centre Therapies
02.2022 - 01.2023
Managed client waitlist and clinician bookings, assisted with documentation and form preparation. Delivered remote, neuro-affirming therapeutic support across the lifespan, addressing environmental and neurological challenges impacting functional capacity.
Supported clients with Autism, ADHD, Dissociative Identity Disorder, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, and Grief, while providing psychoeducational to guardians to enhance children's emotional well-being and development.
Child & Adolescent Therapist | Family Support Work
Marsden Families Program
03.2019 - 02.2022
Delivered therapeutic interventions for children and families under child protection orders affected by complex and generational trauma to meet departmental and family goals of preservation, alternative placement, or reunification.
Supported parents and carers to understand complex behaviours, strengthen attachment, and support child safety and well-being. Provided clinical knowledge to stakeholders on the impacts of abuse-related trauma and neglect, disrupted attachments, and dynamics impacting family functioning.
Assisted children in processing trauma, building resilience, promoting protective behaviors, developing safety plans, and enhancing self-worth. Provided parenting support, psychoeducational, and advocacy in trauma and attachment contexts. Collaborated with families to develop budgets, routines, and strategies to enhance stability and functioning.
Student Child and Adolescent Therapist & Family Support Worker
Marsden Families Program
08.2018 - 03.2019
Supported children and families impacted by adversity to process events, build resilience, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and foster self-awareness. Assisted families in identifying strengths, accessing support, building community networks, developing parenting strategies, and strengthening attachment, emotional and behavioural understanding of their children.
Administration and Reception
Marsden Families Program
08.2014 - 02.2019
Supported case workers and therapists with documentation, case file administration, and client record management. Assisted with client brokerage, emergency relief distribution and resource inventory. Networked with external services to source additional support and participate in case conferences, training, and group supervision.
Children’s Support Volunteer
Kids Reunited Contact Centre
05.2018 - 08.2018
Facilitate supervised parent-child visitations in a safe, supportive environment which nurtures the right of the child to have contact with parents and significant others in their lives, whilst maintaining the focus on the safety and wellbeing of the children.
Volunteer
ACCESS Services Inc
01.2006 - 2007
General administration and assisting refugee clients with basic computer skills and support to seek employment.
ACCESS services, a non-profit organization who aid and assist humanitarian and migrant entrants.
Education
Bachelor of Psychological Science And Counselling - Dual Degree of Social Science
Australia College of Applied Professionals
12-2026
Bachelor of Counselling - Social Studies
Australia Institute of Professional Counsellors
01-2020
Diploma of Counselling - CHC51015
Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors
03.2019
Certificate III Early Childhood Education & Care - CHC30113
Australian Child Care Career Options
07.2015
Skills
- Strong client and work ethic
- Creative problem-solving
- Excellent organization and interpersonal skills
- Strong client-relation skills in dealing with sensitive issues
- Holistic approach to trauma care
- Self-awareness and boundary setting
- Quickly establish client trust and rapport
- Crisis intervention techniques
- Proactive in skill development
- Counselling
- Family dynamics
- Parenting skills educator
Certification
- Blue Card
- Open Driver’s License
- ACA Registration, Level 2
- Circle of Security Parenting Program COS-P Facilitator
- Triple P level 3 Facilitator
Training and Certificates
2025-2026
Completing Bachelor of Psychological Science and Counselling: Dual Degree | Australian College of Applied Professions University College (ACAP)
Neuro-affirming practice in FFT-CW | ACA
Cultural Counselling therapy | CCC
2023 - 2024
Anxiety, PTSD, Trauma | Lifeline Uniting Care
Mental Health interventions; Domestic Violence | Black Dog Institute
Using exposure effectively to treat anxiety | Black Dog Institute
Supporting fathers and fathers-to-be |AIFS
Supporting infants and toddlers' resilience during daily transitions | AIFS
Narcissistic abuse and Dr Google | ACA
Epigenetics: Understanding its role in ADHD | ADDitude
Working with teens | Garry King
2021 - 2022
Comprehensive Autism assessment | LOC
Engaging with children | Emerging Minds
Goal setting | LOC
Case conceptualization | LOC
Neurodiverse Affirming Practice | LOC
Intake and Counselling Skills | LOC
Engaging with Children | Emerging Minds
Train the trainer course: Crossroads; Shaping the lives of children who experienced domestic and family violence | Red Rose Foundation
The Shark Cage: A practical framework for addressing vulnerability and revictimization in women who are victims of abuse and domestic violence | Ursula Benstead Consulting
2019 – 2020
Telehealth for Mental Health professionals | PDP
Complex trauma and attachment in children: Providing therapeutic response | Complex Care
Accredited Provider Cert. Level 3 Primary Care Triple P | Triple P
Working with Child sexual assault | Bravehearts
Complex trauma: Recognising and working effectively with clients | PDP
Triple P Online Positive Parenting Program | Triple P
Non-verbal, visual processing as a clinical approach in client work | PDP
Trauma-focused integrated play therapy treatment and assessment of children who present with sexualized behavior problems | Gill Institute
Suicide ideation in primary school-aged children | MHPN
2017 – 2018
Diploma of Counselling | AIPC
Advanced Study Major: Abuse Counselling | AIPC
Advanced Study Major: Introduction to Expressive therapies | AIPC
Advanced Study Major: Relationship Counselling and Conflict resolution | AIPC
1-2-3 magic & emotion coaching parent education course | Kathy Thornton
Working effectively with people from culturally diverse backgrounds | MDA
Engaging parents of children approaching adolescence | Emerging Minds
Institutional child sexual abuse: An introduction to survivor experience | AU Psychological Society
Core Value Therapy | David Nancarrow
Mental Health First Aid |MHFAA
Working with young people self-harm/self-injury | Garry King
Building resilience in young people workshop | Garry King
Accredited Provider Cert. Circle of Security Parenting training | Glen Cooper
2015 – 2016
Working with complexity; parents with mental health, substance use and family violence issues | Encompass
Supportive hands; introduction to child sexual assault workshop | Bravehearts
Indigenous studies, AU & NZ | Open2Learning
Financial planning | Open2Learning
Circle of Security | MFP
Certificate III in Early childhood education and care | ACCCO
Affiliations
- Australian Counselling Association
Interests
Children and Young People's development and well-being
Parent-Child Attachment
Gardening and Nature-based therapies
Relationships
Trauma and Neglect Neuroscience
ADHD and Environment
Family and Domestic Violence
Anxiety
Depression
Software
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Google and Outlook
Power Diary and Halaxy
Zoom and Teams
Languages
English
Timeline
Lifeline Volunteer
Uniting Care
08.2023 - 06.2024
Owner and Counsellor
Counselling by Nature
01.2023 - Current
Counsellor and Admin Support
Left of Centre Therapies
02.2022 - 01.2023
Child & Adolescent Therapist | Family Support Work
Marsden Families Program
03.2019 - 02.2022
Student Child and Adolescent Therapist & Family Support Worker
Marsden Families Program
08.2018 - 03.2019
Children’s Support Volunteer
Kids Reunited Contact Centre
05.2018 - 08.2018
Administration and Reception
Marsden Families Program
08.2014 - 02.2019
Volunteer
ACCESS Services Inc
01.2006 - 2007
Bachelor of Psychological Science And Counselling - Dual Degree of Social Science
Australia College of Applied Professionals
Bachelor of Counselling - Social Studies
Australia Institute of Professional Counsellors
Diploma of Counselling - CHC51015
Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors
Certificate III Early Childhood Education & Care - CHC30113
Australian Child Care Career Options
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