ABOUT RealYou Counselling
Our Philosophy
At RealYou Counselling, we believe meaningful change begins with understanding yourself.
Life’s pressures, trauma, difficult relationships and learned patterns can sometimes leave you feeling disconnected from who you are and uncertain about what you truly want. Counselling offers a space to explore what has shaped you, reconnect with your own values and begin trusting your thoughts, feelings and choices.
Through compassionate, trauma-informed and evidence-based counselling, we will work together at your pace, helping you understand yourself more deeply, strengthen your sense of identity and navigate your way to your RealYou.
Meet Taina
Hi, I’m Taina. I’m a qualified counsellor offering online counselling to individuals and couples throughout Australia.
I understand that choosing a counsellor can feel deeply personal, particularly when you are approaching someone you have never met and sharing experiences that may be difficult to put into words. You might wonder whether you will feel comfortable, understood or able to be yourself.
My aim is to offer a warm, genuine and non-judgmental relationship where you can begin at your own pace. You do not need to have everything worked out before you arrive. Together, we can explore what you are experiencing, deepen your understanding of yourself and work towards changes that feel meaningful to you.
How I Work
My approach is grounded in person-centred therapy, which means our work begins with you: your experiences, your values and what feels most important to explore. I aim to offer a warm, collaborative and non-judgmental space where you feel heard, respected and able to move at your own pace.
I work from a trauma-informed and integrative perspective, recognising that no single therapeutic approach suits every person. Together, we can consider what feels most helpful for your needs, preferences and goals.
In individual counselling, I may draw from emotionally focused therapy (EFT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, Gestalt therapy, existential therapy and psychodynamic perspectives. This allows our work to combine practical strategies with deeper exploration of emotions, identity, relationships, meaning and recurring patterns.
In couples counselling, I draw from the Gottman Method alongside emotionally focused and person-centred approaches. This can help couples recognise recurring patterns, communicate more effectively, navigate conflict, rebuild trust and strengthen their emotional connection. My role is not to decide who is right or wrong, but to help both partners feel heard and develop more constructive ways of relating to one another.
Qualifications
- Master of Counselling, Edith Cowan University
- Level 2 Registered Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Levels 1 and 2
- Professional development in trauma-informed practice and a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches
- Ongoing clinical supervision and continuing professional development
My professional experience includes counselling adults, couples and neurodivergent young people across private practice and therapeutic service settings.
A Personal Understanding of Rebuilding
My commitment to helping people reconnect with their identity and autonomy is informed by both professional training and lived experience.
Having personally navigated leaving a long-term high-control environment and rebuilding life beyond it, I understand that recovery is not simply about leaving. It can involve questioning long-held beliefs, rediscovering your own values, learning to trust your choices and developing a sense of self that genuinely belongs to you.
This understanding informs the compassion, patience and respect I bring to counselling. I recognise that rebuilding is rarely a straightforward process, and I will work alongside you at a pace that respects your experiences, autonomy and individual path forward.