Ms Carlyn Chen
Psychotherapist, Counsellor
Carlyn Chen Counselling
Woolloomooloo, Sydney NSW 2011
In Person + Telehealth
Philosophy & Vision
I am a trauma-informed therapist and offer face to face and online sessions for individuals from children from 10 years old through to adults. I tailor therapy to each client's needs as therapy progresses, integrating modalities to address mind, body, emotions and nervous system, as well as exploring the systems or contexts which impact you. I offer a culturally sensitive, LGBTQI+ and neurodiverse friendly practice.
I am committed to lifelong learning and growth, and approach the world with an open and curious mind.
Background
I have provided trauma-informed, holistic counselling and case management for people with complex trauma in the non profit and health sectors since 2015. I have worked with young people, adults, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, LGBTQI+ and neurodiverse people.
I am experienced working with attachment issues, addiction, childhood trauma, sexual abuse, grief, intergenerational trauma, racism and oppression, anxiety, depression, family issues, relationships, parenting, domestic violence, religious trauma, abortion, identity, post-traumatic stress, cultural issues. My prior work experience is in urban and remote community development, social justice advocacy, cross-cultural work and creative arts.
Services
I provide face to face sessions in Woolloomooloo and online/phone sessions for clients across Australia.
I can provide tailored workshops to workplaces, organisations and schools, particularly around individual and collective nervous system regulation.
Quality Provision
I am a clinical member of the Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia (PACFA)registration number 23027 and registered on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP). I work under the supervision of an accredited supervisor and adhere to the PACFA Code of Ethics. I engage in regular professional development to continuously improve and build on my skills to offer the best service to my clients.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Graduate Diploma of Counselling - 2015 - Australian College of Applied Psychology
- Post Graduate Certificate in TESOL - 2002 - Macquarie University
- Bachelor of Music (Music Education) - 2001 - Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Modalities
Art Therapy - Attachment Theory - Emotional Freedom Techniques - Emotionally Focused Therapy - Existential - Experiential - Holistic - Inner Child - Integral - Integrative - Internal Family Systems - Mindfulness - Motivational Interviewing - Narrative Therapy - Neuroscience - Person Centred - Psychodynamic - Sandplay Therapy - Somatic Psychotherapy - Strengths-Based - Systems Theory - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
- Trauma informed: understanding how past experiences impact our lives, and ensuring a safe space to process at a pace you can handle.
- Person-centred: believing in each person's innate capacity to heal.
- Integrative: using a range of modalities tailored to suit each client.
- Nervous system friendly: working to understand, heal and regulate the nervous system.
- Whole person oriented: engaging mind, body, emotions, nervous system.
- Creative: engaging the "right" side of our brains eg art and sandtray therapy.
- Systems aware: seeing systems that impact you: family, social, global, environmental, political, workplace, cultural, religious.
- Culturally sensitive and intersectional: respecting your expressions of identity and culture.
Professional Associations
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
Practice Locations
102 Crown St
Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Train: Nearest train stations are Kings Cross and St James.
Bus: Nearest bus routes 311, 324, 325.
Parking: Available on surrounding streets
Appointments
Face to face, online or phone sessions. Available Monday-Friday.
Fees & Insurance
$110 per 1 hour session. Cancellations within 24 hrs are charged 50% of the fee.
Private Health Rebates for some health funds available. Please contact me to regarding NDIS rates, or discuss a sliding scale fee arrangement if you are needing this.
Payment Options
Credit/debit card, cash or direct transfer.
Contact Carlyn
Please contact me to book a 15 minute free initial consult
A conversation with Carlyn Chen
-
Counselling and psychotherapy are able to assist people to heal the root causes of trauma as well as empower people with skills to thrive in the here and now. Through the therapeutic process, we can uncover and reclaim our innate wisdom and our true selves. I consider it a privilege to be able to walk alongside people through this process, and to be trusted to do so.
-
- Person-centred counselling
- Polyvagal theory and applications
- Art therapy
- Sandray therapy
- Tapping (EFT)
- Emotion focussed techniques
- Somatic techniques
- Narrative therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Systems theory
-
I believe client's will experience in their body when they are beginning to move forward, and progress is not a linear process. There is no timeline for healing and progress will be experienced in different ways by each person. I will make ongoing assessments with clients about the progress of their therapy and adjust my approach as needed.
-
Therapy calls me to grow, reflect, learn, be honest with myself and others and go ever deeper into the complexity of the human experience. It continues to open my mind and perspective on the world and people's incredible resilience and wisdom in the midst of trauma and pain. Therapy calls me to integrity in all my relationships - at work, home and in life. Therapy teaches me humility - to accept and see myself as I humanly am - a fellow human travelling alongside other humans.
-
Being a therapist is a creative process that calls me to be on a life-long trajectory of growth and reflection - what an honour. I feel it is such a privilege to walk with clients on the sacred ground of their inner worlds and I take joy in getting to know each client.
-
Absolutely! We are all human, and the older I get, the more I am able to embrace the complexity of life and accept being perfectly imperfect. Also, as a parent, there is no escape from bad hair days, our children keep us humble and real! Is messy hair such a bad thing? My messiest days are a signal for me to go inwards, reflect, do some further inner work and healing, care for myself, learn, grow, and repair ruptures.