Cancer Counselling Adelaide and Chronic Illness Therapy

I’m an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with over 15 years of experience supporting people through life’s tougher transitions—including illness, grief, trauma, and identity shifts. I also bring 12 years of experience working in acute health, oncology, and palliative care settings—both inpatient and outpatient I understand the complexities of medical systems, hospital pathways, and clinical terminology. You won’t need to explain every medical detail; I get it.

My approach blends evidence-based therapy with a grounded, compassionate presence. I work gently and collaboratively, always at a pace that honours your energy, needs, and nervous system.

Here’s how I often support clients navigating cancer or chronic illness:

• EMDR therapy, tailored for medical trauma or lingering distress from treatment, procedures, or diagnosis

• Nervous system and sensory regulation strategies (informed by polyvagal theory) to ease anxiety, overwhelm, or shutdown

• Grief support, whether it’s about health changes, relationships, or the loss of who you once were

• Exploring your values, to help you make clearer, more empowered decisions through uncertainty

• Supporting self-worth and boundaries, especially if you’ve felt like a burden or struggled to express your needs

If you’re looking for therapy that understands both the emotional and medical side of illness, let’s find a way forward that honours your whole experience. Get in touch with warming Light counselling today.

Cancer Counselling provides emotional and psychological support for people affected by cancer. Whether you’re the patient, a survivor, or a family member. It helps you process fear, grief, identity changes, and uncertainty that often come with diagnosis and treatment. At Warming Light Counselling, we tailor therapy to your needs using EMDR, sensory regulation, and values-based support to help you cope and feel more emotionally grounded.

There are also free services available, including Counterpart for women affected by cancer, and the Cancer Council helpline (13 11 20), which offers emotional support and practical information.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need a space to process everything, you’re welcome to reach out to warming light counselling and see if therapy could be a good fit for you.

Chronic illness therapy offers support for people living with ongoing health conditions like autoimmune disorders, long COVID, fatigue syndromes, and more. Sessions focus on managing stress, pacing, grief, identity changes, and relationship strain. We work at your pace, recognising that your energy might be limited, and offer body-aware strategies to help with both emotional and nervous system regulation.

If life feels heavier since your diagnosis, therapy at warming Light counselling can help you adjust and feel more in control again. Get in touch with to learn more.

OOur cancer counselling and chronic illness therapy service is for adults in Adelaide who are living with a health condition, adjusting after medical treatment, or supporting someone with illness. You may be:

• Feeling overwhelmed after a new or recurring diagnosis

• Dealing with medical trauma, hospital-related anxiety, or treatment-related stress

• Struggling with fatigue, brain fog, or identity loss

• Finding it hard to balance caring for someone else with looking after yourself

Whether you're a patient, survivor, or caregiver, therapy can help ease the emotional toll and provide space to process what you’re carrying.

If you’re navigating these challenges, therapy at Warming Light Counselling can help lighten the emotional load.
Even if you're not sure what you need, you're not alone. Book a free intro call to explore what support might look like for you.

You should consider seeking professional help if your anxiety is persistent, overwhelming, or affecting your ability to function in daily life. Signs include excessive worry, physical symptoms (like rapid heart rate), avoidance behaviors, or difficulty concentrating. Early intervention can make a significant difference in your journey toward healing.

EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a proven therapeutic approach that can be especially helpful for those with anxiety. It focuses on processing traumatic memories and negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety, helping to rewire your brain's response to stress. EMDR has been shown to reduce anxiety symptoms by addressing the root causes of fear and promoting emotional healing.

If you’re ready to explore EMDR and other effective therapies to manage your anxiety, I’m here to support you. Contact Warming Light Counselling to schedule a consultation and start your path to healing today.

Yes. EMDR can be adapted for people with medical trauma, fatigue, or limited capacity.

At Warming Light Counselling, we take a polyvagal-informed, gentle approach to EMDR. We begin with resourcing and safety before any memory work begins. EMDR can be especially helpful for people who’ve experienced distressing hospital stays, frightening scans, surgeries, or moments where they felt powerless or unheard.

If a particular moment still lingers or triggers panic, EMDR can help desensitise that experience and reduce the emotional charge. We go slowly, at your pace, and tailor everything to your nervous system capacity.

If you’ve had a hospital or medical event that felt traumatic or hard to shake, therapy at Warming Light Counselling can help you move forward without reliving it over and over. Reach out to talk about EMDR support.

Yes. Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is one of the most effective therapies for medical trauma. It’s especially useful if you’ve had:

• A frightening diagnosis moment

• A procedure or hospital stay where you felt trapped or powerless

• Panic around scans, tests, or even just the smell of a clinic

• A fear that something bad will happen again, even if you’re medically stable

In EMDR, we don’t relive the trauma, we safely revisit the memory in a way that helps your brain process and file it differently, so it no longer feels as raw or intrusive. Sessions are gentle, adapted to your energy level and current health needs, and focused on safety and stability before any memory work begins.

If you still carry stress or anxiety from a hospital or medical event, EMDR therapy could help you feel more at ease in your body again. You're welcome to get in touch with Warming Light Counselling and see if it's the right fit.