Debra Cowen, ACA, PACFA

Debra Cowen is a counsellor based in Australia with more than 15 years' experience supporting adults, young people and workplaces through a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship issues, life transitions and workplace stress. Her work is grounded in a counselling-based, warm and practical style that is trauma-informed and client-centred, helping people make sense of what is happening and reconnect with their own inner strengths and values.

Debra supports development of emotional regulation and practical coping skills while attending to personal meaning and resilience. She works with a broad set of concerns such as stress, panic and panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, relationship and family difficulties, body image, communication problems, control issues, divorce and separation, guilt and shame, isolation and loneliness, and questions about life purpose and self-love.

When appropriate, Debra may integrate art therapy or transpersonal methods for clients who find creative or symbolic processes helpful; these are always optional and introduced according to each person’s comfort and readiness. She holds postgraduate qualifications in counselling and psychotherapy and has advanced training in transpersonal counselling and art therapy. Debra is a registered member of PACFA and ACA and is an accredited ACA supervisor. Her aim is to support people to feel more empowered, resilient and at ease through genuine connection and understanding.

Evidence-based approaches for online counselling

Debra uses trauma-informed counselling to recognise how past stressful experiences can affect current thoughts, emotions and behaviour. This approach focuses on pacing, building emotional regulation and supporting safety, and it can be helpful for people managing trauma, panic and anxiety.

She also works in a client-centred way that prioritises each person's goals, values and lived experience. This style emphasises collaborative exploration and practical strategies to help with relationship concerns, life transitions, low mood and everyday stressors.

For clients who find creative processes helpful, Debra can offer art therapy and transpersonal methods as optional additions to standard counselling. These approaches use symbolic or expressive techniques to deepen insight and support emotional expression.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process and is explored together. Debra will work collaboratively with each client to identify the techniques that best match their needs, goals and preferences, adapting as progress is made.

Online sessions by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and location. These options provide flexibility and accessibility, helping clients connect with appropriately qualified or registered professionals and therapists in ways that suit their practical circumstances.