Gillian Ashby, ACA

Gillian Ashby works with people who appear capable and reliable on the outside but feel exhausted or overwhelmed beneath the surface. She supports individuals navigating professional burnout, challenging life transitions and the impact of substance use on mental health and relationships. Gillian offers practical help for career shifts, relationship difficulties, separation, relocation, parenting pressures, addiction concerns and women's issues, and she recognises that even positive changes such as retirement can unsettle wellbeing.

As a professional counsellor and educator, Gillian combines clinical training with real-world focus. She holds a Master of Counselling, a postgraduate degree in therapeutic practice, and a Bachelor of Education, an undergraduate degree in education. She also holds Level 4 clinical registration with the Australian Counsellors Association (ACA), the association's highest clinical registration level. Her background includes extensive training and experience in addictions counselling, family and loved ones counselling, support for significant others affected by alcohol or drug use, parenting support, career management and relationship work.

Gillian describes her therapy as integrated, grounded, structured and practical, with an emphasis on creating sustainable change that fits everyday life. Her approach brings together person-centred principles and attachment-based ideas, and she is a fully qualified systemic family therapist who provides individual, couples and family counselling. She welcomes people who are used to being the strong one but are ready to address what has been building beneath the surface.

Attachment and Person-Centred Support Delivered Online

Gillian often draws on attachment-based therapy, which explores how early and close relationships shape current patterns of connection and coping. This approach can help people who struggle with abandonment, attachment issues or difficulties forming secure relationships to build more stable, supportive ways of relating. She also uses client-centred therapy, a collaborative approach that prioritises the individual's experience, empathy and personal strengths to support growth and practical problem solving; this can be especially useful for stress, anxiety, life transitions and relationship concerns.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the therapeutic process. Gillian works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods best fit their needs, goals and preferences, and adapts the work as those needs change. This shared approach helps tailor sessions so they are meaningful and workable in day-to-day life.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can be arranged by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit support around work, family and other commitments. For many people, these options increase accessibility and continuity of care, while allowing appropriately qualified or registered professionals and therapists to provide consistent, goal-focused support from a distance.