Gillian Ashby, ACA

Gillian Ashby meets people who are managing big changes and the strain that comes with them. She notices when someone looks capable on the outside but feels exhausted inside. Gillian works with stress, anxiety, addictions and relationship strain, and helps people navigating retirement, career shifts, separation and other life transitions.

Gillian uses a practical, structured style in sessions. She focuses on strategies that fit into everyday life rather than abstract theory. Conversations aim to uncover patterns that keep problems going and to build small, sustainable changes that make a real difference.

Her background includes a Master of Counselling and a Bachelor of Education, and she holds the highest level of clinical registration with the Australian Counsellors Association, Level 4 (ACA). Over nine years she has worked with people affected by addiction, carers under stress, communication and commitment issues, and those coping with illness or bereavement.

Gillian draws on attachment-based and person-centred approaches to help clients understand their connections and responses. She combines that with practical coaching around career management and parenting challenges when those are part of the picture.

Sessions are collaborative and paced to what each person can manage. Gillian aims to help people regain steadiness during uncertain times and to build tools they can use after therapy ends.

How attachment and person-centred work online

Attachment-based therapy looks at how early connections shape current reactions and relationships. Online sessions can help people spot recurring patterns, feel understood, and practise different ways of relating in day-to-day life. Client-centred therapy puts the person at the heart of sessions, offering listening and gentle guidance so clients can find their own solutions to stress, anxiety and life changes.

Finding the right fit is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk through goals, preferences and what has or hasn't worked before. Together they decide which approach or combination will best support the person's needs and pace the work accordingly.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also help people continue therapy through relocation or busy work schedules. Appropriately qualified counsellors tailor the practical side of sessions to what works for each person rather than offering a one-size-fits-all plan.