Astrid West, PACFA

Astrid West is a registered counsellor who offers calm, attentive support for people navigating stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addiction and significant life changes. She prioritises a respectful, non-judgemental environment where clients can talk openly and feel genuinely listened to, recognising that reaching out for help is a courageous step.

Astrid works collaboratively with each person to explore their concerns, clarify goals and develop practical ways to cope with difficult emotions and transitions. Her style emphasises empathy, steady support and realistic strategies tailored to individual circumstances. She aims to help clients build resilience and move forward at a pace that feels manageable.

Astrid holds PACFA - the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia - which indicates her connection to a national professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists. She remains focused on offering compassionate guidance and clear-headed support to people taking the important step of starting therapy.

How Astrid’s therapeutic approaches work online

Astrid uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being overwhelmed by them, and to clarify personal values that guide meaningful action. ACT can be useful for anxiety, stress and life transitions where finding purpose and flexibility matters.

She also draws on Client-Centred Therapy, which focuses on creating an empathetic, accepting space so clients can explore their experience at their own pace. This approach helps people who need steady support and a non-judgemental atmosphere while they process emotions or make changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another tool she applies to help identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical skills for coping with depression, anxiety or problem behaviours. CBT offers structured techniques that can be practised between sessions to build new habits.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together - Astrid will collaborate with each client to decide which methods best suit their needs, goals and preferences, and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging offers flexibility for people balancing work, family or mobility concerns. These options make it easier to fit regular support into everyday life and to maintain continuity of care with appropriately qualified or registered professionals and therapists, even when in-person sessions are not possible.