Philippa Maczkowiak, AASW

Philippa Maczkowiak is an experienced social worker based in Australia with 35 years of practice supporting people through stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem and career challenges. She holds AASW, indicating membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers, and brings long-standing experience with relationship difficulties, parenting concerns, trauma, motivation and confidence issues.

Philippa has worked extensively with people living with disability and with those facing life changes due to ageing or reduced capacity following injury. Her work also addresses caregiver stress, chronic pain and illness, communication problems, guilt and shame, isolation and questions of life purpose including midlife concerns and workplace difficulties.

Her therapeutic style is warm and interactive, aimed at creating an open environment where thoughts and feelings can be explored without judgement. She supports clients to build practical coping skills and to identify steps toward a more fulfilling life. Philippa approaches therapy as a collaborative process, offering guidance and encouragement as clients work through change and healing.

She welcomes enquiries from people ready to take the first steps towards change and is prepared to support and empower them through that journey.

Evidence-based approaches and online support

Philippa draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical coping skills and problem solving to help manage stress, anxiety and workplace or career difficulties. These approaches often involve identifying unhelpful patterns in thinking and behaviour and building alternative strategies to improve day-to-day functioning and resilience.

She also uses supportive approaches geared to grief, life transitions and coping with chronic pain or disability, helping people process loss, adapt to changed circumstances and find a renewed sense of purpose. These methods are adaptable to individual needs and suit people facing complex life changes or caregiving stress.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work and Philippa collaborates with clients to determine which techniques best match their needs, goals and preferences. This collaborative process helps ensure the chosen methods feel relevant and achievable.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. These options allow clients to engage from home or on the go, schedule sessions around work and family commitments, and continue consistent support when in-person appointments are difficult to arrange.