Rachel Chakawodza, AASW

Rachel Chakawodza is a warm, grounded and culturally responsive social worker with more than 12 years of experience supporting adults through family and relationship conflict and other life challenges. She works with people navigating trauma, relationship difficulties, burnout and major life transitions, offering a calm and non-judgmental space for reflection, healing and practical change. Rachel holds a Master’s degree in social work and is an Accredited Social Worker with the AASW in Australia, credentials that reflect her professional training and commitment to social work practice.

Her therapeutic approach is collaborative and respectful, guided by trauma-informed, culturally safe and strengths-based principles. She has extensive experience supporting people affected by family and domestic violence, childhood trauma and emotional overwhelm, as well as carers, parents and people from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds. Rachel also welcomes clients who wish to explore their healing through a faith-based lens, doing so only at the client’s comfort and request.

She offers practical support for stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, parenting and self-esteem, and addresses related concerns such as attachment, communication problems, divorce and separation, infertility and caregiver stress. Clients often describe her as kind, insightful and real. She would be honoured to walk alongside individuals as they work toward healing and clearer direction.

Trauma-informed and strengths-based care delivered online

Rachel uses trauma-informed practice to recognise how past harm can affect current feelings, relationships and behaviour. This approach focuses on safety, choice and pacing, and is helpful for people dealing with childhood trauma, family or domestic violence and emotional overwhelm. She also works from a strengths-based perspective, helping clients identify existing resources, skills and values to build resilience and move toward meaningful goals.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process. Rachel collaborates with each person to understand their needs, goals and preferences, and will work with appropriately qualified or registered professionals and therapists to tailor a plan that fits the individual’s circumstances. This collaborative process makes it easier to adjust techniques as progress is made.

Online therapy with Rachel is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for people balancing work, family and caregiving responsibilities. These formats make it possible to access consistent support from home or elsewhere, reduce travel time and allow for scheduling that suits busy lives, while maintaining the therapeutic focus needed for meaningful change.