Susan Christoffelsz, ACA

Susan Christoffelsz is a registered counsellor based in Victoria, Australia, with ten years of private practice experience following a prior career in teaching. She completed a masters degree in counselling at Monash University and has undertaken further postgraduate study in grief, loss and trauma, combining academic training with practical clinical development.

She supports women experiencing stress, anxiety, burnout and loss, and works with those who feel overwhelmed or stuck while navigating life transitions. Her practice addresses challenges such as difficulty setting boundaries, feelings of shame or guilt when prioritising self-care, and the exhaustion that often accompanies major change.

Susan uses a blend of practical strategies and body-based tools designed to calm the nervous system, helping clients move toward greater calm, clarity and a sense of control. Her counselling style is warm, non-judgemental and grounded in real-life experience, and she aims to meet clients where they are in the moment rather than insisting on a particular path.

Susan describes the work as collaborative and supportive, assisting clients to build manageable steps forward. Her listed professional credential is ACA.

Therapeutic approaches and online counselling options

Susan uses body-based regulation techniques that focus on calming the nervous system through paced breathing, grounding and somatic awareness. These methods aim to reduce physiological arousal related to stress and anxiety and can help clients feel more settled in their day-to-day life.

She also brings grief, loss and trauma-informed approaches to counselling, informed by postgraduate study in these areas. This work supports people navigating bereavement, transitions and complex emotional reactions by acknowledging the impact of loss and providing structured ways to process it.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Susan works collaboratively with each client to identify techniques that fit their needs, goals and preferences, and will discuss options or involvement of appropriately qualified or registered professionals or other therapists if that would better meet a client’s needs.

Online counselling through video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging offers flexibility for clients balancing work, family and other commitments. These options make it easier to attend sessions from home or during busy weeks, allow for consistent continuity of care, and let clients choose the format that feels most comfortable for them.