Counselling in Sydney | Mangrove House

Is counselling for me?

Welcome to Mangrove House, where you are supported to grow, heal, learn, and realise your best self. In addition to providing support to reflect on your values and goals, counselling can help to strengthen resilience and find new ways of coping with life’s challenges. Our counsellors work with individuals and couples from all walks of life. If you are facing any of the following, or are worried about another aspect of life, counselling at Mangrove House may be for you.

Healing from trauma

Using a trauma-informed approach, we will create safety within and outside the body. We can help you reclaim your future by better understanding how historic trauma affects you in the now. Read more

Living with loss

Grief may be universal, but your experiencing of it is unique. Continuing your bond, while re-orienting yourself to a new reality can be confusing and painful. You don’t have to do it alone. Read more

Navigating change

Change can provoke many different responses in our ‘self’. Learn ways to find acceptance through flexible thinking, accessing the ‘internal drive to thrive’ in the face of uncertainty. Read more

Managing anxiety

Understand anxiety’s function and develop strategies that work for you to not only cope, but live your best life when anxiety is causing you to lose touch with what is important. Read more

Difficult relationships

Healthy relationships are central to your overall wellbeing and connectedness. We can support you to enhance relationships with partners, family, friends, and work colleagues. Read more

Dealing with depression

Living with ongoing depression and despair can be overwhelming, let alone trying to overcome it alone. We can help you reconnect with hope in a safe and supportive environment. Read more

Exploring identity

Feeling accepted by ourselves, our families and our communities is a core human need. Find your safe space to explore what it means to be you, in the context of the world around you. Read more

Work & study

If you are dissatisfied with your career direction, experiencing self-doubt, or impacted by recent world events, we can support you in setting achievable goals to regain a sense of fulfilment. Read more

Facing fears & phobias

When fears get in the way of what is important to you, working to regulate the body, increase tolerance, and understand underlying beliefs may help to overcome them. Read more

“We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body."
Bessel van der Kolk
"While trauma keeps us dumbfounded, the path out of it is paved with words, carefully assembled, piece by piece, until the whole story can be revealed."
Bessel van der Kolk
“Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom”
Rumi
"Mindfulness lets you expand your view by placing you on the middle ground between denying your pain and overindulging in your suffering... You stay in contact with the entire scope of your existence, and you experience grief without becoming grief itself."
Heather Stang
"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
Carl Jung
“Psychological flexibility is the ability to adapt to a situation with awareness, openness, and focus and to take effective action, guided by your values.”
Russ Harris
“Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.”
Khalil Gibran
“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.”
Deepak Chopra
"We don’t allow ourselves – or we’re not allowed by others – to be entirely ourselves.”
Fritz Perls
“We are what we are because we have been what we have been, and what is needed for solving the problems of human life and motives is not moral estimates but more knowledge.”
Sigmund Freud

Working together

Counselling provides dedicated time to explore what is really important for you to thrive in your own body and life. This will be different for everyone. At Mangrove House, our counsellors will be guided by you as the expert in your own life, and work towards therapeutically reinforcing your strengths with evidence-based approaches to minimise harm, develop your skills, support you with psycho-education and give you space to talk and explore. We work with you to understand and meet your individual needs.

We take a Person-Centred approach, drawing on evidence-based therapies such as, but not limited to, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gestalt Therapy, parts work based on the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Narrative Therapy, Schema Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Somatic Therapy with a strong focus on trauma-informed care.

It is important to note that Mangrove House provides regular, scheduled appointments only, it is not a Crisis Service. If your needs are immediate, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 in the case of an emergency.

Online sessions

Telehealth calls are available to clients from all locations, offering convenience, accessibility and privacy.

In-person sessions

For individuals in and around Sydney who prefer regular sessions in-person at our Annandale space.

Couples sessions

In-person counselling sessions are also available to couples wishing to address relationship concerns.

Helpful to know

We take your confidentiality seriously. We conduct our business in line with our accrediting body, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and its Code of Ethics. In preparation for your first session, please refer to the counselling agreement and policy guide forms linked below.

Each individual session is 60mins long and costs between $154 and $165. Each couple’s session is 60mins long and costs $200. The first couple’s session lasts 90mins at the cost of $300 (all prices above include GST). The Medicare rebate does not apply to the counselling services we offer. This also means you do not need a mental health care plan from your GP to make an appointment with our counsellors.

In response to current COVID-19 conditions, social distancing and hygiene practices are being observed in session, with the option to conduct sessions online or over the phone as needed.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

Our counsellors

Natasha Lawrence

Natasha’s core values of non-judgemental acceptance, belief in each individual’s resilience and compassion underpin her work as a counsellor. Specialising in the process of recovery from complex trauma, she will accompany you on your journey as you reconnect to ‘self’. She welcomes people from diverse cultural, and social backgrounds. Her practice is person-centred, trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+ safe, and anti-oppressive. Natasha also works with couples. Bringing awareness to the dynamics at play in your relationship, she will support you as you navigate your way back to each other. Read more

Natasha is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. She sees Individuals and Couples via In-person and Telehealth.

Her rate is $165 for Individuals and $200/hr for Couples.

Natasha is accepting new clients. A free 15 min consultation is required ahead of scheduling an appointment. You can book this via our online booking system, by email, or by leaving a voicemail to discuss further options.

Natasha works:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays (Telehealth only), and Fridays.

Remona Coleman

Feeling seen, heard, and genuinely understood can be a powerful way to heal and grow. As a counsellor, Remona walks with you, shining a light on your natural desire to thrive, building on your strengths and assisting you to rewrite unhelpful narratives that no longer serve you. Combining shared insights with evidence-based practices that focus on building you up as the expert in your own life, Remona works with your goals, at your pace, and with a deep respect for the work you have already done to get to where you are. Read more

Remona is a Certified Practising Counsellor. She sees Individuals via In-person and Telehealth.

Her rate is $154 for Individuals.

Remona is accepting new clients. A free 15 min free consultation is available however you may also book directly via our online booking system if you see an appointment time that works for you. Please email or leave a voicemail to discuss further options.

Remona works:
Mondays, Tuesdays (Telehealth only), and Thursdays.

Sonia Scali

With the aim to help you manage life’s challenges with self-compassion and self-kindness, your counselling journey with Sonia will be trauma-informed and strengths-based. Tailoring her approach around your needs, Sonia creates an environment in which you can feel safe, supported and validated. As an experienced trauma-sensitive yoga and mindfulness teacher she often incorporates somatic therapy tools and interventions in her counselling sessions to establish an emotionally supportive base to support you in regulating your nervous system. Read more

Sonia is a Certified Practising Counsellor. She sees Individuals via In-person and Telehealth.

Her rate is $154 for Individuals.

Sonia is accepting new clients. You are invited to book directly via our online booking system if you see an appointment time that works for you, or you may email Sonia direct to discuss further options.

Sonia works:
Tuesdays, Thursdays (Telehealth only), Fridays (Telehealth only), and Saturdays.

Our space

Annandale, NSW

Our space is located in Suite 3 of the Saddlery (above Village Hub) at Level 1, 103A Johnston Street, Annandale NSW 2038. Here, you will find unmetered and all-day street parking (Johnston and Annandale Streets). The 469 and 470 bus routes take you right to us and the 480 and 413 routes bring you within a short walk. Once inside, you will find a comfortable waiting area, convenient bathroom facilities, and of course our spacious counselling room which allows for generous social distancing.

Mangrove House services all of Australia via telehealth. If in-person is the preferred option, our room in Annandale is located in Sydney’s Inner West, within 5km of the following suburbs: Abbotsford, Alexandria, Ashfield, Auburn, Balmain, Balmain East, Barangaroo, Beaconsfield, Berala, Birchgrove, Breakfast Point, Burwood, Cabarita, Camperdown, Centennial Park, Chippendale, Chiswick, Concord, Concord West, Croydon, Croydon Park, Darlinghurst, Darlington, Dawes Point, Drummoyne, Dulwich Hill, Elizabeth Bay, Enfield, Enmore, Erskineville, Eveleigh, Five Dock, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Haberfield, Haymarket, Homebush, Homebush Bay, Homebush West, Leichhardt, Lewisham, Lidcombe, Lilyfield, Marrickville, Millers Point, Moore Park, Mortlake, Newington, Newtown, North Strathfield, Paddington, Petersham, Potts Point, Pyrmont, Redfern, Rhodes, Rookwood, Rosebery, Rozelle, Rushcutters Bay, Russell Lea, St Peters, Stanmore, Strathfield, Strathfield South, Summer Hill, Surry Hills, Sydney CBD, Tempe, The Rocks, Ultimo, Wareemba, Waterloo, Woolloomooloo, Zetland.

If your needs are immediate

Please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or
000 in the case of an emergency.

A supportive
Sydney-based
counselling practice
providing the right
conditions for
growth

Manage change,
experience relief,
find clarity

Is counselling for me?

“We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body."

Bessel van der Kolk

"While trauma keeps us dumbfounded, the path out of it is paved with words, carefully assembled, piece by piece, until the whole story can be revealed."

Bessel van der Kolk

“Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom”

Rumi

"Mindfulness lets you expand your view by placing you on the middle ground between denying your pain and overindulging in your suffering... You stay in contact with the entire scope of your existence, and you experience grief without becoming grief itself."

Heather Stang

"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."

Carl Jung

“Psychological flexibility is the ability to adapt to a situation with awareness, openness, and focus and to take effective action, guided by your values.”

Russ Harris

“Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.”

Khalil Gibran

“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.”

Deepak Chopra

"We don’t allow ourselves – or we’re not allowed by others – to be entirely ourselves.”

Fritz Perls

“We are what we are because we have been what we have been, and what is needed for solving the problems of human life and motives is not moral estimates but more knowledge.”

Sigmund Freud