Our Team

Ian has a Masters of Arts in Cultural Psychology majoring in Narrative Studies, a Bachelor of Social Sciences and Diploma in Social Sciences.  He is a Clinical Registrant and Certified Supervisor with the Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia (PACFA) registration number 22722 and has been so for over 25 years. 

Ian has over 32 years of therapeutic experience in the areas of Child Protection, Domestic and Family Violence, Family Therapy, Adolescent and Family Therapy, Alcohol and other Drug Family Counselling, working with adults who have experienced childhood sexual abuse and trauma, Men’s health issues including identity and sexuality issues and male sexual assault, relationship and couple therapy, living with a terminal illness and loss and grief.  

Ian’s preferred therapeutic approach is Relational collaborative approaches with their origins in Narrative Therapy. His approach is also influenced by Strength Based Solution Focused approaches, Acceptance and Commitment therapy and client-centred approaches.  He believes the client and person seeking therapy is the holder of the knowledge of their experience and the finder of the words to describe and make meaning of their experience. 

Overarching Ian’s approach is his commitment to being Trauma-informed in his desire to assisting and supporting those who have experienced all forms of trauma reclaim a safe purposeful life and safe comforting, supportive relationships.  

Over the past 32 years, Ian has developed a speciality in working with men who have experienced childhood and adolescent trauma, which in turn is impacting their lives today. As well as this Ian has developed skills in working in the following areas;

• Identity issues both Sexual and Gendered.
• Grief and Loss, and complicated Grief and Loss.
• Relationship Difficulties and breakdown.
• The impacts of childhood sexual assault, neglect, psychological and physical abuse.
• Domestic and Family Violence Impacts on parents and children.
• Conflicts between Parents and Children/ Adolescents.
• Adolescent Development and Forming Identity.
• Significant life changes, such as loss of work, terminal illness, pain management and chronic health.
• Impacts of trauma, such as the issues mentioned above plus people affected by bullying, impacted by a natural disaster, complex repeated trauma’s, managing levels of disassociation.  

Ian has also presented at international conferences and develops, facilitates his own training workshops for interested counsellors and therapists. Ian has completed training in the following; Dr. Bessel van der Kolk on How the Body Keeps the Score: Intensive Trauma Treatment Course';   'Male-Friendly Counselling: Enhancing Therapy Work with Men - Develop gender-sensitive strategies for working with men and boys';  'Clinical Applications of Polyvagal Theory in Trauma Treatment with Stephen Porges & Deb Dana: Integrating the Science of Safety, Self-Regulation and Attachment';  'Essentials of Trauma Treatment: Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) Training Course';  'Trauma Treatment with EMDR, CBT and Somatic-Based Interventions: A Certified Clinical Trauma Practitioner Training Course'. 

Ian has a wealth of experience and is open to be interviewed by those seeking a suitable Clinical Supervisor and tainer to see if he can assist and is the right fit for you. 

Ian believes people have the desire to change and improve their life situations and with the supportive environment and relationships that are meaningful and supportive, this is possible.​​

Availabilities Tuesday 9am-5pm, Wednesday 9am-5pm and Thursday 9am-5pm. 

Ian has time limitations therefore he won’t be offering a full therapeutic involvement in 2026, as in the past.  Ian is no longer providing relationship and couple counselling, working with adolescents and children and their families, and high needs complex counselling.  ​ IMPORTANT 

INFORMATION: Ian has made the decision to reduce the counselling side of his practice and will not be seeing any new clients for counselling.   Ian’s main focus now is providing clinical supervision with workers from the sector. He would like to take this opportunity to thank many for their support with referrals over the past 32 years of practice and being witnessed to many powerful recovery and growth stories. 

MCouns. BTh. PACFA. ACA.

Kristine has a deep faith in people’s resilience, their ability to persevere, and their potential for personal growth. She feels honoured to walk alongside individuals as they seek to understand themselves and their circumstances more fully, supporting them as they pursue positive change and nurture a stronger sense of hope for what lies ahead.

Kristine has worked with people individually and in groups for 12+ years, in a chaplaincy, pastoral counselling, or counselling role. She has spent periods of time working particularly with young adults, with international students, with people and pastors in a church or parachurch setting, and with people with diverse experiences of sexuality and gender and those connected with them.

Kristine works with adults of all ages and stages of life, and with a broad range of mental health and life experiences, including: anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, grief and loss, a life transition, chronic ill health, identity, diverse experiences of sexuality and/or gender, spiritual identity, developmental and situational trauma.

Kristine’s therapeutic approach is informed by Narrative Therapy, somatic therapies, parts therapies (eg. Focusing, IFS), and cognitive behavioural therapies (eg. ACT, CBT, SFBT, DBT), as well as other wellness and life skill strategies. She has a strong commitment to being trauma informed, client centred, evidence informed, and respectful of diversity.

Kristine also runs short term support groups in collaboration with the Pastoral Care and Mental Health Institute.

Kristine meets with clients here at Macquarie Cottage and online. You can contact her directly at [email protected], through her website or the Macquarie Cottage contact form.

Website: www.kpcounselling.com.au

BA, BTh, Dip Theo Stud, MCouns, PACFA, ACA, CCAA

Mark has been trained in a person-centred approach to counselling that is trauma informed.  He uses multiple therapeutic approaches tailored to the needs of his clients with interests in Psychodynamic Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.  Mark also has experience working with drug, alcohol and addiction issues.  Mark sees both individuals and couples. 

Mark’s approach is founded on the belief that people do not need experts to “fix” them but rather a person to walk alongside them to help them understand themselves and their struggles and then work together to bring about change.  He believes human beings have a great capacity to heal themselves if they are given the right guidance, care, and support. 

Mark has extensive experience in administration, management, and executive and organisational leadership. Alongside his training in systems thinking this gives him good insight into how systems work in families, with couples and in organisations.  He has ten years of pastoral experience dealing with many issues in faith communities, such as depression, anxiety, relationships, and questions about meaning and purpose. He also has experience in child protection, having been employed by and on the boards of various not-for-profit child and family ministries. 

You can contact Mark directly at [email protected] or leave an inquiry email on this website.

Geoff is a registered counsellor, therapist, and coach.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University, a Master of Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors and a Graduate Certificate in Career Development Practice from the Australian National Institute for Business and Technology. He holds Level 2 accredited membership with the Australian Counselling Association.

Geoff conducts his private practice at Macquarie Cottage and also works part-time with an NGO providing individual, couples and family counselling services in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

Geoff’s approach is client-centred and collaborative based on unconditional regard for the dignity and inherent value of each client. He utilises practices drawn from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He sees psychoeducation and therapy as a way for clients to view their lived experience through a different lens, gaining new perspectives and re-calibrating their view of self and others through meaning-making and re-storying.

His practice is trauma-informed having worked with refugees, survivors of partner and family violence, child abuse and post-separation/divorce clients seeking to regain access to their children.

Geoff has been a Blue Mountains resident for 45+ years.

Dip Mental health | Clinical Certified Trauma Professional (Cert. No. 726042) BSocSc (Psychology) | MSocWrk (Qual.) Registered with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW No. 513032)

Heath brings over six years of academic training and extensive clinical experience to his practice. He holds a Diploma in Mental Health, a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), and a Master of Social Work (Qualifying). From 2019–2024, Heath completed a counselling internship under the supervision of Principal Clinician Ian Hanslow and has since obtained certification as a Clinical Trauma Professional in the United States.

Heath has worked across casework, counselling, and child and family services, with particular experience in child protection. His practice is grounded in understanding each person within their broader family and social context, using a holistic and collaborative approach.

Heath is passionate about helping individuals reconnect with their strengths, values, and personal passions—believing these are central to recovery and wellbeing. He also has a special interest in supporting people who experience auditory hallucinations (“voice hearers”), using approaches that honour these experiences rather than pathologise them.

Heath integrates a range of therapeutic modalities within the Power–Threat–Meaning (PTM) Framework, strongly influenced by narrative therapy. This framework emphasises understanding life experiences through the lens of power, the threats they create, and the meaning individuals make—aligning with the question, “What has happened to you?” rather than “What is wrong with you?”

Therapeutic modalities include: Narrative Therapy • CBT • ACT • DBT • MBCT/MBSR • Open Dialogue • Voice Hearing Approaches • Somatic Therapies • Motivational Interviewing • Solution-Focused Therapy • Strengths-Based Practice • Recovery-Oriented Approaches • Safe & Together Model • Psychoeducation • Existential Therapy • Family Finding Models • Crisis Intervention/Prevention • Systems Theory • Empowerment Theory • Intersectionality-Informed Practice

Heath receives ongoing accredited supervision and is working toward mental health accreditation to offer Medicare, DVA, and private health rebates.

Fees: • Individuals: $120 • Students / Unemployed / Concession: $100 • Families: $200

Alternatively, Heath is an approved provider through the QLD Redress scheme (Counselling and psychological care services CPC) for counselling and if you have funding this can be utilised for sessions. Heath is also an approved tier 1 counsellor through Victim services NSW and can offer sessions through the counselling program, his number is A4126. 

Heath is now based in Queensland (QLD) and continues to offer telehealth services to clients across NSW and other states and territories. To request an appointment, please visit the Contact Us page or email him at [email protected] 

BTh.  MCouns (current studies) . CCAA

Sam is in his final year of working towards his Master’s of Counselling at Morling College, and has focused on learning a Person Centred approach to therapy. He offers a non-directive approach that empowers the individual's capacity for growth and change. He is also committed to providing services that are trauma-informed and child-safe.

Sam also has extensive experience in working, and caring for people, in faith-based communities, allowing him to foster understanding and sensitivity to faith-related concerns.

Registered with CCAA 

Member Number: 201846

MA Ath, BA (HON), PACFA
Jane is an art therapist, metal artist, art educator and community artist. Jane specialises in working with individuals or small groups of children, young people and young adults who find art a helpful way to express themselves to develop beneficial behaviours or thoughts, appropriate relationships and understand drug & alcohol use and/ or criminal behaviour. She uses art in a strengths-based and solution-focused way to help a client(s) express their challenge and find a way forward. 
Creativity and self-expression help with personal growth and overcoming adversity. Jane also uses Interactive Drawing Therapy (www.interactivedrawingtherapy.org) which combines the benefits of her traditional psychodynamic art therapy training with a more cognitive approach to create a visual, expressive, solution focused, strengths based therapy, which is trauma informed. 
Jane uses expressive art therapy techniques with young people in the community and also works in schools, hospital settings and corrective locations. She works with young people & adults expressing extreme psychiatric distress, developmental challenges and complex trauma. 
Through art clients are able to express and make some sense of themselves, relationships, circumstances, hopes and fears. 

Qualifications: Master of Art Therapy from Western Sydney University; registered with Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA); valid Working with Children Check number; National Police Check certificate; Certificate IV in Training & Assessment; Silversmithing, Jewellery & Allied Crafts BA (hons).

PACFA Reg. Clinical, CTP
MCAP, LLM, Grad.Cert. in Ed. (Learning and Leadership) 

I am a psychotherapist and coach, and a member of Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association (ANZMH). I hold postgraduate degrees in psychotherapy, education and law, and have worked in different professional industries.
 
In my trauma-informed practice, I work with teenagers and adults from diverse gender, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Being of Asian background and a migrant, I am familiar with the challenges of values conflict, belonging, and safety.
 
I practice predominantly in areas of 
· stress and anxiety 
· interpersonal relationships 
· mid-life questioning 
· existential or spiritual issues 
· grief and loss 
· personal growth and development 
· communication and conflict
 
My integrative practice is client-centred, drawing on value- and strength-based approaches.
 
Our therapeutic or coaching session is a safe space for awareness and healing and to lean towards positive action. Being solution-focused, my approach is to empower you to move from “what is going wrong” to “what can be”.
 
Are you ready to attend to the vital things in your life which bring you aliveness?
Book a complimentary call to discuss how I can assist and whether we are a suitable fit.

https://tidycal.com/florencethum/free-15-mins

 
Website: www.florencethum.com
Email: [email protected]