- Attachment-based care
- Client-centred approach
- Addictions support
About Gillian
Gillian Ashby is an ACA counsellor with nine years' experience based in Australia. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship strain and major life changes. Gillian also offers coaching-style support when someone wants clearer next steps.
She sees people who are high functioning on the outside but worn down inside. Common situations she helps with include career shifts, separation and relocation, parenting strain, retirement adjustment and the effects of a loved one's substance use. She also lists a range of specific focuses such as abandonment, attachment issues, codependency and communication problems.
Gillian trained with a Master of Counselling and a Bachelor of Education. She holds Level 4 clinical registration with the Australian Counsellors Association and has particular experience in addictions counselling and supporting significant others of people affected by alcohol or drug use.
Her way of working is integrated and practical. Sessions aim to be structured and grounded, with an emphasis on approaches that look at relationships and the person's own experience. Gillian names Attachment-Based and Client-Centred therapies as core to her practice.
She describes therapy as focused on sustainable change you can use in daily life. People can expect conversations about what is happening now, patterns linked to early relationships, and small, realistic steps to try between sessions.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships influence current feelings and reactions. In practice this means discussing recurring patterns, how bonds were formed, and how those patterns show up in stress, shame or guilt. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the person's own experience and priorities. The therapist follows what matters most to the person and helps them clarify steps they want to try.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Gillian will collaborate with the client to decide which methods suit their goals and preferences. That can mean using attachment ideas to understand where shame comes from, then trying client-centred tasks to change daily behaviour. The choice is reviewed as progress and needs evolve.
Confirm current session formats before booking because the biography does not list specific options. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling around work, travel or caregiving. They can also allow shorter check-ins, avoid travel time and help people join from quieter surroundings when that helps them focus. Appropriately registered counsellors can adapt exercises and pacing for a remote setting so the work remains practical and usable in everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
9+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship strain and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include attachment issues, codependency and caregiver stress.
How does she approach therapy for guilt or shame?
She uses Attachment-Based and Client-Centred approaches to look at how early relationships shape current feelings. The focus is on understanding patterns and trying practical steps to change them.
How much experience does she have?
Gillian has nine years of clinical experience working in counselling and addictions-related support roles.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She holds ACA clinical registration at Level 4 with the Australian Counsellors Association and is based in Australia.
Does she run sessions in other languages or accept international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify formats. Please check the platform's session listings for up-to-date details.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session to get started.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.