Astrid West , PACFA

Astrid West uses a person-centred counselling style that helps people feel heard and understood. She offers calm, practical support for stress, anxiety, depression, addiction and life transitions. Astrid introduces straightforward tools and gentle guidance so conversations feel useful from the first session.

Astrid draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thinking and make values-based choices. She also uses elements of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and solution-focused techniques to teach coping skills and short-term strategies. Sessions tend to be conversational and goal-directed rather than lecture-style.

With three years of clinical experience, Astrid has worked with people facing parenting strain, relationship stress, grief and compassion fatigue. She also supports people managing ADHD, body image concerns, addiction and career uncertainty. Her approach is practical and paced to each person's needs.

Astrid is PACFA registered, which describes her professional credential. She practises in Australia and conducts sessions in English. People often choose her when they want a calm, steady counsellor who listens first and offers small, actionable steps next.

Starting therapy with Astrid usually begins with a short discussion about what matters most to the person. From there she and the client set simple goals and review progress each session. This makes it easier to measure change and adjust the plan as needed.

Therapeutic approaches and online counselling options

Astrid commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in online work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on identifying personal values and taking actions that align with them, helping with anxiety, depression and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) teaches people to spot unhelpful thoughts and try behavioural experiments to shift patterns that contribute to stress or low mood.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Astrid will talk through options, try techniques together and adapt the plan based on the person's goals and preferences. She asks about what has or hasn't helped before and adjusts methods so sessions stay practical and relevant.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text-based messaging can work well for shorter check-ins, day-to-day coping ideas or when scheduling must fit around work or caring duties. These flexible formats help people access counselling without the need to travel or rearrange large parts of their day.