Derrel Drinnan , AASW

Derrel Drinnan is an AASW social worker with 20 years of experience who helps people navigate stress, anxiety, grief and major life changes. She combines professional training with life experience to offer calm, practical support. Many people come to her when confidence, motivation or self-esteem feel low or when they need help with compassion fatigue or issues affecting women.

Derrel uses a person-centred, strengths-based way of working. She believes people already hold the seeds of their own healing and helps them uncover those strengths. Sessions focus on simple tools for emotional regulation and steps to rebuild confidence.

She also draws on motivational interviewing and a solution-focused stance to help clients set realistic goals and notice progress. Trauma-informed principles guide the pace and safety of conversations for people who have been through distressing events.

Derrel describes her worldview as Christian, and she integrates that perspective respectfully when it matters to a client. Her style is warm and steady, aiming to create an open space where thoughts and feelings can be talked through without rush.

People often seek her help for deeper themes such as abandonment, codependency, forgiveness, guilt and shame, emptiness and life purpose. She also supports practical concerns like money stress and end-of-life or hospice-related issues. If someone wants a calm, experienced counsellor for women's issues and related challenges, she offers a thoughtful, down-to-earth approach.

Therapeutic techniques and how online sessions work

Derrel commonly uses motivational interviewing to help people find their own reasons for change. This involves short, focused conversations that draw out personal motivation and help set small, achievable steps. It suits worries about motivation, life changes and rebuilding confidence.

She also uses solution-focused techniques that concentrate on what is working and on building practical steps forward. These ideas are useful when someone wants quick, goal-oriented conversations about specific problems. Trauma-informed practices and emotional regulation strategies are woven into sessions to manage strong feelings safely and at a pace that suits the client.

Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. Derrel will talk with each person about their needs, goals and preferences and then tailor methods that feel right. She checks in regularly and adapts techniques as progress is made.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video works well for in-depth conversations, phone suits people with limited bandwidth, live chat can fit a short check-in and messaging helps when time is tight. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and other commitments, while keeping contact flexible and consistent.