Irene Hughes , AASW

Irene Hughes offers practical support for women feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, relationship strain or parenting pressure. She draws on 15 years of experience to help people notice what matters, make values-based choices and find steadiness in hard seasons.

Irene uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) alongside client-centred therapy to keep sessions simple and focused. She helps people sit with difficult thoughts and feelings, work out what they value, and take small steps that match those values. Sessions are warm and respectful, and can include faith-based conversation when the client wants that.

Her background includes a long period working with people who struggle with trauma, low self-esteem and complex relationship issues. Irene also supports those dealing with body image, fertility matters, caregiver stress and isolation. She aims to offer practical tools as well as space to be heard.

When faith matters to a client, Irene will integrate Christian spiritual principles, Scripture and prayer if the client requests it. She frames that work around each person’s own pace and beliefs rather than imposing a single approach.

Irene holds AASW as her listed credential and works from Australia. Her way of working focuses on collaboration, clear goals and steady progress over time. Many clients come away with clearer choices, calmer reactions and stronger connections to what matters most.

How ACT and Client-Centred Work Online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. Online ACT sessions focus on small practical experiments, mindfulness exercises and clear goal-setting to reduce struggle and increase meaning.

Client-centred therapy emphasises being heard and understood. In this approach the therapist follows the client’s lead, offers empathic listening and helps people make sense of their feelings and choices. It supports issues like low self-esteem, loneliness and relationship confusion.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Irene will discuss what feels most useful and tailor the approach with each person. That collaborative process helps clients pick techniques that fit their goals, beliefs and everyday life.

Online therapy formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls are useful for face-to-face conversation, phone sessions suit lower bandwidth or when being on camera is hard, and messaging or live chat lets people check in between sessions or use brief check-ins during a busy day. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and other commitments while keeping the focus on steady progress.