Kristy-Lee Dawson , ACA

Kristy-Lee Dawson is an ACA counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief and parenting strain. She welcomes conversations about relationship difficulties and family conflict, and supports people working through separation and loss.

Kristy-Lee uses straightforward, practical therapy. Sessions focus on small, useful steps and everyday skills people can use between meetings. She aims to make therapy feel calm and approachable rather than technical or overwhelming.

Her background includes study in psychology, counselling and education, and nine years of clinical experience. Kristy-Lee draws on a mix of approaches to match each person's needs rather than offering one fixed method.

Common areas she addresses include attachment and abandonment issues, blended family pressures, communication problems and caregiver stress. She also supports people living with chronic illness, cancer, or disability who are coping with the emotional side of those challenges.

In sessions Kristy-Lee blends talking, practical exercises and skills practice. She helps people notice unhelpful patterns, try different ways of responding, and build routines that reduce overwhelm. People leave with clear, achievable strategies to manage day-to-day stress.

Kristy-Lee works with adults in Australia and provides sessions in English. Her style is warm and down-to-earth, aimed at helping people feel steadier and more able to handle what life throws at them.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on clarifying what matters most to you and learning small actions that align with those values. It helps with anxiety, stress and making meaning after loss by teaching practical ways to move forward despite difficult thoughts and feelings.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour that keep problems going. It uses simple exercises and homework to test new ways of thinking and reduce worry or low mood over time.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Kristy-Lee will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, then suggest methods that fit. The choice is collaborative and may combine different techniques to suit your situation.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to match different needs. Video suits longer conversations and working through exercises together. Phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited or you prefer not to be on camera. Live chat and text are useful for brief check-ins or when a short, flexible touchpoint fits your day. These options aim to make counselling more accessible and easier to fit into real life.