Narelle Simmons , AASW

Narelle Simmons is an AASW social worker with 18 years of experience who uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help people manage stress, anxiety and depression. She focuses on practical strategies that fit into everyday life and pays close attention to each person’s history and circumstances. Narelle often works with people facing relationship strains, trauma and parenting challenges, and she includes women's issues as a recurring focus.

Narelle values clear, straightforward work. She listens to a person’s story and helps build steps that feel achievable. Sessions aim to be down-to-earth and useful rather than full of jargon. The approach is collaborative and paced to suit individual needs.

Her background spans clinical and community social work, where systems, social justice and resilience were central concerns. That experience informs how she thinks about the wider pressures people face, such as power imbalances and social stressors. It also shapes practical problem solving in sessions.

Narelle works with people to develop coping skills for panic, mood disorders, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress. She also supports those dealing with attachment issues, abandonment, guilt and shame. For pregnancy and childbirth concerns, she helps people prepare and adjust to change.

People who choose Narelle can expect compassionate listening and concrete steps to try between sessions. She believes that with time, support and tailored strategies people can make meaningful shifts. Taking the first step can be hard, and she aims to make that step feel respected and understood.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Two evidence-based ways of working that Narelle commonly uses are trauma-informed care and skills-focused problem solving. Trauma-informed care means recognising how past hurt and abuse affect current feelings and reactions, then pacing work so it feels manageable. This approach helps people who are living with post-traumatic stress, panic or long-standing wounds like abandonment and attachment problems. Skills-focused problem solving teaches practical steps to change daily routines, reduce anxiety and manage mood swings. It suits people dealing with stress, panic attacks, relationship communication problems and parenting challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Narelle will talk with each person about their goals, preferences and life context and then agree on which methods to try first. That collaborative process means techniques can be adjusted over time if something isn't working or needs to be paced differently.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls let people use visual cues for deeper conversation, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text messages can be useful for shorter check-ins or when writing out thoughts feels easier. These options support consistent contact across different schedules and life demands, making it simpler to fit therapy into busy weeks.