Ms Fenella Hansen
Psychotherapist, Counsellor
Between the Lines Therapy
Malvern, VIC 3144
Online Therapy Australia-wide
Philosophy & Vision
With over a decade of experience as a trauma therapist and mental health practitioner I am able to provide counselling and body based therapies. Using evidence based practices, in conjunction with talk therapy, I can assist my clients as they facilitate change in their lives. I use a holistic approach, tailoring my sessions to the clients' needs. I connect with clients in an authentic, relational way, ensuring safety and trust are paramount.
Background
I completed my Bachelor of Social Science - Counselling and have continued to update my knowledge as I practise. I have completed trauma and somatic therapy training, as well as trauma informed yoga training. I worked in mental health for 7 years before accepting a role working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
I also started my own counselling practice that had a focus on sexuality and kink, as there were not a lot of therapists who understood, let alone were comfortable talking about this topic. I have worked extensively with complex trauma clients, and I ran a trauma sensitive yoga & mindfulness group for 3 years.
Services
Between the Lines Therapy promotes a trauma informed approach. I conduct individual counselling. I am LGBTIQA+ friendly, sex positive, non judgmental and have a good understanding of risk-aware consensual kink, ethical non monogamy and polyamory.
We work with clients who have diagnosis such as C-PTSD, PTSD, DID, OSDD as well as depression, anxiety or those just wanting to chat about their lives.
I tailor my services in order to provide a holistic approach that best suits where you are at.
I am available for work within the NDIS, for mental health mentoring, psychoeduction, counselling and psychedelic preparation/integration therapy.
Quality Provision
I am registered with the ACA (Level 1) and adhere to strict ethical guidelines, as well as undergoing regular supervision. I am very much invested in continuing to learn and undertake professional development where possible.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Certificate of Integrative Counselling - 2006 - Roehampton University UK
- Bachelor of Social Science - Counselling - 2009 - Australian Catholic University
Modalities
ACT - CBT - DBT - EMDR - Internal Family Systems - Meditation - Mindfulness - Person Centred - Psychoanalytic - Psychodynamic - Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - Somatic Psychotherapy - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
I have trained in many areas including CBT, ACT, DBT, Person-Centred, Somatic Therapy & Trauma-Informed Therapy. I have completed my Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga training and I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
I practice in Collaborative, Strengths-Based, Trauma Informed and Recovery Focused Models. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy, looking at what each client needs and adapting my therapy to assist them the best.
My psychedelic training recognises the fact that people are accessing these medicines themselves and that preparation and integration work is critical. I can assist with therapeutic preparation and most importantly, integration after the psychedelic experience.
Professional Associations
- Australian Counselling Association
A conversation with Fenella Hansen
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It was something I had always considered, but initially I went down the IT path. After the death of my Mother I decided to pursue becoming a counsellor. I'd always been interested in what makes humans act and react the way they do, so studying it was fascinating.
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The works of Socrates, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche have always drawn me in. Simone de Beauvoir is also great for her activism and feminist works. Judith Butlers' works on gender have also been highly influential.
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I have a keen interest in trauma and how it manifests in both the body and the mind. I am also fascinated by medical traumas as these are less studied and spoken about. I have had my own experiences of PTSD from medical trauma and I found at the time that there was not much information around it. I believe my lived experience puts me in an unique position, I have experienced both side of the journey - as a therapist and as a client myself. Leading on from this, I have done a lot of work with chronic illnesses and how trauma is often linked to these.
I also have an interest in sexuality, kink, non monogamy, LGBTIQ+ issues, having worked as a sex therapist for a number of years. -
I promote a trauma informed approach, with a focus on somatic (body based) therapies. I have trained in many areas including CBT, ACT, DBT, Person-Centred, Somatic Therapy & Trauma-Informed Therapy. I have completed my Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga training and I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
I practice in Collaborative, Strengths-Based, Trauma Informed and Recovery Focused Models. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy, looking at what each client needs and adapting my therapy to assist them the best. -
That really depends on the presenting issue. Sometimes just taking that initial step and talking to someone can be progress, other times it can take a number of sessions. It isn't a one size fits all process.
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Therapy has helped me to grow and flourish. It has allowed me to examine who I am and how I became this person and to work on the aspects of my own life that I felt needed attention. Therapy has allowed me to become more empathetic, less judgmental and more open to how our experiences can shape our worlds.
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I think it's wonderful that people can trust me enough to share intimate stories of their lives and to collaborate with them to assist with making meaningful change. I have met people from all walks of life, in all situations. From inmates in prisons, dying individuals in palliative care, survivors of institutional sexual abuse, each person has a unique story to tell and I feel privileged to be able to hold space for them.
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All the time! No one is perfect 100% of the time and being open about this with my clients allows them to connect to me as a human, rather than me being seen as someone who has all the answers and all the power.
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Currently I think that mental health issues are not getting the attention or funding they need. I think trauma needs to be more widely recognised and a trauma informed lens should be used on most aspects of life. I also think that a holistic approach to mental health issues makes a significant difference, rather than trying to force someone to use an approach that may not work or be relevant to them.
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BOOKS
The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel van der Kolk
Waking the Tiger - Peter A Levine
Sex Outside the Lines: Authentic Sexuality in a Sexually Dysfunctional Culture - Dr Chris Donaghue
MUSIC
Works by Hybrid, Henry Saiz, Underworld, Tool, The Presets, RATM, Massive Attack to name a few. My musical tastes are eclectic, with a heavy leaning towards electronic and 90's grunge!