- Jon Kabat-Zinn
Fiona Akal
Occupational Therapist, Counsellor
Clarence Consulting
Gulmarrad, NSW 2463
In Person + Online Therapy Australia-wide
Philosophy & Vision
Therapy with me begins with seeing and understanding you as a whole person.
As a multilingual Occupational Therapist and Counsellor, I bring curiosity, empathy, and respect for each person’s lived experience. My work is inclusive and trauma-informed, grounded in connection and the belief that growth happens when support feels both safe and practical.
Together, we explore — not prescribe — what therapy might look like for you. Some people prefer a clear plan and tools they can use straight away; others need space to reflect, process, and rebuild at their own pace. I balance structure with flexibility so that sessions stay responsive to where you are and what’s most helpful right now.
I integrate the practical focus of occupational therapy with the reflective depth of counselling, blending doing and being. Our work supports awareness, confidence, and real-world skills — helping you find steadiness,
Background
I bring over twenty years of experience in health, rehabilitation, and mental health across Australia and abroad. Raised in a multilingual family and shaped by life in several countries, I eventually settled in Australia — where I met my husband, built a life together, and raised our four children. After years in the city, we made the move to the Northern Rivers, drawn by its beauty, community, and space to grow.
From early on, I was drawn to connection, creativity, and helping others thrive — a thread that’s led me through roles in occupational therapy, psychology, education, and counselling. I’ve worked in hospitals, community mental health, aged care, veteran services, and private practice, across both clinical and leadership settings.
These experiences taught me that real change isn’t always linear. It often begins with presence, clarity, and small acts of practical courage. Today, I combine lived insight with evidence-based approaches to support clients in creating meaningful, sustainable change — in ways that feel safe, empowering, and true to their context.
Services
I offer trauma-informed, person-centred therapy and assessment for adults navigating physical and mental health conditions, including stress, trauma, grief, pain, sensory challenges, and emotional overwhelm. Services include counselling, Functional Capacity Assessments, psychosocial reporting, and assistive technology recommendations. I work across self-referral, Medicare (M7, M3, M10), and NDIS (self- and plan-managed), via telehealth or home visits within 1 hour of Maclean. Therapy blends OT strategies with counselling approaches like CBT, ACT, DBT, EFT, and sensory supports, tailored to your pace, lens, and lived experience.
Quality Provision
With over 20 years’ experience across hospital, community, and private settings, I offer inclusive, trauma-informed care grounded in ethical practice and ongoing learning. As required by AHPRA, ACA and OT Australia, I attend regular supervision, group meetings and complete annual training and upskilling to meet the evolving needs of my clients and reflect identified areas for professional development.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Master of Counselling - 2024 - Canberra University
- Master of Teaching (secondary) - 2021 - Federation University
- Certificate IV WH& S - 2016 - Foundation Education
- Post Grad Diploma in Psychology - 2006 - Charles Sturt University
- Bachelor of Psychology - 1998 - University of South Africa
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy - 1999 - Stellenbosch University
Modalities
ACT - CBT - DBT - Developmental - Emotional Freedom Techniques - Experiential - Holistic - Integrative - Mindfulness - Person Centred - Reality Therapy - Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - Solution Oriented - Strengths-Based - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
My approach is integrative, person-centred, and trauma-informed. Sessions blend practical support with emotional understanding, drawing on ACT, CBT, DBT, mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Experiential and Strength-Based Therapy, Developmental Mindfulness, and sensory-informed practices. At intake, we explore what’s worked or not, clarify your goals, and plan next steps. Therapy is collaborative, flexible, and paced for safety, clarity, and what matters most to you. The aim isn’t perfection, but conditions where growth feels possible and life more workable.
Professional Associations
- Australian Counselling Association
- Occupational Therapy Australia
Practice Locations
Gulmarrad NSW 2463
Mobile services in your home (Yamba, Maclean and Gulmarrad, NSW clientele only) or telehealth.
Appointments
Location: Clarence Valley, NSW — telehealth Australia-wide or local sessions (within 30-40 min drive from Yamba, Gulmarrad and Maclean
Availability: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (flexible by arrangement)
Fees & Insurance
Free 15-min consult to triage suitability.
GP referral: M7 $220/hr, rebate $87.25 (10/year); M3 $220/hr, rebate $58.30 (5/year); M10 $220/hr, rebate varies.
Private: $220/hr.
NDIS (self/plan managed): $193.99/hr.
Languages
English
German
Dutch
Payment Options
Invoices are issued via Halaxy after each session, with bank details included for direct payment.
NDIS (self- or plan-managed) and Medicare clients can pay directly—no third-party platforms required. Rebates are processed via your GP referral or ND
Contact Fiona
Please contact reception to make an appointment
A conversation with Fiona Akal
-
I’ve always been drawn to the quiet spaces where people feel safe enough to be real. After years in OT, I wanted to offer care that goes deeper than checklists — care that listens, adapts, and honours lived experience.
-
Humanism, trauma-informed care, and neurodiversity-affirming practice. I also lean into systems thinking and the idea that healing isn’t linear — it’s layered, relational, and often surprising.
-
Grief, adjustment, sensory processing, burnout, and the resilience of carers. I’m fascinated by how people make meaning in messy, beautiful, real-life moments.
-
I blend Occupational Therapy with counselling, using ACT, CBT, DBT, EFT tapping, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and experiential approaches like graded exposure and energy conservation.
-
When they feel seen. Sometimes progress is a sigh of relief, a better night’s sleep, or a moment of clarity. It’s not always dramatic — but it’s felt.
-
It’s helped me name what I feel, soften what I carry, and stay curious. Therapy reminds me that being human is hard — and worth it.
-
The privilege of witnessing people reclaim their voice, their pace, and their power. Also, the occasional client metaphor that’s so good I want to frame it.
-
Absolutely. I meet them with a messy bun, a strong cup of tea, and compassion — for myself and others. Therapy doesn’t require perfect hair, just presence.
-
Disconnection — from ourselves, each other, and the systems meant to support us. Reconnection takes time, but it’s possible.
-
Gustav Klimt’s art. The detail is something to get lost in, and the fact that someone can create such beauty is inspiring and joyful. It reminds me why creativity belongs in therapy — because beauty helps us feel, connect, and heal.