Jacqui Mancuso
Counsellor, Art Therapist
Worlds Within Therapy
Higgins, Canberra ACT 2615
Online Therapy Australia-wide
Philosophy & Vision
Hello & welcome!
So much can be gained by stepping back from the relentless project of life and taking time to understand ourselves. It is possible to learn and cultivate the skills needed to listen deeply and attend to our own needs. Often we are aware of voices in the mind that chatter away, sometimes of sensations in the body that are trying to speak, or of intuitive nudges and creative sparks that attempt to get our attention and lead us forward. Seldom do we give these phenomena our undivided attention to let them unfold. This is where transformation lives.
While I work with people of all genders, I have a special interest in women's empowerment and feel passionate about supporting women to:
- Restore confidence in who they are
- Live with good boundaries
- Deepen connection to Self & others
- Reinvigorate creative flow
- Live with meaning & authenticity.
Background
I have worked as a therapist since 2011 in various community settings, which has left me with a wide range of experience:
- Recovery work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
- Support for military members and their families as they faced the many challenges of service life.
- Therapeutic support for people in a caring role for others.
- Workshops with young people who have had cancer in their lives + other chronic health groups.
- Counselling support for high school and university students.
- Art therapy & Counselling with NDIS participants.
Services
I offer online sessions for individuals. After hours times are available.
Quality Provision
I am registered with PACFA (Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia) as a Clinical Counsellor and Approved Supervisor. I am also registered with ANZACATA (Australian, New Zealand & Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association) as a Professional level Arts Therapist. I am trained as a Level 1 practitioner of IFS (Internal Family Systems) with the IFS Institute.
Areas of Interest
Accreditations
- Masters in Art Therapy - 2016 - WSU
- Graduate Diploma in Counselling - 2012 - WSU
- PACFA Supervision Training: Wheel of Supervision - 2024 - Centre for Existential Practice
- Internal Family System Level 1 - 2026 - IFSI
Modalities
ACT - Art Therapy - Creative Arts Therapy - Internal Family Systems - Person Centred
Professional Associations
- Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia - Accredited Supervisor
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia - Clinical
Appointments
Appointment times provided on Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. After hours times are available.
Fees & Insurance
Online sessions are $145 for a 75min session. Sliding scale available for those under financial strain.
I am registered with several health funds. Please view the 'Pricing' page on my website for details.
Payment Options
Credit card, direct deposit, PayID.
Contact Jacqui
Please contact me to book a 15 minute free initial consult
A conversation with Jacqui Mancuso
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As a teenager I witnessed some loved ones going through mental health challenges. This led me to do a course with Lifeline, as I wanted to have the skills to meet them and be able to connect in a meaningful way. This planted a seed for future study years later, as I found that I really enjoyed learning the art of communication and connection.
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I have been deeply influenced by Prof Todd Dubose, whose work on 'therapoetic care' changed the way I view therapy. He teaches how to hold space for others in a way that creates a certain type of 'clearing', where a person's 'lived meaning' can then unfold. It is a non-pathologising way of working, where what is seen by some other therapies as 'symptoms to fix', are instead seen as phenomena that we can follow and heed. This is a hermeneutical-phenomenological approach to therapeutic care.
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I am trained in Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS) and use this as my primary method. I have found IFS to be the most effective and impactful therapeutic model, both personally and with my clients. IFS is an incredibly respectful and nuanced model that follows an individuals process by connecting with the different internal 'parts' of their personality, aiming to relate with these parts in a way that brings healing to the greater system.
I am also trained as an Art Therapist so enjoy working with creative practices for people who are interested in this.
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When clients begin to soften towards themself and their sense of self compassion grows, I know we are on the right track. Progress in their external life can look a lot of different ways depending on what they want and are focussing on, but that internal relationship is key.
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Therapy has made a huge difference to my life, it's hard to imagine who I would be without having gone on that journey. It has provided me with a depth of self understanding that I would not have had otherwise, and a sense of ease with my inner world that makes life feel much more spacious and intentional.
Therapy has also meant that I am my best self for the important relationships in my life. If I do get activated by something or someone, I have a place where I can take it to explore what happened in a way that leads to further healing and more confidence to engage with all the various situations life can throw at us!
I am truly grateful and hope to offer this to others in my work. -
There is a true joy in witnessing people unfold in their healing and step more fully into who they are. I am continually delighted by the variety of ways that the work can flow, and I love the challenge of finding how each person needs me to be in session with them. It is incredibly meaningful to know that I can play a small role in helping people overcome inner obstacles and live more of the life that they want.