Counselling Services
At Among Puffins, Liz offers individual counselling across a range of focus areas, using a blend of evidence-based approaches grounded in compassion, cultural humility, and a deep respect for the unique story each person brings.
Focus Areas
-
Anxiety and stress
Depression and low mood
Burnout and emotional overwhelm
Life transitions and adjustment
Parenthood and caregiving challenges
Relationship and family concerns
Self-esteem and self-worth
Finding meaning and direction
-
Impact of adverse childhood experiences
Family trauma or patterns passed down across generations
Relational trauma, including attachment wounds or difficulty forming safe, secure connections
Feeling unsafe in relationships or struggling to trust others
Emotional neglect or growing up in environments where your feelings were dismissed or ignored
Difficulty setting or maintaining healthy boundaries
People-pleasing or a fear of disappointing or upsetting others
Perfectionism and harsh self-criticism
Hyper-independence or discomfort with relying on others
Feeling disconnected from yourself, your body, or those around you
Persistent guilt, shame, or the feeling that you’re never quite “enough”
-
Identity exploration (e.g. "Who am I now?" or "Where do I fit?")
Neurodivergent-affirming support (e.g. autism, ADHD)
Masking & burnout
Support for those impacted by neurotypical, patriarchal, capitalist, ableist, or heteronormative systems.
Chronic illness and invisible disabilities
Adjusting to a new diagnosis
Feeling “different” or misunderstood
LGBTQIA+ affirming support
Consensual Non-Monogamy affirming support
-
Death of a loved one
Non-death grief (e.g. loss of identity, health, relationships)
Anticipatory grief
Grieving while supporting others
Suicide Survivors
-
A focused individual counselling session offering time and space for meaningful exploration and support.
Sessions are conducted online via Zoom.
Please note: We are not an NDIS-registered provider, and our services do not qualify for Medicare rebates or private health insurance claims. For more info, fly over to our FAQ page.
-
This option offers additional space for deeper exploration and reflection at a pace that feels right for you. Designed for those who prefer more time in each session or attend counselling less frequently. Ideal if want to dive more deeply into complex themes or trauma work.
Sessions are conducted online via Zoom.
Please note: We are not an NDIS-registered provider, and our services do not qualify for Medicare rebates. For more info, fly over to our FAQ page.
-
Available for students, people with disabilities, and those on lower incomes — because access to support matters.
Concession places are limited to ensure availability for those who need them most. If you’d like to access a concession rate, please mention it when booking or in your enquiry
message — no documentation is required.Sessions are conducted online via Zoom.
Please note: We are not an NDIS-registered provider, and our services do not qualify for Medicare rebates. For more info, fly over to our FAQ page.
-
Fly on over to the booking form on our contact page & we’ll get in touch to organise a time to chat. All new clients are invited to a 15 minute free chat to ensure we’re the right fit for your current needs & to answer any questions you may have about the counselling process at Among Puffins.
-
Among Puffins Counselling has a 24 hour cancellation policy. Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice via email to cancel or reschedule a session to avoid cancellation fees.
Among Puffins Counselling understands that emergencies happen and will work with you when possible. Any exceptions made to the cancellation policy are at the discretion of Liz O’Neill, the owner of Among Puffins. -
I offer compassionate rescheduling for flare-ups, bad pain days, or when your body needs rest. We'll discuss and agree on a plan that works for you during our first session.
This means you can reschedule same-day when needed, without the standard 24-hour notice or cancellation fee. I ask that you reschedule within a 2 week period rather than cancel where possible, so that we can maintain consistency in your support and the sustainability of this offer.
Note: This feature is exclusively for clients with a discussed, pre-arranged plan in place. If you would like to access this feature, please discuss with Liz O’Neill via email
Session & Fee Information
Counselling Approaches at Among Puffins
-
Narrative Therapy
Many of us carry stories shaped by trauma, shame, or other people’s expectations. In narrative therapy, we gently explore these narratives and begin to reauthor them—centering your voice, your values, and your truth. Like puffins navigating unseen currents, this work helps you reclaim the deeper meaning and strength in your journey.
Potential Outcomes
Feeling kinder towards self
More confident in your choices
Letting go of harsh self-judgement
Letting go of blame towards yourself
Making sense of painful experiences
Stronger sense of who you are and what truly matters to you
Feeling more grounded and in control during big life changes or in relationships
-
Parts Work (drawn from Internal Family Systems Therapy)
We all contain many parts—some loud, some hidden, some protective, some in pain. Parts work creates space to understand and care for these different inner voices without judgment. It's a way of exploring your internal world with curiosity and compassion, helping you feel more whole and integrated, rather than fragmented or overwhelmed.
Potential Outcomes
Feeling more in control of your emotions
Quieting the inner battles & being less hard on yourself
Greater self-understanding and compassion
Feeling more present, connected, and grounded in your day-to-day life.
-
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT supports you in recognising, understanding, and safely expressing your emotions—especially those that may have been suppressed or misunderstood in the past.
Potential Outcomes
Better understanding of what you’re feeling and why
Feeling less anxious, low, or emotionally shut down — more alive and connected.
Handling tough emotions with more ease and bouncing back more quickly.
Building healthier relationships and feeling safer to be yourself.
Reacting less intensely, avoiding less, and staying more present in challenging moments.
-
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT invites you to make room for difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It helps you connect with what truly matters to you, and take meaningful steps—however small—toward a life that aligns with your values. Like the puffin adapting to shifting tides, ACT supports you in moving forward with purpose, even in uncertain waters.
Potential Outcomes
Feeling less overwhelmed, less down, and more at ease in daily life.
Being able to face hard feelings or situations without shutting down or running from them
Stronger connection to personal values and life direction
Finding better ways to manage the challenges of chronic health issues, past trauma, or neurodivergence — with more self-understanding and support
Feeling more motivated, fulfilled, and connected to a sense of meaning in life.
Contact Liz
Feel free to contact me using the contact form or at
amongpuffinscounselling@gmail.com. I am happy to answer any questions about availability, my background and whether working together would be a good fit for you.
Check out my FAQ Page incase your query has already been answered!