The Spirit of Wildwood

Throughout human history, the Wildwood has been a place of transformation. In our oldest stories and myths, the forest is the threshold we step through to meet the unknown, and to return changed.

Carl Jung used the forest as a primary metaphor for the unconscious mind - the dark, untamed, and mysterious inner wilderness. He believed that to become whole, we must step away from the safety of the 'clearing', our conscious ego, and into the depths of our inner psyche. We venture into the wood bit by bit, and in doing so, come to meet our shadow - the disowned, suppressed, and neglected parts of ourselves. Jung believed these parts hold not only our pain, but some of our most alive and creative potential, waiting to be reclaimed.

The forest is not a tidy, managed place. It is an ecosystem - complex and interdependent. It is alive with relationship, where roots and fungi and canopy and undergrowth each sustain the other. In this way, it mirrors our inner-world, where every part exists for a reason and contributes to the greater system.

To walk into a Wildwood is to step into our own inner depths. It asks for curiosity and courage, a willingness to slow down and observe, and to trust that we will find our way back with a boon - greater insight, clarity, and purpose.

That is the spirit of this place. I'd love to join you on that journey.

Meet Hollie

Book With Me!

My Own Journey:

I didn't discover that I was neurodivergent until my late thirties. Like so many late-identified AuDHD people, I'd spent decades sensing that something was different about how I experienced the world, without having the language to understand it, or the skills to help me navigate it.

Coming to understand myself as autistic and ADHD changed everything. It reframed my whole history - the burnout, the masking, the things I'd always judged myself for - and replaced a lifetime of "what's wrong with me?" with something far kinder and far truer. For the first time, I began to understand what my body and brain actually needed to feel well, and to thrive.

That understanding, along with my discovery of Internal Family Systems, didn't just transform how I see myself. It transformed how I see everyone else - with more compassion, more curiosity, and a deep sense of respect for all that our internal systems do to keep us safe. I remain in awe at the tenacity of the human spirit.

I consider myself a lifelong learner, even though there are parts of me that are annoyed with never getting a break from intensive study! When I finished my undergraduate degree, I swore I'd never go back to school - and yet I've found myself enrolled again and again, currently in the midst of my Master of Counselling. It seems the pursuit of a hard-earned education 'tis both my blessing and my curse!

When I'm not working or studying, you'll usually find me enjoying nature, playing outside with my cats, practicing watercolour, listening to a good audiobook, or deep diving into one of my many special interests.

Why Clients Choose to Work With Me

Neuro-affirming

and

trauma-informed

LGBTQIA+ and gender-affirming care

Flexible and evidence-based approach

Sex-positive

and

kink-aware

Safe space for alternative relationship styles

Training & Qualifications

I am a registered counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) - Level 2

My path into this work has been one of continual learning:

Bachelor of International Studies & Japanese (University of North Carolina @ Charlotte)
Diploma of Early Childhood Education (SCEI)
Diploma of Counselling - Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC)
- Advanced Study Major in Relationship Counselling (AIPC)
Master of Counselling - University of New England (currently completing, 2nd year)

I'm committed to ongoing professional development. My further training includes:

Internal Family Systems Level 1 (91 hours) with IFS-I.
IFS Skills Immersion (48 hours) with Stephanie Mitchell
Expert Strategies for Working with Traumatic Memory (NICABM)

Supervision & Ethical Practice

As part of my ethical commitment to safe, high-quality care, I attend regular clinical supervision - a confidential space where therapists reflect on their work with experienced mentors, to keep growing and stay accountable to the people they support.

I currently work with two supervisors: one for general practice, and one for my IFS work. I attend clinical supervision with certified IFS therapist and IFS-I approved clinical consultant, Oliver Brooke. This ongoing reflection helps ensure that the care you receive is considered, ethical, and always developing.

Interested in working together?

There's no wrong way to reach out, and no need to have it all figured out at first.

Feel free to browse the blog or socials - it's a good way to get a sense of me and whether we may be a good fit.

You can find me here: