Katharine Heading, ACA

Katharine Heading is an experienced counsellor and a member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the ACA College of Clinical Supervisors. With 17 years of practice, she brings a broad background in gambling addictions, grief and loss, trauma, mental health, disability, anxiety, depression, palliative care and suicide prevention.

Her career began in the early 1980s in the remote township of Balfour in Tasmania, where life among horses, native wildlife and a rugged landscape shaped a practical and grounded approach to problem solving. Seeking ongoing learning, she completed an undergraduate degree by distance education and developed a strong interest in psychology. Later moves to Hobart supported her studies and family life while she worked in a range of clinical settings, including Relationships Australia Tasmania focusing on problem gambling, the Department of Psychiatry at the Royal Hobart Hospital on projects such as spider phobia, OCD and the Fragile X Project, and as a group facilitator with Gambling and Betting Addiction Inc.

After relocating to western Victoria in 2011, she worked as a senior manager in community health, supporting services from generalist counselling to youth, homelessness, family violence, dual diagnosis and alcohol and other drugs programs. Now in private practice, she tailors therapy to each person, working from the view that people are experts in their own lives and building on strengths with positively affirming language. Her methods draw on a mix of therapeutic techniques with particular emphasis on re-regulating nervous system dysregulation through hypnotherapy, relaxation and meditative strategies. She also offers equine supported mental health and nature-based approaches as part of a flexible, person-centered practice.

Hypnotherapy and Nature-Informed Online Care

Katharine works with hypnotherapy as a core approach, using guided relaxation and focused attention to help re-regulate nervous system responses and support change in patterns related to anxiety, sleep difficulties, addictions and trauma. This approach aims to create a calm state in which new learning and coping strategies can be practiced.

She also incorporates equine supported and nature-based methods as complementary options, drawing on interaction with animals and natural settings to promote emotional grounding, resilience and self-awareness. These approaches are useful for people who respond well to experiential, body-centered work alongside traditional talking therapy.

Deciding on the right approach is a collaborative process. Katharine discusses options with each person, tailoring methods to their needs, goals and preferences and adjusting the plan as therapy progresses.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how people connect - video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging - which can make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives and access support from different locations. These options allow therapists and clients to work together consistently while adapting to practical needs and personal comfort.