Sharon Strauss, PACFA

Sharon Strauss is a PACFA-registered clinical counsellor based in Australia who brings nine years of professional experience to her private practice, which operates online and in person on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. She works with people facing a wide range of concerns, including stress and anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and confidence, addictions, grief, depression, and challenges related to intimacy and communication.

Sharon blends evidence-informed methods with a respectful, sensitive, and compassionate stance, tailoring conversations and treatment plans to the unique needs of each person she sees. Her work also addresses more specific areas such as attachment and abandonment issues, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, infidelity, and impulse-related concerns. She aims to create a collaborative space where clients can explore their goals and build practical skills for coping and growth.

Sharon is registered with PACFA - a professional registration for counsellors in Australia - holding Clinical PACFA Counsellor Registration #28305. She maintains a public liability policy (number PACFA-0152801) and practices as Sharon Strauss Counselling, ABN 94572969936. Sharon recognizes that beginning therapy takes courage and is committed to supporting people as they take that first step.

Approaches That Guide Online Therapeutic Work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and focuses on clarifying values to guide meaningful action. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions where avoidance is getting in the way of goals.

Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current patterns in intimacy and trust, helping clients understand and change unhelpful relational responses. This approach is often helpful for relationship struggles, abandonment issues, and attachment-related anxiety.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and testing unhelpful thinking patterns and building specific coping skills to manage mood and behaviour. It is commonly used for depression, anxiety, and problem-solving around everyday challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Sharon works collaboratively with clients to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and will adapt or combine approaches so therapy fits each person’s situation. Licensed professionals and therapists often mix methods to match what will be most helpful.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility - video calls, phone appointments, live chat, and text-based messaging allow people to access therapy from where they are, fit sessions into busy schedules, and maintain continuity of care during life changes. These formats make it easier to engage in consistent work with a therapist while accommodating individual preferences and routines.