Healing Scars Inside and Out

Becoming a counsellor and hypnotherapist has been one of the most rewarding shifts of my life. It’s always a great conversation starter when people ask what I do—though I must admit, my answer has changed a lot over the years. 

In my “previous life,” I was a dermal clinician with over 28 years of experience in the skin and aesthetics industry. I spent more than two decades running my own practice and worked in some of Melbourne’s busiest plastic surgery centres alongside plastic surgeons, nurses, and their teams. Together, we managed scar treatments both before and after surgeries, as well as smaller scars from acne, mole removal, and other minor procedures. 

Over time, I became deeply specialised in scar treatment and recovery. My friends and colleagues fondly called me a “scar guru,” and I took that title to heart. I was passionate about helping people heal—whether their scars were physical reminders of an accident, surgery, or something as personal as acne. What struck me, though, was that even when the physical scars faded, many of my clients still struggled. Their trauma seemed to linger long after their skin healed. 

It was in these moments—sitting with clients, listening to their stories, and seeing the emotional weight they carried—that I began to understand the connection between physical and emotional scars. For some, those scars were tied to their identity, self-worth, or painful memories they couldn’t escape. As much as I loved my work, I often wished I could do more to help them heal fully.

Then life intervened. My own health started to decline, and I realised that physically, I couldn’t keep up with the fast-paced nature of my job. My arthritic knees were screaming at me to slow down, and for the first time, I had to ask myself what was next. 

That’s when I remembered those emotional scars—the ones I couldn’t treat with lasers or creams. I decided it was time to pivot. I retrained as a counsellor and hypnotherapist, diving into the emotional and psychological side of healing. It was a natural progression, even if it felt like a leap of faith at the time. 

The transition wasn’t easy. I went from being an expert in my field—someone people sought out for advice and solutions—to being a beginner again, learning new skills and starting fresh. But it felt right. Every new technique I learned, every counselling session I conducted, reinforced that I was still helping people heal, just in a different way. 

Now, when people ask what I do, I get to share the joy of helping clients in a new and deeper way. Instead of treating the scars people see, I help with the ones they feel—the invisible wounds left by trauma, fear, or self-doubt. Hypnosis has been a particularly powerful tool for this work, allowing clients to access the deeper parts of their minds and make transformative changes.

One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “What kind of clients do you like working with the most?” My answer is always the same: I love working with people who are ready to step into the person they’ve always wanted to be. They might not know exactly how to get there, but they’re willing to take that first step. And let me tell you, when someone is truly ready to do the work, the changes they can make are incredible. 

Another question I hear often is how counselling and hypnotherapy actually help people heal. The answer lies in creating a safe space for clients to explore what’s holding them back. Sometimes it’s old beliefs they didn’t even realise they were carrying; other times, it’s unresolved trauma or fear of failure. Hypnotherapy, in particular, is a powerful way to uncover those barriers and replace them with empowering thoughts and behaviours. 

Looking back, I see now that my journey has come full circle. As a dermal clinician, I was passionate about helping people heal physically. Now, as a counsellor and hypnotherapist, I get to help them heal emotionally. The tools are different, but the goal is the same: to empower people to feel confident, whole, and ready to move forward in their lives. 

Healing, whether physical or emotional, is never about erasing the past. It’s about learning to live with it, to grow from it, and to embrace the person you are today. Scars—whether visible or invisible—tell a story of resilience, survival, and transformation. They remind us where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. 

That’s what I strive to help my clients see every day. No matter what their journey looks like, they are capable of incredible growth and healing.

If you’ve been holding onto scars—visible or invisible—and you’re ready to take that next step, I’m here. Together, we can work through the layers and uncover the strength that’s been there all along.