Due to an unexpected increase in carer responsibilities,
I am unable to take any new clients for the foreseeable future.

About Me

I am Carolyn Harkness. I live in Canberra, Australia.

I am a qualified pastoral counsellor who held permanent tenure as a teaching-focused academic at the Australian Catholic University from 2009 until 2021. I took leave when my son (then aged 21) experienced his first episode of psychosis in late 2019—returning to my academic work briefly in 2020 to complete my role as the National Assistant Head of Discipline (Early Childhood and Pathway programs). I then retired to become the full-time carer of a young adult whose world had shattered into a thousand unrecognisable pieces.

I have always prioritised my family. I am, first and foremost, the parent of three young adult children who live with anxiety, autism and a range of chronic illnesses and mental health difficulties - listed below!

 My practice includes the use of the following trauma-informed principles:
  • Safety – I am keenly aware that being safe is as much an emotional as well as physical need. I come to you and meet you on your terms.
  • Trust – My attention is undivided and I work at being tuned into your needs. I believe trust grows with time and patience and integrity.
  • Choice – I am keen to support and affirm you in your choices
  • Collaboration – As a coach, I am someone who is keen to 'work with’ my clients - on their projects
  • Empowerment – The entire goal is to empower individuals to be their own person on their own terms.
  • Inclusivity – I am aware that trauma can impact an individual, their emotions and relationships with others. I strive to be accepting, patient, gentle and kind when working with a client.

My approach is gentle, patient, and realistic. I take into account your individual needs and goals. I work to provide a safe and supportive environment where people can share their experiences, gain insight, and make positive changes. I work with individuals and families to foster growth and resilience on the path to wellness.

I can help you achieve your goals and improve your overall well-being through active listening, empathy, and problem-solving. I work to understand your unique situation and offer tailored guidance to navigate life's obstacles. With my practical help, you will gain the tools you need to make positive changes in your life.

I prefer to come alongside you and actively and compassionately listen to you. I prioritise being available and present to support and assist. I work with gentle humility and patience to build up each person's self-esteem and strengthen their resilience to face each day. With these attributes in mind, my coaching and care-giving are highly affordable, flexible, tailored, and responsive psychological interventions.

My learned experience in education and counselling results in my working with a high degree of personal integrity, academic knowledge, emotional intelligence, and spiritual awareness.  I view my role as becoming your critical friend. I hold the following qualifications:
  • Graduate Diploma of Pastoral Counselling, Charles Sturt University (2020)
  • Master of Education (Early Childhood), Australian Catholic University (2014), my research and academic focus was upon the presence of emergent complexity in early childhood partnerships and children’s rights,
  • Bachelor of Education, University of Canberra (2006), Major: Early Childhood - ages 3 to 8 years
  • Bachelor of Business, Monash University (1992), Majors:  Management & Marketing

My lived and carer experience brings a great deal of authenticity to my therapeutic support. My lived experience is mostly my being human, and I celebrate the strengths that arise amidst my frailty. I am a deeply reflective human being, and this brings great dignity, compassion, and humility into my work. This list of invaluable experience reads like the 'who's who' of popular and 'trending' physical, emotional and psychological acronystic challenges and includes the following: 
  • Alexithymia, is finding it difficult to recognise and identify emotions (as a carer)
  • Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (as a carer)
  • Anosognosia, is when the brain can't recognise one or more other health conditions (as a carer)
  • Anxiety (lived and as a carer)
  • Asthma (as a carer)
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (as a carer)
  • Autism (level 1 and level 2) (ASD-1 and ASD-2), bipolar 2 (BP-2) (lived and as a carer)
  • Burnout, from autism-related matters and employment-related matters (lived and as a carer)
  • Delusions (as a carer)
  • Depression (lived and as a carer)
  • Disordered eating, mostly avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), bulimia, and purging (as a carer)
  • Dysgraphia (lived and as a carer)
  • Dyslexia (as a carer)
  • Fibromyalgia (as a carer)
  • Food intolerances and allergies (lived and as a carer)
  • Histamine-pathway related health issues (as a carer)
  • Hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) - including managing all the breakages, sprains and strains that occur from multiple and unexpected incidents (as a carer)
  • Imposter syndrome (lived and as a carer)
  • Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) (as a carer)
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome (POS) (as a carer)
  • Post traumatic stress disorder - both short-lived and complex (PTSD and CPTSD) (as a carer)
  • Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) (as a carer) 
  • Psychosis (as a carer)
  • Schizophrenia (as a carer)

My therapeutic work is managed around my ongoing care-giving responsibilities. To ensure that each client receives my complete attention and focus, I limit my therapeutic partnerships to two or three clients at a time, depending on their complexity. I am the provider of tailored, effective and evidence-based Therapeutic Supports. All of my services are to be paid by each client. Funding can be sourced privately, or through either your Home-Care-Package, or your plan-managed or self-managed NDIS program. 

My business goals are directed toward helping individuals and their families enrich their quality of life through confidently:
  • Building stronger connections with others
  • Investing in an authentic responsiveness
  • Acting with courage
  • Persevering amid challenges