Emily Conolan.

Creativity. Healing. Social Justice.

Emily is instantly warm, glowing and non-judgemental in her approach to human interactions. She identifies as a cis-gender queer woman, is actively engaged in decolonising herself, and provides a safe exploratory space for gender diversity and folks of all backgrounds.

After gaining her Masters of Counselling from Monash University, Emily specialised in the therapeutic modality of Internal Family Systems (IFS), which helps people to explore themselves in more nuanced ways and to access self-compassion to make lasting changes. IFS is a trauma-informed practice that believes there is nothing ‘wrong’ with you, but that we develop protective coping mechanisms as we go through life. Guided IFS sessions make it possible to unburden and resource these coping parts so they don’t have to work so hard, and put you in touch with your own inner calm and freedom. You may also like to explore journaling, sand tray, and other types of creativity in your sessions with Emily.

Emily has extensive experience in the intersections of community activities, education and the arts. She has worked for many years in activism and advocacy, founding and running the award-winning human rights organisation Tasmanian Asylum Seeker Support. She helps people to tell and share their own stories in creative ways on stage and on paper, and is herself the published author of the ‘Freedom Finder’ series with Allen and Unwin. She is the happiest - and arguably finds her very own version of Ikigai - when combining healing, social justice and creativity. Emily believes that therapy is never just an individual endeavour – she is curious and wants to learn about how you experience your environment and identity, and sees us as part of an interconnected whole.

Emily invites you to explore and expand into your authentic self. Outside of the therapy room, Emily loves getting excited about small joys like finding fungi, sending and receiving long voice notes from her loved ones around the world, cooking enormous vats of soup, and wearing dangly earrings and colourful jumpsuits with pockets. As a parent and someone who cares deeply about all kinds of relationships, Emily can help you create pathways to more meaningful connection to yourself and others. She brings a profound understanding and lived experience of childhood trauma, grief and loss. She also understands how it feels to be deeply affected by global and environmental issues.

Coming into the therapy space with Emily feels cosy, explorative, curious and deeply respectful. With a belief that therapy is for everyone and anyone, Emily will support you to access your own inner resources to unburden and transform.

You can read more about Emily’s published books on Goodreads.

Emily has a particular interest in supporting people of all ages who:

• Are ready (or curious!) to know themselves better, and live in more empowered, authentic ways.

• Identify as womxn, Queer, poly, trans or curious in these areas.

• Have experienced childhood trauma or grief, or are working with attachment system issues in their relationships.

• Have lived or are living through displacement, discrimination, colonisation, ecological grief, or refugee status / challenges.

• Are open to exploring their inner and outer worlds with curious, critical self-reflection through a variety of modalities and tools - both traditional talking and / or other modalities.