Counsellor · Holistic Psychotherapist · Mental Health Social Worker
Cecilia Tankey Counselling & Psychotherapy
Learn More About Me
Since my earliest formal work experience, volunteering for an NGO in 2003, I have supported a diverse range of people to navigate life's difficulties, resolve conflicts, and facilitate change. My qualification and skills as a social worker, have enabled me to live my passion of empowering individuals and communities. However, over time, I found that I was yearning to delve more deeply into the unique human spirit and stories of those I worked with, so I went on to do postgraduate studies in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Read more about my psychotherapy training at The Metavision Institute.
As a wholistic practitioner, I adopt a 'whole body' & 'whole world' approach, with consideration of the body, mind, soul & spirit, our surrounding environment and relationships. Holistic work enables a path to be walked together.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands or impacted by emotional and mental health challenges, my counselling aims to introduce clarity, self-awareness and long term healing.

Holistic Approach
Unique Support for the Whole Person
My great passion is to hold a sacred space for clients to find long-term healing. I work specifically with anxiety and depression, relationships, PTSD and complex trauma, grief and loss, addictions, self esteem and life transitions. As a Mental Health Social Worker I can offer a Medicare rebate with a referral from a doctor. I love to meet the client exactly where they are, follow their own unique process and make them feel understood and deeply listened to.
Counselling
Evidence-based Support for Change, Growth & Healing
I work with people across the lifespan including adults, young people, couples and families. My approach is warm and empowering, while offering practical and evidence-based strategies to overcome difficulties. I adopt methods listed below as well as interpersonal relationship therapy, CBT, mindfulness-based therapy and skills training.
Some areas of focus include:
Depression & Anxiety
Grief & Loss
PTSD & trauma counselling
Relationship Conflict
Couples Counselling
Perinatal Mental Health
Pregnancy Counselling
Adolescent Mental Health
Change and Life Transitions
Biography/Life Story work
Body-Image & Self-Esteem issues
Process Oriented Psychology
Following The River's Way
Process Oriented Psychology is an awareness model of therapy, it enables work with our deepest experiences, to integrate both the conscious and less conscious aspects of self. Process Work operates within a paradigm which accepts there is an innate intelligence in the subconscious being expressed through our behaviours, dreams, chronic physical symptoms, and relationships, and that there is an organising principal in the background of our lives. I use many creative methods to practice in a process-oriented way; I follow your own unique process, and together we explore relationships, dreams, body symptoms and life disturbances to grow in awareness, find meaning, hope, and long-lasting change.
Grief, Loss & Trauma Counselling
For Deep Healing
Over the years I have had considerable experience in working with clients who have experienced grief, loss and trauma. The grief we experience is a natural and necessary emotional response to loss, change and bereavement.
Bereavement is the death of a significant person in our lives.
Losses can also include life changes such as children leaving home; retirement; moving house; change in career; having an ageing loved one; relationship breakdown; disability or illness in oneself or a family member; infertility issues or miscarriage.
In trauma experiences, the loss is associated with shattered assumptions that you are safe, that you are worthy, the world is good, life is meaningful, and a shattered worldview.
Trauma experiences may include violence, sexual abuse, accidents or war related experiences.
Grief is unique and as individuals we all grieve differently. Grief, loss and trauma counselling provides a safe space in which to tell your story, express your fears and work towards recovery through finding meaning in your life once more.
Couples Therapy
Working Through Conflict and Deepening Relationships
All relationship conflict requires acceptance of the wisdom that is found in multiple perspectives. In couples therapy, it also requires a commitment and willingness to work towards making a more intentional and conscious relationship. In couples work I offer careful attention, tenderness and firm guidance, in order to support making the relationship more conscious, developing intentional interactions, exploring values and needs, improving communication, and accepting the difficulty of creating a good relationship. It is slow and challenging work. But the journey is met with rich reward. Be bold to take a step towards becoming more aware of your drive to be loving and whole as an individual and within your love relationship.
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Empowering and Transparent
My work is led by the deep values of fairness, inclusiveness and the sacredness of every person. I uphold the values and ethics of my profession including honesty, transparency, empathy and reflective practice. I am informed by the fundamentals of social work practice to include consideration of the person in environment, and the social and cultural contexts. My work is strengths-based and I work with people from across the lifespan and with all abilities.
I am passionate and ferocious as a social justice warrior, striving for a more fair and just society, and acting as a social change agent and advocate for clients and the broader community when required.
Services are offered to all people regardless of age, race, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental abilities. As a Mental Health Social Worker I can offer a Medicare rebate with a referral from a doctor, as well conduct court reports, statutory declarations, advocacy and consultancy.
Person Centred Counselling
Guidance & Inspiration
The client is at the centre of the work that I do. Clients are viewed as their own best authority on their own experience. I come with a beginner's mind and great curiosity to learn about you. My approach allows a gentle space for clients to journey through the process of unfolding life's many hurts and difficult experiences, and includes rich storytelling.
Session Fees & Bookings
Counselling sessions are 50 mins in duration
New Fees in 2020
Individual Counselling - $140
Couples Counselling - $170
Court Reports & Statutory Declarations by an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker - $200 p/hr
Medicare rebates are $75.95 with a referral from a doctor.
Jelaluddin Rumi
"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of that which you really love. It will not lead you astray."