Hello there!

I’m Viv, and I’d love to share a little about my journey with you.

While I am wholeheartedly convinced that professional development through formal qualifications and accreditations is vital for safe, ethical, and evidence-based therapeutic practice, I also believe that clinical supervision and personal experience are crucial elements in how we connect, relate, and work.  Reflecting on my own journey has highlighted the value of safe, authentic therapeutic relationships.

I’m committed to a warm, empathetic approach, ensuring my client’s and colleagues’ safety and well-being. Particularly, I am truly passionate about ensuring children’s safety. Children’s  well-being, and their right to thrive in safe and secure environments it is fundamental in my practice.

Outside of work, you’ll find me at the gym, walking my dog Norman, or dancing to Latin music. I was born in Venezuela, and while I keep my home country in my heart, I consider Australia home. Because of my heritage, I naturally gravitate toward the rhythmic sounds of drums, salsa, and reggaeton. Although people often see me as an extrovert, I also treasure solitude, nature, and captivating novels o poetry.

Viviana Sorensen, B.SW, M.SW, AMHSW.
Qualified Attachment & Trauma Psychotherapist,
NDIS Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner,
and the person behind our Therapeutic Approach.

 

My areas of interest & expertise include:

 

Mental Health
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Suicide ideation and behaviour
  • Mood disorders
Life transitions:
  • Unresolved wounds in:
    Childhood, Adolescence & Adulthood.
  • Challenging adolescence.
  • Motherhood & Parenting. Challenges with co-parenting.
  • Difficult pregnancies, & labour complications.
  • Relationships, Separations, & divorce.
  • Migration and identity.
  • Life and professional purpose.
Relational Trauma:
  • Relational and Developmental Trauma: Expertise in addressing trauma related to child protection matters and individual counselling, with a focus on relational and developmental aspects.
  • Domestic Violence: Proficient in applying David Mandel’s framework, integrating attachment perspectives to address the complexities of domestic violence.
  • Parental Trauma and Mental Illness: Skilled in working with parents experiencing trauma, mental illness, and addictions, providing comprehensive therapeutic support.
  • Childhood Sexual Abuse: Dedicated to working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their care teams, focusing on healing the profound impact of such experiences.
  • Sexual Abuse Prevention: Specializing in treating harmful sexual behaviour in youth and young adults and providing therapeutic intervention for non-offending parents.
  • Transgenerational Trauma: Working with the deep-seated effects of transgenerational trauma on families and individuals.
Neurodiversity:
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
  • Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD)
  • Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Dual diagnosis including mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, mood disorders, emerging personality disorders, complex behaviours, trauma, and attachment disruptions.
  • Neuro developmental needs + trauma/attachment needs.
  • Complex Behaviours and Trauma-informed PBSP
Gender-Diversity:
  • Supporting parents with gender-diverse children
  • Supporting our LGTBQIA+ youth

 

flowers for professional development

 

Professional development continuum

 

Qualifications, Certifications & Affiliations
  • Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AASW)
  • Trained in CBT, DBT, & Compassion focussed therapy
  • Affiliated to the Australian Psychological Society
  • Suitable NDIS Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner (Advanced level)
  • Attachment-based Psychotherapist trained on:
  • Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (Level 1 and Level 2)
  • Theraplay (Level 1)
  • Attachment-Focussed-EMDR (Level 1 EMDR)
  • Master of Social Work (Queensland University)
  • Bachelor of Social Work (Central University of Venezuela)
Focus of professional development
  • Women's Health and Well-Being: Expertise in fostering emotional, relational, sexual, and psychological and well-being.
  • Trauma-Informed Care: Proficient in guiding self-healing processes for trauma survivors, including inner-child work, across past, present, and future contexts.
  • Healthy Relationships and Boundaries: Skilled in fostering the development of healthy relationships and establishing boundaries with self, others, and family members.
  • Attachment and Behaviour Interventions: Specialising in trauma and attachment-informed interventions, with a focus on risk mitigation, behaviour management and change.
  • Child and Family: Committed to raising resilient children within safe, secure, and nurturing family environments.
  • Consultancy Services: Offering exclusive consultancy services for the NDIS, and Child Protection agencies.
  • Mental Health Management: Expertise in treating and managing mental illnesses through Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) including psychoeducation, coping skills, self- and co-regulation, and stress management strategies.
  • Cultural and Generational Trauma: life transitions, migration, and the impacts of generational, systemic, and cultural trauma.
  • Bilingual Therapy: Providing therapy services in both Spanish and English.

 

Let's Work Together!