Meet Larissa

I’m often asked what led me to become a counsellor.

The answer didn’t begin when I enrolled in my counselling degree. It began much earlier, with a lifelong curiosity about people.

I’ve always found myself wondering why we respond differently to similar experiences, how our relationships shape the way we see ourselves, and what helps people find their way through difficult periods in life. Long before I became a counsellor, I was drawn to understanding the stories that sit beneath the surface.

Counselling became the place where those questions found a professional home.

Today, I’m a PACFA Registered Clinical Counsellor and EMDR therapist based in the Northern Rivers of NSW, working with adults and young people aged 16+ both in person and online across Australia.

I hope therapy offers people more than symptom relief. I hope it provides a space where they feel genuinely understood, reconnect with their own strengths, and leave with greater clarity about themselves and what matters most to them.

I don’t believe people need fixing. More often, they need space to understand their experiences differently.

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My Approach

How I Work

Every person arrives at therapy with a different story.

You are far more than the problem that brings you to therapy today.

Your experiences, relationships, family, culture and life circumstances have all shaped the way you understand yourself and the world around you. Before deciding what needs to change, I believe it’s important to understand how you arrived where you are today.

Rather than beginning with assumptions or labels, I begin with curiosity.

My approach is grounded in humanistic values and integrates person-centred practice, ACT, mindfulness, psychoeducation, and EMDR-informed therapy. These approaches guide my work, but they don’t define it. Therapy is always adapted to the individual, recognising that what is helpful for one person may not be for another.

More often, people need the opportunity to understand themselves with greater compassion, recognise patterns that no longer serve them, and discover new ways of responding to life’s challenges.

Larissa Braga counsellor Northern Rivers

Personal

Why This Work Matters To Me

The experiences that shape us often deepen our understanding of others.

As a parent and family member of people with ADHD, I’ve experienced many of the questions, frustrations and moments of uncertainty that often accompany it. I’ve also seen the creativity, resilience and unique strengths that are so often overlooked.

Those experiences have deepened my understanding of ADHD, but they’ve also reinforced something much broader. Every person’s story deserves to be understood in its own context. Whether someone is living with ADHD, recovering from trauma, navigating anxiety, grieving a loss or adjusting to a significant life transition, I believe understanding should always come before judgement.

That belief continues to shape every conversation I have with the people who walk through my door.

Background

A Broader Perspective

Originally from Brazil, I've lived, studied and worked across different cultures before making Australia home.

Living between languages and cultures has shaped the way I think about identity, belonging and human connection. It has also taught me that there is rarely one correct way of understanding another person’s experiences.

Today I offer counselling in both English and Portuguese and enjoy working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. I value creating a therapeutic relationship where people feel respected, understood and able to bring all parts of themselves into the room.

Credentials & Training

PACFA Registered Clinical Counsellor

Registered Clinical Member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), upholding professional standards in ethics, supervision and ongoing development.

EMDR Therapist

Trained in Standard EMDR and Attachment-Focused EMDR, integrating evidence-based trauma therapy into counselling practice.

NSW Victims Services Approved Counsellor

Approved provider of funded counselling for people affected by violent crime, domestic and family violence, and sexual assault.

Bachelor of Counselling

Completed at the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP), spanning counselling theory, ethics, human development and supervised clinical practice.

Youth Mental Health

Former Youth Mental Health Clinician at headspace, providing assessment, counselling, risk assessment, family work and multidisciplinary care for young people aged 12 to 25.

ADHD Informed Practice

Advanced professional training through the ADHD Parent Coach Academy, supporting evidence-based ADHD counselling, psychoeducation and parent support.

For referring professionals: I welcome referrals from GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, paediatricians, schools, Victims Services, lawyers, social workers and allied health professionals. I’m always happy to discuss whether my practice may be the right fit before a referral is made.

Ready when you’re ready

If you’re considering therapy, or simply have questions about how I work, I’d be happy to hear from you.

Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or someone you care about, you’re welcome to get in touch. We can talk about what you’re looking for and whether working together feels like the right fit.

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