Hey! I’m Jess.
> Graduate Diploma in Counselling (University of Tasmania)
> Academic Roll of Excellence (2025)
> Registered member of the Australian Counselling Association
I’m the face and counsellor behind mind-leap. I am an accredited and registered counsellor through the Australian Counselling Association.
I have lived and worked in the Blue Mountains/Penrith area for all of my life, graduating from ACU in 2018 with a Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education. I loved working children as a Teacher in Special Education, but decided it was time to pursue something I have always been passionate about, Mental Health. I’ve always been interested in the facet of therapy and understanding individual’s minds, feelings, and emotions, through empathy. Whilst I worked as a teacher for a big chunk of my life, I knew deep down I wanted to be working with and supporting women on a deeper level. Thus, I went back to University to study counselling, graduating with a Graduate Diploma in Counselling with the University of Tasmania. From there, Mind Leap Counselling was born.
Outside of counselling, I am an avid runner and outdoor lover. I am constantly seeking the release of those feel-good chemicals, endorphins! Hence, the idea of combining therapy and walking was studied and implemented. I am beginning my studies of Auslan, as I have been greatly inspired by my sister of whom is Deaf. I am hoping to bridge the gap of accessibility to Mental Health services for those who are Deaf.
Life doesn’t always go as expected, and I get that, but with the right guidance and support, achieving your mental health goals is completely possible.
I believe in supportive talk therapy, centred around an empathic approach. It’s a space where you don’t need to have everything figured out, but rather just a place to show up as you are with absolutely no judgement. I don’t believe in quick fixes. Instead, we work together to build deeper understanding, self-awareness, and lasting change over time. I draw upon CBT-informed strategies to help you make sense of your thoughts and emotions, while keeping the process relaxed and tailored to you. While I don’t provide diagnoses, I can absolutely support you in working through and making sense of an existing diagnosis in a way that feels practical and empowering.
The relationship between you and your counsellor plays a meaningful role in the process. If it doesn’t feel like the right fit, that’s completely okay. You deserve to work with someone you feel comfortable with, and I’m happy to support you in finding that.