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Alannah O’Brien

Registered Counsellor

Alana brings a calm, grounded presence to her work, supporting individuals and families as they navigate complex, often overwhelming life experiences. She is deeply committed to creating a space where people feel safe, respected, and genuinely heard.

With a strong focus on relationships, safety, and collaboration, Alana works alongside clients and their wider support networks to help make sense of challenges and move toward meaningful, sustainable change — one step at a time, and never in isolation.

My professional journey

I have worked extensively with individuals and families impacted by domestic and family violence, sexual violence, substance use, mental health challenges, and intergenerational trauma. My professional background includes specialist counselling roles, intensive family support, child protection, and alcohol and other drug services. This experience allows me to work thoughtfully and confidently with complexity, risk, and vulnerability, while remaining compassionate and strengths-focused.

I am particularly passionate about supporting parents and caregivers to strengthen attachment, increase safety, and develop insight into patterns that influence family relationships and wellbeing. I draw on trauma-informed and relational approaches, including Circle of Security principles and systems-focused family work, and adapt my work to honour each individual and family’s unique needs, values, and cultural context.

I value collaboration and work holistically alongside families and other professionals to support meaningful and sustainable change. I am known for my calm, grounded presence, clear boundaries, and my ability to create a safe therapeutic space where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered.

I hold a Diploma of Counselling and a Bachelor of Psychological Science, am a current member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), and am committed to ethical, reflective practice and ongoing professional development.

Areas of Interest

Trauma & Complex Presentations

  • Trauma across the lifespan (childhood, adolescence, adulthood)
  • Complex and developmental trauma
  • Intergenerational trauma
  • Recovery from adverse childhood experiences
  • Safety, stabilisation, and nervous system regulation
  • Supporting children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural difficulties
  • Attachment-informed work with families
  • Parenting support and parent–child relationship strengthening
  • Evidence-based support for parents and caregivers
  • Family systems and relational difficulties
  • Supporting children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Parent education and support following ASD diagnosis
  • Understanding behaviour through a neurodevelopmental lens
  • Strengths-based approaches to neurodiversity
  • Supporting individuals and families impacted by domestic and family violence
  • Recovery from sexual violence
  • Safety planning and stabilisation
  • Working with complexity, risk, and vulnerability
  • Alcohol and other drug use
  • Addiction and recovery support
  • Working with individuals and families affected by substance use
  • Harm-reduction and trauma-informed approaches
  • Supporting men experiencing emotional distress
  • Identity, role transitions, and relational challenges
  • Trauma-informed support for men
  • Addiction and substance use concerns in men
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Depression and low mood
  • Emotional regulation difficulties
  • Self-esteem and identity concerns
  • Working alongside other professionals (GPs, schools, child safety, allied health)
  • Holistic, systems-focused care
  • Supporting families navigating complex service systems

Need help ASAP?

If you need to speak to someone straight away, please contact:

For urgent mental health concerns or mental health information, please call 1300 642 255 (1300 MH CALL).

Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Phone: 13 11 14

Parentline is a confidential telephone service providing professional counselling and support in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Phone: 1800 301 300

Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.

Phone: 1800 55 1800

Suicide Call Back Service is a nationwide service that provides 24/7 telephone, video and online professional counselling to people who are affected by suicide.

Phone: 1300 659 467

Get in touch