Astrid West, PACFA

Astrid West is a PACFA counsellor who offers calm, practical support for people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction and major life changes. She aims to listen first and help people find clear steps forward. Astrid keeps things straightforward and non-judgemental so clients can speak openly about what matters to them.

With three years of clinical experience, Astrid uses a mix of approaches to suit different needs. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and client-centred ways of working. This combination helps people notice unhelpful patterns, test small changes and choose actions that match their values.

Astrid also works with issues such as ADHD, grief, intimacy-related concerns, parenting strain and compassion fatigue. She can help with relationship and family stresses, career pressures, anger and self-esteem difficulties. Jealousy and isolation or loneliness are included among her additional focus areas.

Sessions are conducted in English and are offered from Australia. Astrid explains options clearly and helps people weigh what might suit their situation. She uses simple tools, reflective listening and practical exercises tailored to each person’s goals.

If someone is new to therapy Astrid will guide them through the first steps. She invites people to say what they need, try approaches at a gentle pace and review progress together.

Approaches you can try in online sessions

Astrid commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work. ACT helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while focusing on actions that match their values; it can be useful for anxiety, low mood and life transitions. CBT looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour and teaches practical skills to reduce distress and change unhelpful habits, which suits anxiety, depression and some addictive behaviours.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Astrid works collaboratively to test methods and adjust them to a person’s goals and preferences. She explains options, tries exercises together and checks in to see what helps most over time.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins between commitments and reduce travel time. It also lets people practice skills in the settings where they live and work, and supports continuity of care when circumstances change.