In 2002 Rowan Hanley began her counselling career voluntarily in the welfare sector. During   this time she dealt with clients who had a range of complex issues relating to substance   abuse, mental illness and homelessness. This led her to pursue studies in counselling,   psychology, and alcohol and other drugs work in an effort to discover which therapies were   most effective in creating positive change. The more she worked and studied the more she   noticed that whilst some therapies worked well with some clients, alternative approaches   were more effective for others.

Rowan found that apart from the client’s own commitment and desire to change their problem situation(s), the second most important factor in gaining successful results is the therapist’s flexibility when working empathically with the client. Rowan believes that each individual is the expert in their own life and that they inherently know what they want and what they need.

People are infinitely resourceful, but there are times when life can be so challenging they can forget where those resources are or how to tap into them.

Along with traditional counselling methods Rowan is trained in Solution Oriented Counselling, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Neuro Linguistic Programming and Coaching. These skills can be used as powerful tools to provide insight and assist in creating positive change.

A decade spent at Executive Management level in the international hotel industry has also equipped Rowan with experience in human resources, quality assurance and broad based business management skills. She understands the demands of corporate life; the high pressure, the long hours and the wearing responsibility that can create high levels of stress. This is why she enjoys the coaching side of her practice as much as the counselling and healing work.

Rowan currently lives in Sydney and is married with two teenage children. She also works voluntarily at Lifeline as a telephone crisis counsellor and training facilitator. Her other enthusiasms include voluntary work for Assistance Dogs Australia and Gawura – The Indigenous School within St Andrews Cathedral School. (click here to go to our "links" section for more information on these fabulous organisations.)

Rowan delights in helping people unleash their potential within and move confidently towards the life they want.

Rowan has attained the following qualifications: