Meet Jessica Traino
My name is Jessica Traino and I have experience working with a diverse range of clients of different age groups and cultures, including neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ individuals. I hold a Bachelor of Counselling, am registered with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federeation of Australia (PACFA) and have been verified by Psychology Today.
I'm autistic, have ADHD, and have been in the depths of complex trauma. I've gone through therapy of my own and use a lot of the tools I teach my clients. I believe therapists should be genuine, warm and accepting, so I am all of these things in my sessions! As a pansexual agender woman, I also have lived experience navigating gender and sexuality with acceptance.
I use an affirming approach for LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent people, and use a trauma-informed approach to gently help you though the feelings of anxiety, depression and stress that often come with the neurodivergent experience. My core passion is to understand your challenges, values and goals, and to help you reach a place of contentment.
How does lived experience help the counselling process?
Being an autistic counsellor allows me to understand that not every mind is the same. Each person has unique qualities and requirements. It also allows me to be understanding and accepting of autistic, ADHD, and LGBTQIA+ specific experiences.
The fact that I have personally worked on myself through therapy and continue to use therapy tools to better myself means I knows what it's like to be a client and what is required to make someone feel safe in their vulnerability. My lived experience adds depth, empathy, and uniqueness to my qualifications, research, and experience as a counsellor.
What can you expect in sessions with Jessica Traino?
The first thing that happens when you book in a session with me is that we will organise a completely free 15 minute consult. During that talk, we'll discuss what your needs are and I'll answer your questions about the counselling process. When we start our therapy sessions together, they'll be through video or voice calls, depending on your preference. In the first one to two sessions, I'll get to know better, and we will come up with goals and plans for how our future sessions will go. If there's something you've tried before in therapy that just didn't work for you, you can let me know and I'll do my best to avoid it and explore why it didn't work. We'll look at more effective alternatives and utilise your strengths to help you build a toolbox of helpful therapy coping skills. You will come out of counselling better able to manage issues like sensory overload, panic attacks, overwhelm, anxiety, depression, stress, suicidal ideation, autistic burnout, masking, ADHD paralysis, relationship conflict and negative self-image etc.
In therapy sessions with me, you can expect to feel heard, understood, prioritised, respected and empowered! I will work alongside you to help you face whatever challenges you're struggling with.
Ready to Begin Your Therapy Journey?
Contact Jessica today to schedule a session.