Russell’s Bio
University can be overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to navigate systems that weren’t built with you in mind. In my first year, I nearly got kicked off a study tour before it even started because I was having a bad day at the orientation and reacted poorly to the unit coordinator who didn’t know me—unlike school where all the teachers knew me as a good student. Feeling defeated, I ended up in the student advocacy office and where I had a transformative experience that changed the trajectory of my life which eventually led me to counselling.
I was lucky to get the help I needed, but I know the existing support systems are inadequate. I worked in the student advocacy office and went onto assess Special Consideration and Special Circumstances applications for the university. I saw firsthand how many students don’t get the support they need, that’s why I set up this practice to catch the people who fall through the cracks. I’m stubborn and hate admitting I need help, so I understand how hard it is to be courageous and ask.
My approach is practical and non-judgmental, grounded in lived experience. I don’t use any therapeutic techniques that I haven’t tested on myself first. I focus on the nervous system, how stress and trauma shape behaviour, and the ways these intersect with addiction and neurodiverse brains.
