ABOUT US
LEARN ABOUT ELANORA COUNSELLING AND MEET THE TEAM
Elanora Counselling is dedicated practice of qualified and registered Christian Counselors and Psychotherapists whose most important goal is to use all available resources to bring peace and healing to our clients. With a minimum combined business experience of over 50 years, and combined counselling experience exceeding 20 years we offer a friendly, compassionate and understanding approach in a warm and friendly environment.
We combine the latest and best known psychological approaches with spirituality, mind, body and soul techniques to provide a truly wholistic approach to healing, as well as education and mentoring in better communication, healthier relationships, less stressful lives and more assertive practices.
David Watkins – Wyee Central Coast & Redfern Sydney
David Watkins has been counselling, coaching and consulting for more than 20 years. Coming from the corporate business world he has unique understanding of the human psyche, what motivates and encourages us and how to work through problems, issues and dysfunction.
At home working with large groups in the corporate world or face to face in individual counselling or coaching David has the experience, accreditation, knowledge and savvy to assist clients in not only reaching their goals but achieving healing and wellness.
David holds a Bachelor of Business Degree, a Vocational Graduate Certificate and Graduate
Diploma in Counselling and is a registered member of the Australian Counselling Association,
the Professional Counsellors Association of NSW and is a registered Supervisor with the
Australian Counselling Association. David hopes to complete his Masters degree in Counselling
in 2020.
Credentials: B. Bus, GD Theol, GD Couns, Cert IV T & A; A, M. Couns (process), Certified Pre-Marriage
Facilitator, Certified Supervisor, Member ACA since 2007
Yvette Azzam – Balmain
Yvette is a professional counsellor holding a BA majoring in Psychology and a Masters in Counselling from Monash University. She has extensive experience in counselling, welfare work and pastoral care in the UK and Australia. Her work has been in diverse settings from assisting people in crisis situations including youth homelessness, to personal counselling for issues such as anxiety, stress management, trauma, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties and church leadership support.
Yvette works from her private practice in the inner west of Sydney. She is passionate about working together with her clients, fostering hope and healing in a safe and caring environment, to help live life to their full potential and purpose. She uses an eclectic holistic approach to counselling and draws from a variety of modalities depending on her clients’ varying and individual needs. She has special interest in the neuroscience of anxiety and how somatic (bodily) awareness can help
manage trauma, anxiety and chronic stress.
Credentials: BA (Psych), MCouns, Cert in Trauma Stress Studies, EMDR
accredited training (EMDRAA), Member of Australian Counselling Association (2016).
Donna Azar – Maroubra and Waterloo
Individual and Couples Counsellor
Donna Azar is a qualified counsellor – she did her training at the Australian Institute of Family Counselling where she has obtained an Advanced Diploma in Family Counselling. AIFC training uses a holistic approach studying Psychology, Spirituality and Theology. Donna uses all 3 aspects in her counselling whilst totally respecting and honouring the client’s own worldview in the areas of faith and/or belief systems.
Donna draws on her own life experiences. One of those is being in a cross cultural marriage for over 30 years where she has worked with her husband running and owning small businesses as well as being a mother. Donna herself was brought up in a single parent family, whilst was much loved knows on a personal level the impact that can have on a child. Then to also experience family as a parent and partner within a marriage has highlighted the differences families experience and it is within all these experiences throughout her life a desire developed to work with individuals, couples and families to have self- worth and skills to navigate the difficulties of life and relationships and these are the primary reasons Donna chose to make her desire a reality and become a counsellor.
Donna has a private practice at Maroubra as well as having a room at City-Care Waterloo. Her approach is an eclectic style which she maintains through her commitment to the continued development of her therapeutic skills such as communication and conflict resolution as well as the continued training in models such as Transactional Analysis, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Narrative Therapy.
All these skills and models are part of a framework that looks at the past as well as the present, which creates a pathway for clients to establish insight and healing for themselves within the counselling process. Whether she is working with an individual or a couple her focus is on working relationally and collaboratively with the client/clients to create a safe, respectful and empathetic therapeutic environment.
Credentials: Diploma and Adv. Dip Christian Counselling, Member ACA since 2007