My name is Allysia, and I am a counsellor, social worker, and lifelong horse lover dedicated to supporting wellbeing across all stages of life. With over a decade of experience in aged care, four years working as a school counsellor, and a long personal history within the thoroughbred racing industry, my work is shaped by the communities that have touched my life most deeply.

 

My path into counselling and social work has been anything but linear. I began studying nursing, but through personal challenges, illness, travel, and life experience I realised that what truly fulfilled me wasn’t clinical care and that it was the human connection. Sitting with people in their most vulnerable seasons, offering comfort, listening deeply, and creating space for healing felt natural, meaningful, and aligned with who I am.

 

While working as a personal care worker in residential aged care, and rising before dawn to ride trackwork, I learnt an extraordinary amount about resilience, grief, identity, community, and the quiet courage found in everyday moments. These experiences helped shape my understanding of the emotional and psychosocial needs of both older adults and young people and continue to guide my work today, particularly around grief, loss, transitions, autonomy, and emotional wellbeing.

 

I come from a racing family and was lucky enough to have grown up with horses and competed at Pony Club level but did not work in the racing industry until my early 20's. My time in the racing industry was both joyful and challenging but no matter what I could always find solace with the horses I had a special connection with. Whilst I appreciated working with such beautiful horses and in such a unique industry I also I saw the silent battles that stable staff, trainers and jockeys were facing. Racing is not just a job or career it becomes your life and at times due to the relentless dedication and hard work that it requires it can take a toll on your health and wellbeing. Participants can be expected to be up and ready at 3:30am for a 4am start, work 13 days a fortnight, working long hours, split shifts, attend races, trials and jump outs. This can be a wonderful lifestyle full of highs and excitement but it can also be relentless, isolating to the outside world and exhausting physically and emotionally. During my time in the industry I worked for trainers in SA and VIC who raced at different levels where I saw people face significant hardship and adversity but there was no face to face support available that was industry recognised, that felt familiar and available to all staff and not just the jockeys. This ignited a fire in my belly to one day be that person to help bridge that gap and ultimately led me to where I am here today. I have always believed that wellbeing support should be more normalised in this setting and that face to face support should be easy to seek from someone who truely understands the unique pressures and lifestyle and this is why I have chosen to specifically work with racing participants. 

I was always drawn to spend time with my ponies and horses when I was navigating adolescence and I always knew horses were innately good for my soul but as I got older I began to truely understand the healing power horses had and this eventually led me to exploring how to become an Equine Assisted Psychotherapist. As I progressed through my counselling studies, I realised that my love for horses, my passion for mental health, and my commitment to compassionate support could seamlessly integrate into a path that felt profoundly purposeful.

I went on to complete my Bachelor of Counselling and Master of Social Work, and for 4.5 years worked as a school counsellor supporting children and adolescents with concerns such as anxiety, trauma, identity development, friendship and relationship issues, depression, grief and loss, academic stress, family difficulties, disordered eating, and emotional dysregulation. During this time I also facilitated group programs, provided case management within the Tailored Learning Program and worked closely with families, teachers, external support services, and supported wellbeing at a whole school level. Working with adolescents remains one of the most rewarding and meaningful parts of my career and I am excited to continue to assist teenagers with navigate this incredibly trying time.

 

You may be wondering, so where does aged care come into this? After school I planned to become a nurse and studied half of my nursing degree before swapping to counselling. This gave me an entry point into aged care working as a carer and the beginning of the most wonderful career which began 12 years ago. To this day I still work as a personal care worker for the love of the residents and the impact carers can have one their and their loved ones lives. This has shaped my deep understanding of the unique emotional, relational, and spiritual needs of older adults and their families. I have walked alongside individuals as they navigate significant life transitions, health concerns, declining health, grief and loss, isolation, identity changes, their lived experience of dementia, palliative care and their end of life journey. These experiences continue to guide my advocacy for dignity, respect, autonomy, and compassionate, person-centred support in later life. 

 

Today, I am the founder of Stable Wellbeing, a counselling and social work practice dedicated to the three worlds that raised and shaped me; the racing industry, working with teenagers and the elderly. I am currently completing specialist training with the Equine and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Institute, and I look forward to being able to offer Equine Assisted Psychotherapy in 2026.

 

My therapeutic approach is warm, authentic, collaborative, trauma informed, and strengths based. I draw on a range of evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems-Informed approaches, Polyvagal Theory, and Positive Psychology. I tailor each session to the individual, valuing their story, preferences, and innate capacity for growth.

 

I welcome clients from all backgrounds and I am committed to offering a safe, inclusive, affirming space for culturally diverse individuals, people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions and neurodivergent people. My work is grounded in compassion, respect, authenticity, and a belief in each person’s ability to heal and create meaningful change.

 

At the heart of my practice is a simple promise: to walk alongside you with empathy, respect and dignity whether you are a young person finding your voice, an older adult navigating change, or a racing participant seeking understanding and support.

 

Professional Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Counselling – Australian College of Applied Psychology (2020)

• Master of Social Work – Flinders University (2024)

• Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Certification – Currently completing, Equine and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Institute

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Association Memberships:

• Australian Counselling Association (ACA) – Level 2 Member

• Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)