Bridget Emmerson’s journey into Counselling began not in a lecture hall, but through personal experience. Years ago, while navigating her own struggles with anxiety and depression for over 20 years, she worked closely with a psychologist whose guidance not only helped her heal (finally) but later shaped how she understood the world around her. That transformative relationship, marked by patience, tailored strategies, and genuine collaboration ignited her passion for mental health work. It’s why she approaches every client with a quiet conviction: “Growth isn’t about fixing people. It’s about walking alongside them, toolkit in hand, ready to adapt.” With a Master of Counselling and Psychology qualifications from Monash University and specialising in Forensic Support from the University of Melbourne, Bridget pairs academic rigor with lived insight. Her 13-year detour through the fast-paced world of advertising taught her to solve problems creatively, skills she now uses to craft personalised strategies for clients facing everything from their challenges with autism to addiction. Over 2,000 hours of frontline work as a Support Worker between 2020 and 2024 have shown her that progress rarely follows a straight line, which is why her sessions blend evidence-based methods with flexibility. “Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all,” she says. “Sometimes the breakthrough comes when you toss the playbook and just listen.” Now a Clinical Supervisor, Bridget also mentors newer practitioners while developing behaviour support plans that prioritise dignity over compliance. Colleagues describe her as the type who’ll sketch ideas on napkins during team meetings or pause a session to share a grounding technique she’s just learned. But beneath her easy warmth lies a fierce commitment to ethical care, a holdover from her own journey. “What stays with people,” she reflects, “isn’t the textbook theories. It’s feeling truly seen.” Based in Melbourne, she remains driven by that first-hand understanding of how the right support can rewrite a life’s trajectory, one collaborative step at a time.

Qualifications

Master of Counselling (High Distinction) – Monash University Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Distinction) Certificate in Forensic Support (High Distinction) – University of Melbourne