Mrs Debra Bragança

Counsellor

“I work with couples and individuals who may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected or unsure of how to move forward. For couples, this may involve recurring conflict, communication difficulties, emotional disconnection, parenting stress, betrayal or damaged trust. For individuals, I support people navigating anxiety, overwhelm, overthinking, low mood, relationship difficulties, life changes and experiences that have left them feeling unlike themselves. I offer a warm, calm and down-to-earth approach, creating a space where you can talk openly without judgement. My aim is to understand what is happening beneath the surface, rather than simply focusing on the problem that has brought you to counselling, and to work collaboratively towards meaningful change. I provide counselling in Redlands and online across Australia, supporting clients to better understand themselves and their relationships, develop practical skills and find a way forward that feels right for them. ”

About me

I'm Debra, the founder of Anchoring Your Life Counselling. Before entering private practice, I spent more than 20 years in leadership and management roles, experiences that gave me a deep understanding of people, relationships, responsibility, change and the pressures that can affect our lives. I've now worked in private practice for almost a decade, supporting individuals and couples through a wide range of challenges. My own understanding of life's difficulties has also shaped the way I approach counselling, while professional training, supervision and ongoing development guide my clinical work. I don't believe you need to have everything figured out before coming to counselling. My role is to provide a space where you can slow things down, feel genuinely heard and begin to make sense of what's happening. I work alongside you rather than telling you what you should do, with curiosity, compassion and respect for your individual circumstances, values and goals.

Approach

I believe the therapeutic relationship matters. Feeling understood and accepted can make it easier to talk honestly about difficult experiences, emotions and patterns, so I take time to understand you, your relationships and what has shaped you before deciding what may be most helpful. My work is evidence-based and draws on Gottman Method Couples Therapy, including the Trust Revival Method for Affairs & Addiction Recovery, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), CBT, ACT and CPT, alongside Trauma care. These approaches provide useful frameworks, but I don't believe therapy should be about applying a formula. I tailor the work to the person or couple in front of me and what they are experiencing. For couples, we may explore the patterns that keep you caught in conflict or disconnection, understand what is happening beneath the surface and develop more constructive ways of communicating and responding to one another. For individuals, we may work with difficult emotions, unhelpful thought patterns, relationships, life changes and the experiences that may be keeping you feeling stuck. My approach combines understanding with practical strategies, helping you make sense of what's happening while developing skills you can use beyond the therapy room.

Contact Debra

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic information

Languages:

English

Fees:

Insurance accepted

Brisbane, Australia

In-person & Online

Services

I provide individual and couples counselling, both in person in Redlands, Queensland and online across Australia. Couples counselling may be helpful when you are experiencing communication difficulties, recurring conflict, emotional or physical disconnection, resentment, parenting stress, trust issues, betrayal or an affair. I work with couples to understand the patterns they have become caught in, improve communication, rebuild trust and work towards a more secure and connected relationship. Individual counselling is available for women and men experiencing anxiety, overwhelm, overthinking, low mood, relationship difficulties, stress, life transitions, self-worth concerns and other experiences that may leave you feeling stuck or unlike yourself. I also have a particular interest in supporting couples affected by betrayal and infidelity, including the difficult process of understanding what has happened, managing the impact of betrayal and working towards rebuilding trust where both partners wish to do so. Online counselling is available via secure video Australia-wide, with phone counselling also available for individual clients. My aim is to provide the same warm, confidential and personalised therapeutic experience whether we meet in person, online or by phone.

Services Offered:

CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured, evidence-based approach that identifies and changes unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.
Learn more about CBT
Conflict Management
Structured approaches to resolving disputes and improving communication between people in conflict, whether in relationships, families, or workplaces.
Counselling
A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.
Learn more about Counselling
Couples Therapy
Therapy for partners working on communication, conflict, intimacy, and trust, with both people seen together rather than individually.
Family Therapy
A form of therapy that works with family members together to improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen relationships within the family system.
Learn more about Family Therapy
Individual Therapy
One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.
Learn more about Individual Therapy
Online Counselling
Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.
Learn more about Online Counselling
Relationship Counselling
Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.
Trauma Counselling
Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.
Learn more about Trauma Counselling
Wellness Support
Holistic support focused on overall well-being, including stress management, lifestyle balance, and building sustainable healthy habits.

Works With:

Adults
Couples
Individuals
Families

Area of expertise

Scope of Practice:

Life Transitions
Major life changes, such as relocation, retirement, parenthood, or career shifts, that disrupt routine and require psychological adjustment.
Learn more about Life Transitions
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
Chronic Illness
A long-term health condition (e.g., diabetes, autoimmune disease, chronic pain) that persists over time and affects physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Learn more about Chronic Illness
Mood Disorder
A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.
Learn more about Mood Disorder
Personal Development
The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that develops after a traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.
Learn more about PTSD
Relationship Issues
Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.
Learn more about Relationship Issues
Relationship Counseling
Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.
Trauma
The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.
Learn more about Trauma

Professional Title:

Counselor
A trained professional who provides talk therapy to help clients work through emotional, relational, and psychological difficulties.

Credentials

Registrations

Australian Counseling Association (ACA)

Counsellor

Qualifications

Diploma in Counselling

Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors

Year: 2017

Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1

The Gottman Institute

Year: 2019

Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 2

The Gottman Institute

Year: 2022

ACT for Trauma

Dr Russ Harris

Year: 2021

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intensive Training

John Ludgate, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist/Psychotherapist

Year: 2017

Memberships

Australian Counselling Association (ACA)

Full Member

Service Areas

Anchoring Your Life Counselling

In-person & Online

Cleveland

Brisbane, Queensland

Australia

Cleveland, Brisbane, Australia