Irena

Ms Irena Grigorian, MC

Certified Professional Counselor

“As a trauma specialist, I work with multiple tools, including EMDR and EMDR–2. I use many techniques from different modalities, such as hypnotherapy, NLP, Family systems and so on. I also work with couples and individuals who are not in crisis, but are seeking advancement and the right energy to clarify and achieve their goals. I am a practicing member of our professional organization – ACA”

About Me

Clients often describe our work together as calming, grounding, clarifying, and unexpectedly relieving. You don’t need to have the “right words” or a clear plan — we figure things out together. I listen closely, ask thoughtful questions, and help you make sense of experiences that may have felt confusing or overwhelming for a long time. This is a space where complexity is welcome and nothing needs to be rushed. Who I can help I work with people who: feel responsible for others but disconnected from themselves struggle with boundaries, guilt, or emotional over-involvement carry the psychological weight of family history, migration, or intergenerational expectations want to understand why they feel the way they do, not just how to manage it You don’t need to be in crisis — curiosity about yourself is enough. How I work My work integrates counselling and clinical hypnotherapy, allowing us to address both conscious understanding and deeper emotional patterns. I see therapy as a collaborative process that supports self-trust, emotional regulation, and long-term change. As a trauma specialist, I work with multiple tools, including EMDR and EMDR–2.

Approach

You’ll find sessions paced by your needs, with gentle grounding, focused exploration of difficult memories and moments of guided quiet to shift unhelpful responses. In my Melbourne clinic or online, I work in English, Armenian, or Russian, so language and culture are part of the work rather than an aside. We balance calm regulation between sessions with actionable steps you can try, then return to any unfinished material together. This way of working often suits people wanting steady, practical change.
Contact Irena

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

In-person & Online

Services

Specializations: PTSD, OCD, phobias, difficult memories, anxiety, couples therapy, and more

Services Offered:

  • 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
  • Divorce Counselling

    Counselling for individuals or couples going through separation or divorce, addressing the emotional, practical, and relational dimensions.

  • EMDR

    Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, a therapy that uses guided eye movements to help the brain process and integrate traumatic memories.

    Learn more about EMDR
  • Group Therapy

    Therapy conducted with a small group of people who share similar concerns, using peer interaction and diverse perspectives as part of the healing process.

    Learn more about Group Therapy
  • Guided Visualisation

    A relaxation technique in which a therapist guides you through calming mental imagery to reduce stress, anxiety, or pain.

  • 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
  • Individual Psychotherapy

    In-depth one-on-one therapy that explores the deeper roots of a person's difficulties, often drawing on psychodynamic or psychoanalytic models.

  • Integrative Psychotherapy

    An approach that draws on multiple therapeutic models, tailored to the individual, rather than following a single method.

  • MBCT (Mindfulness-Based CBT)

    A therapy combining mindfulness meditation with cognitive behavioural techniques, designed particularly to prevent relapse in depression.

    Learn more about MBCT (Mindfulness-Based CBT)
  • Online Counselling

    Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.

    Learn more about Online Counselling

Works With:

  • Adults
  • Couples
  • Groups
  • Individuals
  • Organisations

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Abuse

    Emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment by another person that causes lasting psychological harm and disrupts a person's sense of safety.

  • Anger

    An intense emotional response to perceived threat, injustice, or frustration that, when persistent or uncontrolled, can damage relationships and well-being.

    Learn more about Anger
  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Codependency

    A relational pattern in which a person's sense of identity and self-worth becomes excessively tied to caring for or controlling another person, often at their own expense.

  • Cross-Cultural

    The psychological challenges of living between two or more cultures, including identity conflicts, acculturation stress, and difficulties with belonging.

  • Divorce Coping

    The emotional upheaval of separation or divorce, including grief, anger, identity disruption, and the challenge of restructuring family life.

  • PTSD

    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that develops after a traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.

    Learn more about PTSD
  • OCD

    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, a condition involving unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or rituals (compulsions) performed to relieve anxiety.

    Learn more about OCD
  • Phobias

    Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations, such as flying, heights, or spiders, that lead to avoidance and limit daily life.

    Learn more about Phobias
  • 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:

  • Certified Professional Counselor

    A counselor who has met certification standards for providing professional mental health counselling services.

Credentials

Qualifications

Master of Counselling

ACA

Year: 2025

Holistic Counsellor

The Awakening Group

Year: 2018

EMDR hypnotist–practitioner

Australian Therapy College

Year: 2025

Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy and NLP

Academy of Advanced Changework

Year: 2019

Service Areas

Whatergardens Shopping Centre

In-person & Online

Keilor Downs

Melboourne, Vic

Australia

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Keilor Downs, Melboourne, Australia