Whalecome !
Like the whale that dives into the depths before returning to the surface to breathe, I believe that growth often begins below the surface — in the quiet space where emotions, memories and inner strength reside.
As a Counsellor specialised in child and adolescent development, I support children, teenagers and families as they navigate emotional, behavioural and learning challenges including ADHD, learning difficulties, and emotional regulation issues.
Together, we explore what lies beneath — making sense of feelings, building self-esteem, and developing emotional regulation strategies that bring confidence and calm. The whale, symbol of wisdom, depth and resilience, inspires my practice. It reminds us that true transformation happens gently, through awareness, compassion and connection. Here, therapy is a safe harbour — a space to breathe, to grow, and to rediscover your own rhythm.
Services
Child – Young People – Parenting
Treatment areas
- Learning difficulties
- ADHD
- Giftedness
- School refusal
- Self-esteem
- Self-confidence
- Teen relationships and sexual identity
- Emotional regulation
- Social skills
- Parental separation
- Grief and loss
- Anxiety
- Parenting support
- Support for parents of ADHD or neurodivergent children
Cocorico ! Sessions in French
I provide support for children, teens, and families navigating the unique challenges of expatriation. Moving to a new country brings many changes : school adjustments, loss of familiar routines, saying goodbye to your previous life, adapting to new cultural and language norms, and finding your place in a new community. These transitions can feel overwhelming for both children and parents.
Using a warm, supportive, and playful approach, I help families express emotions, build resilience, and develop coping strategies for this new chapter. Together, we focus on small steps, confidence, and emotional well-being, making the transition to life in Australia as smooth and positive as possible.
Services offered in French include:
- Individual support for children and teens
- Family sessions to facilitate communication and adaptation
- Guidance on school integration, cultural adjustment, and bilingual support
- Strategies for coping with change, grief, and loss
My approach
At Whale Breath Counselling, I offer a compassionate and personalized approach to support children, teens, and families. Drawing from developmental psychology, I integrate various therapeutic techniques to address emotional and behavioral challenges.
Supporting insight, self-awareness and emotional growth
Play-based Therapy
For younger children, I utilize play therapy and creative approaches to create a safe and engaging environment where they can express themselves, explore emotions, and develop coping skills through play-based activities. These playful methods involves books, free play, symbolic play, and therapeutic stories. This help children express emotions, explore challenges, and develop confidence in a safe, engaging environment.
Have a whale of a time
Projective Techniques
With both children and adolescents, I employ projective methods such as drawing, storytelling, and role-play. These techniques help uncover underlying thoughts and feelings, facilitating a deeper understanding of their experiences and promoting emotional growth.
Learning support and cognitive strategies
For children experiencing learning difficulties, I use a playful and strength-based approach to build compensatory strategies that support working memory, attention, fine motor skills, and executive functioning. Activities may include board games, educational games, and practical cognitive exercises designed to strengthen focus and learning abilities while keeping sessions fun and motivating.
Whale done!
Communication and expression
Sessions often encourage speech, storytelling, and creative expression, helping children and teens to put emotions into words and develop effective communication skills.
Parent Support
I provide guidance and support to parents, helping them navigate the complexities of parenting and strengthen their relationship with their child or teen.
I also offer individual or group Barkley program for ADHD. Based on the work of Dr. Russell Barkley, this evidence-based program helps parents of children with ADHD better understand their child’s behaviour and develop practical strategies to manage everyday challenges.Through structured sessions, parents learn effective tools for improving cooperation, emotional regulation, and family relationships — all within a supportive and compassionate environment.
I whale always love you
Social Skills Workshops
These small-group sessions help children and teens develop social and emotional skills in a fun, supportive environment. Through games, role-playing, and cooperative activities, participants learn how to communicate effectively, manage emotions, and build positive peer relationships.
To sum up
How I work?
- Playful, engaging
- Warm, compassionate
- Non-judgmental
- Small steps, gradual growth
Get whale soon
About me
Hi, I’m Séverine — a French-trained psychologist and counsellor based in Brisbane.
For over 17 years in France, I worked with children, teens, and families across various settings — private practice, early childhood centres, schools, maternity wards, and child protection services. I also collaborated with learning support networks, taught at university, and provided supervision and training for early childhood professionals.
Now settled in Brisbane with my family, I continue to support children, adolescents, and parents through a warm, playful, and compassionate approach.
My work focuses on helping each child and family understand emotions, strengthen relationships, and build confidence to navigate life’s challenges with greater balance and resilience.
Qualifications
After completing my university studies in Aix-en-Provence and Paris 8, I graduated with a Master’s Degree (Master II) in Developmental and Educational Psychology — valedictorian of my class. My specialisation combines knowledge from clinical psychology and cognitive psychology, disciplines that explore how children think, grow, and develop — the stages they go through, and the different developmental pathways that can unfold, whether typical or atypical.This initial training was complemented by additional qualifications and ongoing professional development, including:
- A University Diploma in Perinatal Psychology (Paris 11)
- Advanced training in Learning Disorders (Résodys Summer University and ongoing neuropsychology seminars)
- Training in Cognitive Remediation (GREPE)
- Parenting Skills Training Program – Barkley Parent Workshops
- Montessori training
- Continuous professional development through regular reading and seminars to stay up to date with the latest research and best practices, ensuring that my approach remains informed and responsive to each child’s individual needs.
Please note that the above degrees and certifications were obtained in Europe and have not been accredited in Australia by AHPRA.
Values
Whale being
🐋 The Whale — A Powerful and Gentle Symbol
Depth and Inner Wisdom
The whale is a creature of the deep, capable of diving far below the surface before returning to breathe.
➡️ It symbolizes connection to the unconscious — those parts of ourselves often hidden beneath the surface: emotions, old wounds, childhood memories. In therapy, it represents the ability to explore one’s inner world to better understand and transform what lies within.
💬 Like the whale, we sometimes need to dive deep to rise lighter.
Breathing and Emotional Regulation
The whale rises to the surface to breathe — a vital, rhythmic, and calm gesture.
➡️ It’s a beautiful metaphor for emotional regulation: learning to come back to oneself, to breathe, to find balance between immersion and release. It embodies the right rhythm between introspection (the depths) and expression (the breath, the surface).
navigate your emotions with care
Guidance, Nurturing, and Transmission
In many cultures, the whale is associated with the ocean mother — a protective, nurturing, and wise presence.
➡️ It reflects the therapeutic role of gentle guidance: supporting without imposing, helping others grow safely. It also evokes intergenerational transmission — a key theme in working with children and families.
💬 The whale watches, guides, and nurtures quietly.
Communication and Emotional Expression
Whales’ songs are powerful and poetic, resonating across vast distances of the ocean.
➡️ Symbolically, this represents reconnection with one’s inner voice and authentic self-expression. In therapy, it echoes the process of finding words for emotions and seeking emotional harmony.
🎶 Every being has their own song to discover.
Quiet Strength and Resilience
Majestic yet peaceful, the whale moves with both grace and power.
➡️ It embodies resilience — the ability to face emotional storms while maintaining direction. It is a perfect symbol for guiding children and families toward gentle strength and confident growth.
Grow with the flow
To sum up
🌬️ The iconic breath of the whale is a beautiful symbol of resurfacing, vital breath, emotional breathing, renewal, and the connection between depth and awareness.
In a therapeutic context, it evokes:
- Emotional regulation (catching one’s breath)
- Awareness after an inner dive
- Vitality regained after psychic or emotional work
- Breath as the link between the inner and outer worlds
For the whale, each exhale marks a rebirth — a moment of clarity and life. It is therefore a symbol of therapeutic work: diving into one’s emotions, then resurfacing to breathe again.
Fees
Session Fees
Individual counselling (45–50 min): $120 per session
Parent workshops:
- group : $85 per session
- Individual : $120 per session
Social skills workshops :
- group : $85 per session
- Individual : $120 per session
Cancellation of appointments requires 24-hour notice. Without 24-hour notice a fee of $40 will be incurred.
Contact
Get in touch with Whale Breath Counselling.
0490 850 964