Marriage Counsellor Brisbane South

Dr Stephanie Azri

Relationship Therapist, Accredited Sexologist & Author

Approach & Values

I am many things. I hold many hats, and I make no apology for any of them, but before I tell you more about my approach and values, let me tell you about my professional background.

I am a clinical social worker specialising in women’s issues and relationship counselling. I am an accredited clinical sexologist with a passion for supporting men and women to have a fulfilling sexuality. My knowledge and skills are drawn from decades of tertiary studies, undertaking professional development and clinical supervision, as well as my personal experiences. As a woman, I began my journey quite young and became a mother at 21. The birth of six children had an impact on my understanding of womanhood, motherhood, and relationships over the last couple of decades.

In 2002, the death of my daughter Talina taught me that no amount of qualifications could prepare you for that level of trauma and pain, and I began to explore my understanding of women’s journeys when experiencing trials, challenges and trauma that they had limited control of. This passion for women’s recoveries, healing and pregnancy/parenting started my ride as an international self-help author and as a clinician in private practice.  From there, I began to train even more to ensure that I could assist women and families to the best of my abilities and to the degree they deserved, through both relationships and separations which came in handy when I made the difficult decision to terminate my twenty-five-year marriage in 2018.

After a few years of family therapy, I began to notice couples had a great need for support when things didn’t go according to plan. My interest in couple therapy and sexology developed hand in hand (after all, show me ONE couple who doesn’t talk about sex!). I pursued a clinical accreditation in sexology and broadened my horizons by starting Beenleigh Couple Therapy (now Relationships 180), a clinic for couples of all walks of life and all types of issues. As a clinician, I am constantly upskilling myself with further training and have developed quite a passionate stance on relationship dynamics and sexuality. By combining my professional attributes with existing liberal and open minded personal views, I am able to provide ethical, efficient, non-threatening and positive services to women, couples and families that will assist you in making life-affirming changes in your relationship, improve your sexual connection with yourself and/or a partner and guide you towards self-discovery.

Personal boundaries statement

Personally, I have a passion for congruent behaviour and supporting my local community. This means that whether I meet with you in a therapy session or in our local shopping centre, I am the same person.  I dress the same, joke the same, have the same values, ethical views and probably would yell at my kids the exact same way (ok, maybe not). But you get my gist. When I take on new clients, I ensure that their privacy is paramount, that they feel respected, and that our relationship is genuine. As such, when a client begins with me, it’s with an understanding that I am a woman, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a partner, all in a social, emotional and sexual context.

If I meet clients in a social setting, I may smile and keep going. It is up to them whether they wish to say hello or not. I don’t mind. If I see them in a “very social” setting, I may leave to ensure both of us feel comfortable and ensure that all code of ethics and code of conducts are maintained and protected. As an advocate for diverse sexuality and relationship rights, a women’s right campaigner, and a strong voice for acceptance of unique voices and privileges, my voice may be loud in some settings outside the therapy room. As an ethical therapist, I believe in the need to ride these boundaries, actively checking on them, maintaining self-reflective practice, and repairing them when needed.

As a local professional, keen to support our local community, I believe I am part of a village. Our village. When working within that village, there will be times where the physical space won’t allow me to be completely invisible in our community, and I am hoping that this personal statement will ensure that despite both client and therapists co-existing in the same space, sometimes outside the four walls of counselling, our village is a safe one to be in for both parties.

Social media and mobile phone statement 

Clients are welcome and encouraged to join my social media pages, but personal friends’ requests will not be accepted. The Fb and Instagram hub are quite fun and uplifting and provide ongoing info on new releases, groups and resources, However, counselling clients who choose to “like” the pages accept that they will not receive therapy outside business hours and without an appt and that by liking the page, they may identify themselves. Clients who do not agree with this, should not “like” or participate on the page.

Additionally, the use of my mobile phone to engage in therapy outside sessions is not supported. All clinical contact needs to be scheduled. Emergencies need to be referred to ED or lifeline. Finally, the use of social media and mobile phone is a client’s choice and does not constitute therapy nor does it become my responsibility (after all, how fair would it be if I had to manage a crisis while at Dreamworld with my screaming kids, right? 😊)

My Experience

  • Twenty years’ experience managing frontline Health services in women’s health, mental health and clinical social work for government and non-government organisations.
  • Fifteen years’ experience providing private practice services for women, couples and families as well as running resilience groups for kids.
  • Ten years’ experience as an editor for multiple academic journals, a blind reviewer and other writing responsibilities
  • Seven years’ experience working as an academic for multiple universities, including teaching, tutoring and marking master’s level students.
  • Three years’ experience assisting AASW with applications for credentialing, articles etc.

My Education

  • Advanced Diploma of Education
  • Bachelor of Human Services (Family welfare)
  • Bachelor of Social Work
  • Master of Health (Women’s health and Sexology)
  • PhD in Clinical Social Work (Women and Counselling)
  • Cert IV in Training and Assessment
  • Multiple certificates with QLD Centre for Mental Health Learning, Mental Health Academy, Society of Australian Sexologists
  • Trained in CBT, DBT, interpersonal therapy, logotherapy, motivational interviewing, sexology, grief and loss, psychopathology, behavioural therapy, client-centred therapy, Mindfulness, EMDR, and family and couple counselling.
  • Gottman Level 1 accredited
  • EFT for Couples trained
  • EMDR qualified

Conference Presentations and/or Corporate Trainings

2003

“Grief care for families during the funeral process”

Key note address at the annual conference of funeral directors, Brisbane, Australia.

 2004

“Coping with the loss of a child”

Interview in the Courier Mail article, Brisbane Australia.

 2005

“Providing support for bereaved families”

Interview in the Albert and Logan News, Logan, Australia.

 2006

“Stress management for new mothers”

Workshop for young mothers. LDS family Services, Brisbane, Australia.

 2007

“Burn out prevention for Leaders”

Workshop for spiritual leaders. LDS family Services, Brisbane, Australia.

 2007

“Best practice when working with mothers who have received a fetal diagnosis”

In service training workshop. Royal Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.

2009

“Positive Thinking and Young people”

A CBT introduction for mental health practitioners. CYMHS annual conference. Logan Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia.

2010

“Supporting pregnant and parenting teenagers”

Pregnancy Helpline Annual Conference. Brisbane, Australia.

2011

“Mental health training for Health professionals.”

A three hour workshop. Career keys, Brisbane.

 2011

“Psychosocial impact of receiving a prenatal diagnosis- Information for professionals.”

 Passage to Motherhood, Capers Conference, Brisbane.

 2013

“Social Work networking”

Allied Health conference. PA Hospital, Brisbane.

 2013

“Healthy Mindsets for Super Kids; the program”

Australian Counselling Association, Gold Coast, Australia.

 2013

“Psychosocial Support and prenatal diagnosis”

Australian College of Neonatal Nurses annual symposium, Townsville, Australia.

 2014

“Postnatal depression and other postpartum mental health issues”

Pregnancy Counselling Link. Annual conference. Brisbane, Australia.

 2015

“Differences between men and women when it comes to love, sex and relationships”

In service training for counsellors. Brisbane, Australia

 2016

“Using the Healthy Mindsets for Super Kids in practice”

In service training for counsellors. Brisbane, Australia

 2017

“Leadership and mentoring of clinical staff working with Perinatal issues”

In service presentation for clinical staff. Brisbane, Australia

 2018

“Building resilience in communities affected by trauma”

In service presentation for clinical staff. Brisbane, Australia

 2019

“The REAL guide to life as a couple- How to treat address real issues in couples”

Couples retreat- A weekend of psycho-education and reconnection for long term couples. Brisbane, Australia

2021

“Women and mental health after an adverse prenatal diagnosis”

Mental Health Professionals’ Network – National group on Prenatal diagnosis Advocacy – Brisbane, Australia

Couple counselling, couples therapy, sexology

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