Rebuild Your Resilience
Telehealth Counselling That’s Real, Supportive, and Centred Around You
MY PHILOSOPHY
Ember & Elm came from a deeply personal place — an understanding that life doesn’t always unfold the way we expect it to.
There are stages where things feel heavy. Where you’re holding more than you thought you could. Where you might feel lost or overwhelmed. And yet, even then, there is still something within you that keeps going — something quiet, but steady.
That’s where Ember & Elm begins.
The “ember” represents that inner spark — the part of you that hasn’t gone out. The “elm” speaks to grounding, safety, and growth — the reminder that healing takes time, support, and space to take root.
This practice was created to be a place where you don’t have to have it all figured out. A space where you can show up as you are, and be met with warmth, honesty, and genuine care.
Through accessible telehealth counselling, Ember & Elm offers support for whatever you’re carrying — whether that’s anxiety, grief, trauma, life transitions, or simply the weight of everything building up.
This work isn’t about fixing you. It’s about helping you make sense of what you’ve been through, reconnect with yourself, and move forward in a way that feels steady and true.
At its core, Ember & Elm is about walking alongside you — as you begin to feel more grounded, more connected, and more like yourself again.
Ember & Elm Counselling — where healing takes root.
About Ember & Elm
My Mission
At Ember & Elm, my mission is to offer compassionate, down-to-earth support for people navigating life’s challenges. I'm here to help you make sense of what you’re going through, reconnect with yourself, and move toward a life that feels more grounded, meaningful, and your own.
My Approach
My approach is all about connection. I believe that feeling truly heard and understood is where healing begins. Sessions are guided by your needs, your pace, and what feels most important to you — with support that is compassionate, honest, and grounded in real human connection, while drawing on evidence-based approaches to support meaningful and lasting change.
Hi, I'm Astrid
I’m the founder and counsellor behind Ember & Elm, and I created this space because I believe counselling should feel warm, genuine, and authentic.
I hold a Bachelor of Psychological Science, a Graduate Diploma of Advanced Psychology, and a Master of Counselling. But while my qualifications have given me a strong foundation in understanding mental health, it’s my real-world experiences working alongside people that have shaped the counsellor I am today.
Before starting Ember & Elm, I worked across disability and employment services, supporting people through all kinds of challenges and transitions. I’ve supported people through some of the more complex and difficult experiences life can bring, including complex PTSD, schizophrenia and psychosis, ADHD and neurodivergence, trauma, addiction, and the impacts of domestic and family violence.
My approach is trauma-informed, person-centred, and grounded in empathy and honesty. I don't believe in trying to "fix" people or reducing someone's experience to a diagnosis. Instead, I aim to create a space where you can bring the full picture — the complicated parts, the things that are hard to explain, and the experiences that may have felt misunderstood by others.
Together, we can work at a pace that feels right for you, make sense of what's been happening, identify patterns that may no longer be serving you, and reconnect with your strengths and sense of self.
Ember & Elm is a place for people who may have been told they're "too complex," who have felt overlooked, or who simply want a counsellor who is comfortable sitting with the harder, more layered parts of life.
You don't need to have the right words or know exactly where to begin. You can simply come as you are, and we'll start there.
I'm really glad you're here 🤎
