Baljit Carroll – Senior Counsellor
Baljit has worked in the counselling field for over 28 years mainly in the not-for-profit sector. Baljit has worked with individuals, couples, and families experiencing a wide range of issues across the life cycle, including mental health challenges, relationship conflict, alcohol and other drugs, and issues of identity. Baljit is an experienced group facilitator and clinical supervisor and is passionate about helping people to have the best life possible despite past negative, painful, and unhelpful experiences. Baljit has a Masters in Social Science (Counselling) and is a dedicated yoga teacher and utilises a wide range of approaches in counselling to assist clients towards achieving their goals. Baljit has most recently, also worked as a Beyond Blue counsellor for Medicare providing telephone counselling support.
Qualifications:
Masters in Social Science (Counselling).
Susan Laird – Senior Counsellor
Susan has over 14 years’ experience working as a counsellor. She has worked predominantly in the not-for-profit setting and in private practice. Susan’s work has included but is not limited to, sexual abuse, family and domestic violence, grief and loss, managing anxiety, depression, couples counselling and trauma. Susan has worked across the lifespan and has extensive experience with working with victim- survivors of child sexual abuse.
In Susan’s role as a counsellor, she practices “trauma-informed care”. This is a victim-survivor-oriented approach and is underpinned by principles of safety, empowerment, choice, collaboration, and understanding of culture. It places the victim-survivor as the expert on their own life.
Susan has a passion for victim-survivors to be heard, to be believed, and to be told what happened is not their fault.
Susan has previously worked with Break the Silence, as a telehealth counsellor with 1800RESPECT and she currently divides her time working at Phoenix and the Salvation Army.
Qualifications:
Susan studied counselling at Strathclyde University in Glasgow Scotland before going on to train as an EMDR therapist. Susan is a registered member of ACA and EMDRAA.
Michelle Blogna – Senior Counsellor
Michelle is an experienced Social Worker and trauma‑informed counsellor with over a decade of practice supporting individuals, families, and communities across Western Australia. Her therapeutic work is grounded in deep respect for lived experience, cultural safety, and the healing potential of strong, attuned relationships. Michelle specialises in trauma recovery, complex case management, and strengths‑based therapeutic interventions, drawing on modalities such as CBT, narrative therapy, motivational interviewing, and somatic‑informed practice.
For the past five years, Michelle has provided counselling and redress support to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, working across both metropolitan and regional communities. She has also engaged in therapeutic support to intercountry adoptees and their families, acknowledging the lifelong impacts of identity, attachment, and loss. Alongside her clinical work, Michelle mentors emerging practitioners as a Sessional Fieldwork Educator with Curtin University.
Her practice is shaped by a commitment to social justice, reflective practice, and creating safe spaces where people feel heard, respected, and empowered in their healing journey. And when she’s not working, you’ll find her passionately cheering on the Fremantle Dockers in all their purple glory.
Qualifications:
Michelle studied a Bachelor Social Work at Curtin University and has training in a range of modalities including: Internal Family Systems, Advanced Trauma Counselling, Polyvagal and Somatic Therapies.
Nicole Cutler – Senior Counsellor
Nicole is a highly experienced Senior Counsellor with over three decades of practice across counselling, trauma work, mental health, and community services. She holds a Master of Counselling (Murdoch University), a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Curtin University), an Advanced Diploma in Art Therapy (Ikon Institute), and is completing her Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Resolution (Australian Institute of Social Relations). Nicole has extensive training in trauma‑informed therapeutic modalities and culturally responsive practice and is a registered member with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
Nicole’s professional career includes senior roles supporting survivors of institutional childhood sexual abuse, familial abuse, complex trauma, domestic violence, and mental health challenges. She has worked extensively with the National Redress Scheme, providing specialised counselling, advocacy, case management, and the preparation of complex submissions. Her experience spans metropolitan, regional, and remote settings, including FIFO/DIDO service delivery, corrective services work, group facilitation, community education, and collaboration with legal, clinical, and advocacy organisations. Known for her compassion, deep clinical insight, and commitment to evidence‑based, person‑centred practice, Nicole brings exceptional skill, maturity, and dedication to her role within Phoenix Support & Advocacy Service.
Qualifications:
Master of Counselling (Murdoch University), Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Curtin University), an Advanced Diploma in Art Therapy (Ikon Institute), and is completing her Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Resolution (Australian Institute of Social Relations).
