A calm, supportive presence to explore what’s happening for you
About Priscilla
Online Counsellor & Gestalt Therapist
My own journey of healing and self-discovery led me to the heart of Gestalt therapy. At just three years old, I migrated to Australia, separated from most of my family. That early experience brought feelings of loneliness, disconnection, and not quite belonging.
Over time, I learned to quieten my needs and disconnect from myself. These patterns began to shape my relationships and the way I moved through life.
By my early twenties, I was experiencing anxiety and depression. It was through Gestalt therapy that I first felt what it was like to be truly seen and supported, and gently guided back to myself.
I began to understand how my early experiences had shaped my way of being, and how unresolved pain can quietly influence our patterns. That space allowed me to feel, explore, and reconnect with parts of myself I had long set aside.
The process wasn’t always easy, but it was deeply meaningful. It became the foundation for the grounded, authentic life I live today, and ultimately led me to this work.
I now support adults as they navigate anxiety, burnout, identity shifts, and life transitions, offering a space that is calm, respectful, and shaped around your pace.
From Leadership to Therapy:
A Human-focused Approach
My healing journey led me into formal training in Gestalt Counselling and Psychotherapy at 29. Over time, through both study and lived experience, I became a qualified counsellor who walks beside others with empathy, presence, and real-world understanding.
With over 20 years of leadership and change management experience, I understand the emotional toll of high-pressure environments, complex career transitions, and burnout. I have supported individuals through change and seen how unresolved emotional patterns can quietly shape both our personal and professional lives.
I have also moved through grief, burnout, and major life transitions, including the evolving experience of perimenopause. These moments have deepened my compassion, sharpened my awareness, and strengthened my respect for a more holistic, human-centred approach to mental health.
Life’s more challenging seasons can become turning points. Therapy offered me that space, and it is something I value holding for others.
My style is calm, client-focused, and grounded in awareness. We move at your pace, without pressure, allowing space for clarity, understanding, and more intentional choice.
What to expect from
online counselling with me
I offer a warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative approach shaped by both professional experience and lived understanding. As a counsellor and psychotherapist, I meet you with presence, care, and curiosity for what is unfolding for you.
Together, we create a space that feels real, supportive, and attuned to who you are, without any pressure to have everything figured out.
Whether you are navigating anxiety, exploring your identity, moving through relationship challenges, or facing a life transition, this can be a space to slow down, reflect, and begin to notice what may be sitting beneath the surface.
In our work together, you might experience:
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A calm, supportive presence
A space where you can show up as you are, without needing to perform, explain everything perfectly, or have clear answers.
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A pace that feels right for you
Sessions are shaped around your needs, your capacity, and what feels most relevant in the moment.
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Exploration with practical support
We gently explore patterns, experiences, and emotions, while also finding ways to support you in your day-to-day life.
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An inclusive, affirming space
My work is is neuro-affirming and LGBTIQA+ inclusive, offering a space where identity, relationships, and lived experience are respected and welcomed.
What Guides My Work as a Therapist?
Authenticity & Realness – A space where you can feel seen, heard, and able to show up as you are, without judgement.
Awareness & Insight – Supporting you to gently notice patterns, thoughts, and emotions, so you can relate to yourself with more clarity.
Emotional Resilience – Creating space to build inner steadiness as you move through life’s challenges, at your own pace.
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Connection & Relationships – Deepening your connection with yourself and exploring how you relate to others in a more conscious way.
Why Clients Choose Priscilla
People often come to therapy looking for a space where they can feel at ease, understood, and not under pressure to have it all figured out.
I bring together professional training, lived experience, and a calm, grounded presence to offer a space where you can explore what’s happening for you, at your own pace.
5 Reasons Clients
Consider Therapy with Priscilla
1. A Trusted, Human Connection
Therapy begins with feeling safe enough to be yourself. I offer a warm, non-judgemental, and inclusive space where you can feel seen, heard, and met as you are.
2. Professional Training with Ongoing studies
As a PACFA-registered counsellor with a Master’s degree in Gestalt Therapy, my work is grounded in ethical practice and continued learning, offering a steady and considered approach.
3. A Present-Focused, Holistic Approach
Drawing on Gestalt therapy, alongside somatic and CBT-informed practices, we gently explore your present-moment experience and what may be shaping it.
4. Real-World Understanding of Stress and Burnout
With over 20 years in leadership and mentoring, I understand the
pressures of demanding roles and life transitions, and how these can show up beneath the surface.
5. Flexible, Accessible Support
Online sessions offer a private and comfortable way to engage in therapy, with appointment times that can fit around your day-to-day life.
My Professional Credentials & PACFA Registration
Education & Training
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Master of Gestalt Therapy (Counselling & Psychotherapy)
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Postgraduate Diploma in Gestalt Counselling & Psychotherapy
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Ongoing professional development and regular clinical supervision
Accreditation & Registration
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Priscilla Schwartzman
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Verified through ARCAP
(Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) -
Committed to the PACFA Code of Ethics, supporting safe and professional practice
Volunteer Experience & Community Service
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ACON (AIDS Council of NSW)
3 years as an after-hours volunteer counsellor, supporting the LGBTIQA+ community
Ongoing Development
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Continued supervision and reflective practice
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Commitment to personal awareness and ongoing learning
How to Choose the Right
Therapist for You
Finding the right therapist is often less about technique, and more about how you feel in the space.
In your first conversation, notice your sense of ease and safety.
Do you feel heard, respected, and met at a pace that feels right for you?
Does their way of working resonate with what you’re looking for?
You might also like to give yourself a little space afterwards.
Notice what stayed with you, what felt supportive, and what didn’t quite land.
Alongside this, it can help to check the practical and professional essentials, so you feel both comfortable and informed in your decision.
Quick Checklist for Your Search
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Rapport: Do I feel at ease and understood?
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Registration: Are they PACFA-registered (or with a similar body like ACA) and insured?
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Approach: Does their training, such as Gestalt, somatic, or CBT, align with what I’m looking for?
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Inclusivity: Do they offer an affirming and respectful space for my identity and experience?
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Practicalities: Do their availability, session format, and fees fit into my life?
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Privacy: Is the platform secure and confidential?
Who Provides Mental Health Care in Australia
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Counsellor
Support for specific challenges, life transitions, and emotional wellbeing -
Psychotherapist
Deeper exploration of patterns that shape how you experience yourself and relationships -
Psychologist
Assessment and treatment of mental health conditions using evidence-based approaches -
Social Worker
Counselling alongside support with community services and practical needs -
Psychiatrist
A medical doctor who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication
Next Step
If you’d like to get a feel for how I work, you’re welcome to explore more on the About Gestalt Therapy page or book a 15 minute connection call.
Ready to Begin Your Own Journey
There’s something deeply meaningful about walking alongside someone as they begin to reconnect with themselves. I’m continually moved by the courage it takes to pause, reflect, and reach out for support.
Through online counselling and Gestalt therapy, we create space to explore what’s been held, what’s emerging, and what may be asking for your attention. This might look like noticing an old pattern, questioning a belief, or allowing yourself to show up in a different way.
Our experiences are not just obstacles. They can also be places where understanding begins, where something shifts, or where a new awareness starts to take shape.
If you’re considering counselling and would like a sense of how this space might feel, you’re welcome to book a free connection call. It’s a gentle way to ask questions, explore your options, and see if this feels like the right fit for you.