Alison Cannell

Alison Cannell is a PACFA counsellor in Australia with 13 years of experience as a therapist and many more years working in behavioural change. She helps people dealing with addictions, relationship and family conflict, trauma and abuse, and major life changes. She also works with issues such as attachment, caregiver stress, codependency, and feelings of emptiness as part of that focus.

Alison keeps sessions straightforward and practical. Conversations focus on what is happening now and what small changes might make a difference. She listens for patterns that tie current struggles to past family experiences and childhood hurt. That can make repeated cycles clearer and more workable.

When addiction or domestic violence appears, Alison treats these as immediate, real problems to be managed alongside longer-term goals. She helps people set practical steps and boundaries while exploring emotional causes. Communication and commitment issues are addressed through skill-building and clearer expectations.

Trauma and dissociation are approached carefully and at a pace that feels manageable. Alison helps people recognise how past events affect current relationships and coping. She supports work on shame, guilt and isolation alongside strategies for steadier day-to-day functioning.

Life purpose and meaning are explored without pressure or quick fixes. Sessions look at values, small behavioural experiments, and ways to test new choices. To begin, clients complete a short questionnaire and schedule an initial session to discuss goals and next steps.

How therapeutic approaches guide online sessions

Alison draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques that aim to change unhelpful patterns and improve day-to-day functioning. One common approach focuses on behaviour change and practical steps - identifying small, testable actions to alter routines and reactions, which can help with addictions and coping after life changes. Another approach emphasises understanding attachment and family-of-origin patterns - it looks at how early relationships shape current communication and trust, and can clarify why certain relationship issues recur.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Alison will talk about what seems most helpful and try methods that fit the client’s goals and preferences. The decision about which techniques to use is collaborative and can shift as needs change.

Please confirm the available session formats before booking, as specific formats are not listed in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments around work and family life, reduce travel time and allow for shorter check-ins when a quick update is needed. Phone sessions typically need less bandwidth and can be good for a shorter conversation, while video sessions allow face-to-face interaction that supports skills practice and emotional noticing. These practical benefits often help people fit therapy into a busy schedule.