About Debra Bragança

Counselling Redlands Professional

Hi, I'm Debra

I am an experienced Counsellor in Redlands in the areas of trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic illness and relationship counselling. I have supported couples and individuals in the community for more than six years and I also work online Australia-wide.

Research shows that the interpersonal connection in therapy significantly impacts outcomes. This relationship fosters trust, rapport, and openness, creating a safe space for you to share without fear of judgment or bias. Finding the right counselor can take a few sessions, but you can learn more about me below to help you decide if you’d like to take that first step with me.

Throughout my life, I have faced significant challenges, starting from a young age. These experiences have shaped my journey of self-healing and led me to the meaningful work I do today, for which I am deeply grateful. *My personal insights allow me to offer deep compassion, empathy, and understanding to my clients, recognising that we all have the capacity to overcome challenges when equipped with the right skills, coping strategies, and support. Over time, I have also developed a passion for assisting couples facing difficulties in their relationships as I know how important a strong, supportive and loving partnership is for working through the inevitable obstacles that will be faced by both individuals and couples alike. This passion has driven me to further my studies and specialise in couples therapy. To ensure my services remain relevant and valuable, I continuously engage in professional development and regularly consult with supervisors who specialise in my areas of focus.

If you are ready to embark on this journey and believe I may be the right person to support you, please click 'Book Now' to make your initial appointment.

My primary therapeutic approaches in life and marriage counselling draw upon the following evidence-based modalities: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Gottman Couples Method, including Affair Recovery and Clinical Trauma Certification. Some of the trainings I have completed and my memberships/accreditations can be found below.

*Research shows that lived-experience practitioners are uniquely situated to understand the difficulty involved in engaging in therapy and may use their experiential knowledge to connect with patients. Their insights into suffering allow them to become highly understanding, compassionate, and empathetic practitioners (Adame, 2014; Gelso & Hayes, 2007; Gilbert & Stickley, 2012; Goldberg et al., 2015).

In my counselling philosophy, I firmly believe that the connection between therapist and client is essential. When a client feels truly seen and understood by their counsellor, it opens the door to genuine healing.

While I maintain high professional standards in the counselling room, I also want you to know that I'm human too. I'm not here to 'fix' you; I'm here to walk alongside you on your journey. Counselling isn't just about techniques and skills; it's about the deeply meaningful moments when we truly connect. These moments are what make this work so incredibly rewarding.

My office reflects this philosophy. It is designed to create a warm and welcoming space where we can start to build our connection at your pace.