Our Team
Our Christian Counsellors and Psychologists are professional and experienced therapists who are committed to the highest professional and ethical standards to protect confidentiality and to provide a safe and quality service.
Connections Counselling Perth ensures that all therapists maintain regular clinical supervision
and development.
We are located at Victoria Park, South Perth, and Yangebup.
Available to see National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) clients.
Online Counselling is also available. Schedule a session with our Counsellors and Psychologists
from anywhere in the world.
Lyn Varty
Managing Director/Christian Counsellor
Lyn is a well sought-after Christian Counsellor; she owns and manages Connections Healthcare Centre and Counselling and Psychology services across Perth. Lyn has over 32 years’ experience helping people through difficult and complex life circumstances. Lyn’s personal, professional experience and expertise brings a depth and richness to the therapeutic relationship/setting enhancing the outcomes achieved in individual, couples, and group therapy.
Lyn provides supervision and her love for teaching/training is evident whilst having the ability to carefully and compassionately engage and interact with the attendees. She also manages and coordinates Hope Alive Australia and New Zealand and is the vice president of International Hope Alive Counsellors Association. She has studied extensively and is best known for her work in neglect, abuse and all forms of pregnancy loss including abortion.
Lyn also founded Pause Retreats—a nurturing space where women are welcome just as they are, to unplug, to just be, to recharge, and to reconnect to self and God. She finds it extremely beneficial and vital to take time out, to pause, to nourish her physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Lyn is continuing her journey while learning and growing in how to practice the presence of God, being still and hearing God’s gentle still voice.
Lyn has been married for 44 years with two children and four grandchildren. She loves walking, jigsaw puzzles, hanging out with friends, family and playing with her grandchildren.
She has Diploma in Counselling, and provides individual and group supervision. Lyn is also a trainer and lecturer for organisational workshops and spiritual retreats.
Her clients and colleagues describe Lyn as very compassionate, genuine, insightful and is committed to helping people through life’s difficulties. Read what people are saying about Lyn.
Note: We do not provide reports or letters.
To book an appointment, call us or send a message.
Ariel Tsang
Administrative Assistant
Ariel brings a wealth of experience and a warm, welcoming demeanor to our counselling and healthcare centre. Her background includes key front office roles at renowned establishments such as Fraser Suites Perth and The Towers at Elizabeth Quay. With a Bachelor of Commerce in Hospitality and Event Management, Ariel is well-equipped to provide exceptional customer service.
Her dedication to helping others is complemented by her strong faith as a believer in Jesus Christ. Ariel is also a devoted wife and mother. Outside of work, she enjoys unwinding at her favourite café, experimenting with new recipes, and exploring new travel destinations. Ariel’s combination of professional expertise and personal passions makes her an invaluable addition to our team.
Vernadette Austria
Digital Marketing Manager
Vernadette has years of solid background in marketing with core in Search Engine Optimization, Website Content Management and Social Media Strategy driven with a foundation in mainstream Advertising.
She is currently managing the digital marketing campaigns and implementing online strategies of Connections Counselling and Healthcare Centre, Hope Alive, and Pause Retreats across platforms.
Before going into full digital marketing work, Vernadette was a Broadcast Producer for reputable Ad Agencies, Marketing Manager of a Global Recruitment Firm and was also a part-time College Instructor teaching Communication and Marketing subjects.
To keep up with the fast-paced growth of the digital marketing industry, she continues to attend online workshops and live events in the US, Austria, and Hongkong. She is a Google Analytics certified. Vernadette has Master’s degree in Business Administration with double major in Business Management and Communications.
Alicia
Psychologist
Alicia is a registered Psychologist with seven years of substantial training with adolescents, adults, and couples experiencing wide-range of issues including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, self-esteem, trauma, faith and spiritual, and personality disorders.
She is passionate about helping others work through the issues of day-to-day life and the challenges of battling mental health problems. Alicia exudes a warm, gentle and friendly nature. She takes a non-judgmental approach to therapy and believes it can help enhance anyone’s life, no matter where they are at.
Alicia has a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology from Curtin University in Western Australia. She is a member of Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Note: We do not provide reports or letters.
Alicia is available at Victoria Park on Mondays. To book an appointment, call us or send a message.
Alison Watt
Provisional Psychologist
Alison provides a safe space for you to unpack the concerns you are experiencing and gain the life skills you need for the life you want to lead.
With vast experience in working with adults, youth, children and families, Alison brings a respectful and compassionate perspective and enjoys helping her clients find healthy perceptions of themselves.
Alison has extensive work and volunteer work experience with multicultural urban and rural communities, both locally and interstate.
Paired with her Psychology Honours and qualifications in Psychology and Social Services, she is well-equipped in providing evidence-based practice. She is deeply respectful of the background and needs of her clients and protective of the environment they need to receive healing.
Married for 38 years, mother and grandmother, Alison is a versatile practitioner and a skilled listener and communicator.
She is an Associate member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
Note: We do not provide reports or letters.
Alison is available at Victoria Park on Wednesdays, and at Yangebup on Thursdays. To book an appointment, call us or send a message.
Janine Luzi
Counsellor
Janine has a proven exemplary result in Christian counselling as she works for more than 12 years in a range of areas including trauma, abuse, addiction, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, identity and relationships. She has an integrative approach, according to individual needs, while working collaboratively, navigating through life’s difficulties across diverse cultural backgrounds.
She is warm, genuine and open, with a passionate and committed approach to facilitating hope and restoration of individual lives.
Janine has earned a Bachelor in Family Therapy, Master Counselling, Expressive Therapies in Sandplay and Symbol Work. She is a member of Australia Counsellors Association (ACA).
Note: We do not provide reports or letters.
Janine is available at Victoria Park on Mondays. To book an appointment, call us or send a message.
Ruth Crawford
Counsellor
Ruth is a counsellor with over 12 years of experience working with young people, couples and families. She has worked in school and hospital settings, not-for-profit organisations and disability and mining sectors providing wellbeing and mental health support.
Ruth is warm, genuine and has a relational approach as a person-centred counsellor. She is passionate about mental health and wellbeing, working from an integrative and eclectic approach to best meet the person’s need. Her compassionate and sensitive manner creates an environment in which people from all backgrounds feel safe, helping to enable them to process and find meaning in painful experiences, discovering new possibilities and resources, and developing a greater understanding and awareness in one’s sense of self.
She provides counselling for young people, couples, and individuals in various areas, including grief and loss, trauma, relationships, identity, stress management, depression and anxiety.
Ruth holds qualifications in family therapy, psychotherapy and a Master of Counselling. She is a registered counsellor with Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and Psychotherapy and Counselling Association of Australian (PACFA).
Note: We do not provide reports or letters.
Ruth is available at Victoria Park on Wednesdays and Thursdays. To book an appointment, call us or send a message.
Kristy Felsea
Manager/Psychologist
Kristy is passionate about people, their uniqueness and the journey that they are on. She has 16 years of experience as Psychologist and comes from an eclectic approach that is Christian and client centred. She provides a safe space for her clients to explore, discover, learn and grow through the difficulties that life brings; creating an environment to do so through her warmth, compassionate, and genuine interest to every individual.
She is zealous about working with families, in particular couples, parents, children, adolescents and young adults and holds a special interest in grief counselling, relationship counselling, challenges around change, impact of faith and reaching the person’s unique potential to live life to the fullest.
Kristy is a Registered Psychologist with postgraduate qualifications in Grief & Palliative Care Counselling, Counselling Bereaved Children, along with modules in Art & Expressive Therapy. She is a member of Australian Psychological Society (APS).
Note: We do not provide reports or letters.
Kristy is available at Yangebup on Mondays and Fridays. To book an appointment, call us or send a message.
Gaston Antezana
Counsellor
Gaston is a counsellor with over 20 years of experience helping individuals, couples and families. He has extensive teaching experience in the fields of psychology, counselling and education. He has worked as a clinician in Australia and overseas in different settings including universities, agencies and private practice.
Gaston provides support for young people, individuals and couples in different areas including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, grief, relationships and stress management. He also has extensive experience in treating problem in gambling and its effects.
With a passion for faith and theology, Gaston is a registered Christian Counsellor and can offer counselling and guidance on spiritual issues. He is also an accredited clinical supervisor. Gaston can provide counselling in English and in Spanish.
Gaston was trained as a Psychologist in South America with a specific focus on CBT. He is also knowledgeable in Person Centred Psychotherapy and has a specialty in Positive Psychology. In Australia, he is registered as a clinical member with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Christian Counselling Association of Australia (CCAA).
Gaston received his PhD from Flinders University in South Australia, his research focused on the interaction of mental health, wellbeing and technology for young people. He also has an MBA and is a Senior Lecturer currently working as the Discipline Lead (Course Coordinator) for the Master of Counselling and the Master of Creative Arts Therapies at Murdoch University.
Note: We do not provide reports or letters.
Gaston is available at Yangebup on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. To book an appointment, call us or send a message.
Wendy Lim
Counsellor
Having journeyed through her own experiences of harm and trauma, Wendy has learned the crucial value of safety and respect within the therapeutic relationship. She recognises the courage of her clients in choosing to face their pain, and honours them with dignity and a sense of empowerment within the sacred places they want to explore. The path is not always easy to navigate, but Wendy is committed to walking alongside her clients with gentleness, patience, and compassion.
She has helped clients work through issues of complex grief, loss, trauma, spiritual abuse, religious trauma, and domestic violence. She is holistic in her approach and uses an eclectic range of therapeutic practices, including Narrative, Sand Tray, Psychodynamic, and Polyvagal techniques.
Born in Malaysia, grown up in Australia, and being married to a German man for the last 15 years has shaped Wendy to be aware and sensitive to the diversity of cultures and backgrounds in society.
Wendy has a Bachelor of Applied Social Science in Counselling, a Masters of Counselling Practice, and a Certificate in Trauma Stress Studies. She is a member of the Australian Counselling Association.
Note: We do not provide reports or letters.
Wendy is available at South Perth on Mondays and Thursdays. To book an appointment, call us or send a message.
Denise Bath
Counsellor
Denise has 23 years of extensive experience counselling children and working with families in need. As a woman of faith, Denise, with God, joins clients on their healing journey to assist them to discover, accept and find solutions to resolve what is impacting them or their families.
She is a genuine, resilient lady with a love and passion for working with children and families.
Denise has a Bachelor in Social Science, Graduate Diploma in Human Service and Master of Arts in Human Service Counselling. She is a member of Australia Counsellors Association (ACA).
Note: We do not provide reports or letters.
Denise is available at South Perth on Fridays. To book an appointment, call us or send a message.
Note: Schedule might change without notice, kindly call us or send a message to confirm the dates.