Counselling and Psychotherapy Maleny
Bec Combs
MGestTherapy, Member of PACFA, GANZ
I’m a psychotherapist and counsellor in Maleny in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. I have a Masters in Gestalt Therapy and I am a registered member of PACFA and GANZ. I bring to my work a deep respect for the uniqueness of each individual’s journey.
I am a Gestalt psychotherapist and counsellor registered with PACFA, offering counselling and psychotherapy in Maleny in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland for individuals, children, teens and couples. I support people who may be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck or disconnected, and who are navigating anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, relationship difficulties or a sense of isolation.
The name Selkie comes from Celtic folklore and symbolises the journey of returning home to yourself. In the stories, selkies move between the sea and the land, often feeling caught between the pressures of life and their deeper instinctive nature. At Selkie Counselling & Psychotherapy, this reflects the therapeutic process of reconnecting with who you are beneath overwhelm, expectation and survival. Therapy can offer a warm, relational space so that you can turn towards the deeper parts of yourself rather than continually moving away from them. Together we explore your inner world with compassion, reconnect with your emotions, body and needs, and move toward greater self-awareness, authenticity and self-acceptance.
Selkie Counselling & Psychotherapy provides a holistic, relational and body-aware approach to therapy. My work is grounded in Gestalt psychotherapy, supporting greater awareness of your thoughts, emotions, body responses and patterns of relating. Together, we create space to explore how you experience yourself, others and the world around you. With increased awareness and support, new ways of responding and relating can begin to emerge, helping life feel less overwhelming and more connected.
I offer practical, present-focused counselling and psychotherapy that honours the connection between mind, body and emotional experience. With a background in Medical Intuition and an ongoing interest in how trauma and emotional experiences are held within the body, therapy may also include gentle exploration of physical symptoms, stress responses, illness or chronic patterns that may be connected to your lived experience.
As someone with lived experience of complex trauma, I understand the profound impact trauma can have on daily life, relationships, self-worth and nervous system regulation. I provide a compassionate and grounded therapeutic space to explore childhood experiences, trauma and emotional pain at a pace that feels safe, supportive and manageable.
You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Counselling can be a place to begin making sense of your experience, reconnecting with yourself and finding support through difficult seasons of life.
Selkie Counselling & Psychotherapy offers counselling and Gestalt psychotherapy in Maleny for people across the Sunshine Coast Hinterland seeking emotional support, self-awareness, healing and meaningful change.
“I would highly recommend Bec and the Gestalt Therapy sessions she offers. I experienced profound shifts - even around things I hadn't realised were impacting me so much. Bec is welcoming, calm and professional - setting you at ease to feel safe and to explore what unfolds. The sessions go way beyond just talking about things. They were interactive, interesting, and very supportive and healing for me and my life "
— Client, 2025Is Therapy Right for You?
Perhaps you’re feeling emotionally stuck repeating the same patterns in life, relationships, or work that no longer serve you. You might be experiencing anxiety, disconnection, or low motivation, or finding it hard to manage change. For some, these challenges become more noticeable during midlife, when long-standing fears or inner conflicts begin to surface more strongly.
Maybe you’ve tried counselling or therapy before, but still feel like something is missing. You’re not alone. Many people come to psychotherapy seeking not just insight, but a deeper, more embodied understanding of themselves.
In our counselling sessions together, we’ll take the time to explore your inner world, how you experience yourself, how you relate to others, and the beliefs and behaviours that shape your life. This is a collaborative process, grounded in safety, curiosity, and care. Together, we’ll begin to shift what’s no longer working and create space for something new to emerge.
Together we can explore
Anxiety & Stress
Gestalt therapy treats anxiety and stress by helping clients to bring attention to bodily sensations, emotions, and relational dynamics. Clients can identify unmet needs, integrate fragmented parts of the self, and develop more grounded, authentic ways of responding to life’s challenges.
Grief & Loss
Gestalt therapy supports clients experiencing grief and loss by inviting them to stay present with their emotions and to give expression to what feels unfinished or unsaid. Through embodied awareness and dialogue, clients can honour their loss, integrate the experience into their ongoing life, and rediscover connection and meaning in the present moment.
Self-Esteem & Confidence
Gestalt therapy supports the development of self-esteem and confidence by helping clients become aware of self-critical patterns and the ways they inhibit their own expression. Through experiential awareness and self-acceptance, clients learn to reconnect with their strengths, trust their authentic experience, and engage more confidently with themselves and others.
Trauma & Healing
Gestalt therapy supports trauma and healing by helping clients safely reconnect with their bodily sensations, emotions, and fragmented experiences in the present moment. Through awareness, grounding, and authentic relational contact, clients can integrate past experiences, restore a sense of safety, and cultivate resilience and wholeness.
Stress Management & Burnout
Gestalt therapy supports stress management and recovery from burnout by helping clients become aware of how they overextend themselves and potentially ignore their own needs. Through increased self-awareness and embodied presence, clients learn to recognise limits, restore balance, and develop more sustainable and compassionate ways of caring for themselves.
Parenting & Family Support
Gestalt therapy supports parenting and family relationships by helping individuals and families become aware of interaction patterns, unmet needs, and unspoken dynamics within the household. Through fostering authentic communication and present-moment connection, clients can strengthen understanding, collaboration, and emotional support, promoting healthier and more responsive family relationships.
Depression & Low Mood
Gestalt therapy treats depression and low mood by increasing awareness of present-moment experience and supporting clients to explore unfinished emotions, unmet needs, and relational patterns that contribute to their distress. Through this awareness and authentic contact, clients can regain a sense of agency, meaning, and vitality in their lives.
Relationships & Communication
Gestalt therapy enhances relationships and communication by increasing awareness of how individuals make contact and withdraw in relational exchanges. Through exploring present-moment interactions and patterns of dialogue, clients learn to express their needs and emotions more authentically, fostering deeper connection, understanding, and mutual respect in their relationships.
Life Transitions & Change
Gestalt therapy helps clients navigate life transitions and changes by fostering awareness of their feelings, needs, and responses to uncertainty or loss of familiarity. Through exploring how they adapt or resist change, clients can access inner resources, find meaning in transition, and move forward with greater clarity and self-support.
Personal Growth & Self-Discovery
Gestalt therapy fosters personal growth and self-discovery by encouraging awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in the here and now. Through exploring patterns of relating and expanding authentic self-expression, clients develop deeper self-understanding, greater choice, and a more integrated sense of self.
Identity & Belonging
Gestalt therapy supports exploration of identity and belonging by helping clients become aware of how they experience themselves within their social and cultural contexts. Through present-moment awareness and authentic relational contact, clients can clarify their values, embrace their unique self, and cultivate a sense of connection and acceptance within themselves and their communities.
Rebecca Combs
MGestTherapy, Member of PACFA/GANZ
I am a psychotherapist and counsellor with a Masters in Gestalt Therapy. I am a registered member of PACFA and GANZ, and I bring to my work a deep respect for the uniqueness of each individual’s journey.
I have worked in the mental health sector, supporting individuals through crisis, breakdown, and recovery. I have facilitated mindfulness groups and hold a strong personal practice in meditation, rhythm, and connecting with nature. I have also completed two years of study in medical intuition, a training that continues to influence and deepen my interest in how trauma lives in the body and how it can manifest through illness and dis-ease.
Frequently asked questions
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Counselling often focuses on specific issues or life challenges and may be shorter-term, while psychotherapy tends to explore deeper patterns, emotions, and long-term personal growth. Both can be helpful, it depends on what you’re needing. I draw on both approaches in our work together.
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Let’s have a free 15min phone chat and make sure we are the right fit for each other.
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I support clients with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, life transitions, grief, self-esteem, trauma, and feeling “stuck” in repetitive patterns. If you’re not sure whether your issue fits, feel free to reach out and ask.
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Gestalt Therapy is a holistic and experiential approach that helps you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, body, and behaviours in the present moment. It’s not just about talking, it’s about noticing how you relate to yourself and others and gently exploring patterns that may be keeping you stuck.
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Yes. I offer both in-person therapy sessions on the Sunshine Coast and online counselling via secure video calls, depending on your location and preference.
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I require at least 48 hours' notice for cancellations or changes to appointments. This allows me to offer the space to someone on the waitlist. Cancellations with less notice may incur the full session fee.
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Sessions are $160. As a registered psychotherapist, the benefit is that you don’t need a referral, and your sessions remain completely confidential from your medical record.
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The first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and explore what’s bringing you to therapy. We’ll talk about your hopes, goals, and anything that feels important to share. There's no pressure to go anywhere you're not ready to, this is your space, and we move at your pace.
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Yes. Everything you share in therapy is confidential, with a few legal exceptions (such as risk of harm to yourself or others). We’ll go over confidentiality in more detail during your first session.
Let’s talk
I welcome individuals who are seeking support with life transitions, mental health challenges, trauma recovery, or simply a deeper connection with themselves and others.