Individual Counselling
One-to-one support for anxiety, low mood, grief, stress, trauma, life transitions and personal growth — at a pace that feels manageable.
Individual counsellingCounselling in Parap, Darwin NT
A Space for Understanding, Connection and Growth
Professional counselling, relationship therapy and sexual therapy in Darwin, offering a supportive space to explore life's challenges, strengthen relationships and find a way forward.
- Accredited
- AASW accredited social worker
- Experience
- Around 15 years in social work
- Appointments
- Face-to-face in Parap or Zoom
Sharon · Social Worker & Counsellor
Welcome to Willow Connection
Counselling that begins with listening
Reaching out for counselling takes courage. Willow Connection is a small private practice in Parap, Darwin, built around a simple idea: that people make sense of their lives in the presence of someone who listens carefully and without judgement.
Sharon is a social worker and counsellor with around fifteen years of experience across individual, couple and family work, and specialist postgraduate training in psychosexual therapy. Sessions are unhurried, practical and shaped around what matters to you — not a fixed program or a script.
Whether you are navigating a difficult period, wanting to understand yourself more deeply, or hoping to rebuild closeness in a relationship, the work starts from where you are.
Willow Connection welcomes people of all backgrounds, identities, cultures and relationship structures. You do not need to have the right words before you make contact.
How I can help
Three areas of practice
Counselling is offered for individuals, couples and families, in person in Parap or online. Each service below describes what that work often involves.
Relationship & Couples Counselling
A structured space to improve communication, rebuild trust and understand the patterns that keep repeating — including for families and other relationship structures.
Couples counsellingSexual Therapy
Specialist, talk-based therapy for sexual and relational wellbeing — delivered respectfully, confidentially and inclusively.
Sexual therapySessions and fees are set out clearly on the Sessions & Fees page.
Meet Sharon
Experienced professional support, delivered with understanding and care
Sharon is a social worker, counsellor and psychosexual therapist with more than ten years of focused counselling experience and around fifteen years in social work. She works with individuals, couples and families, and her approach draws on a range of evidence-informed therapeutic models rather than a single framework.
- Master of Social Work, James Cook University
- Accredited practitioner, Australian Association of Social Workers
- Postgraduate Diploma in Psychosexual Therapy, University of Sydney
- Member, Society of Australian Sexologists
Connection and growth
Change rarely happens in one conversation. It happens in a steady, respectful relationship where you can think out loud, be met without judgement, and try something different.
Willow Connection is a place to slow down enough to notice what is happening, and to decide what you would like to be different.
A supportive approach
How the work tends to unfold
There is no single way to do counselling, but most people find the process follows a similar shape. You stay in charge of what you bring and when.
- 01
Getting in touch
A short email, SMS or enquiry form is enough. You can ask about availability, fees or whether counselling is the right fit before committing to anything.
- 02
Your first session
The first appointment is about understanding your situation, your history and what you hope could change. Practical questions about confidentiality and pace are answered along the way.
- 03
Working together
Sessions draw on approaches that suit your needs — which may include ACT, DBT, narrative therapy, trauma-informed work, EFT or Gottman-informed practice.
- 04
Reviewing what helps
Progress is reviewed together, including whether the work is still useful. Some people attend for a few sessions; others continue for longer.
A note on outcomes. Counselling is a collaborative process, and no practitioner can promise a particular result. What is offered is skilled, consistent attention to your situation, and honest conversations about what is and isn't helping.
Where sessions take place
Face-to-face in Parap, or online via Zoom
Appointments are available in person in Parap, a quiet suburb of Darwin close to the city and the coast. For people who cannot attend in person — including those living remotely, interstate or with caring responsibilities — online sessions are offered by video, where it is suitable to do so.
In person
A private, comfortable consulting space in Parap, Darwin NT. Exact location and parking details are confirmed when your appointment is arranged.
Online
A secure video link for a 50-minute session from a private place where you feel able to speak freely. Suitability is discussed beforehand.
What to expect
Your first appointment
1
No preparation required
You do not need to arrive with a clear story or a plan. Most people begin with what has been on their mind lately, and the conversation develops from there.
2
Questions are welcome
Confidentiality and its limits, session length, fees and cancellation are explained clearly, so you can decide whether to continue with confidence.
3
You set the pace
There is no pressure to discuss anything before you are ready. Going slowly is a legitimate part of the work, not a delay.
4
A shared understanding
By the end of the first session you should have a sense of what the work might focus on, and whether Sharon is the right person to work with.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
If your question is not answered here, you are welcome to ask directly — there is no obligation to book.
Do I need a referral to see Sharon?
No. You can contact Willow Connection directly by email, SMS or the enquiry form. A written referral is not required to arrange an appointment.
How long is a session, and what does it cost?
Sessions are 50 minutes: $200 for individual counselling and $220 for couples or family counselling. It is worth allowing up to an hour overall, as review and feedback may extend slightly past the 50-minute mark. See sessions and fees.
Can I have counselling online instead of in person?
Yes. Online appointments are available via Zoom for clients who are unable to attend in person, including people living remotely or interstate. Suitability is discussed before the first appointment.
Is what I share confidential?
What you share in a session is treated as confidential. There are limited legal and ethical exceptions — for example, where there is a serious risk to someone's safety. These are explained clearly before you begin, so you know where you stand.
What is the free introductory consultation?
New clients can arrange a complimentary 10-minute conversation, by telephone or email, to ask questions and get a sense of whether counselling at Willow Connection would suit them.
Where in Darwin is the practice?
Face-to-face appointments are held in Parap, Darwin NT. The specific address and parking arrangements are confirmed when your appointment is booked.
Take the first step
Enquire about an appointment
Send a short enquiry and Sharon will reply directly. You can also begin with a complimentary 10-minute introductory consultation if you would like to ask questions first.
- Email Willowconnection@outlook.com
- SMS enquiries 0432 477 613
- Parap, Darwin NT — in person or online via Zoom
This form is for general enquiries only and is not monitored around the clock. If you need urgent help, call 000 or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.