- Stress and anxiety
- Addiction support
- Family of origin
About Pauline
Pauline Sten is a PACFA counsellor practising in Australia with six years of professional experience. She works with adults who notice stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship strain, addiction concerns and depression affecting day-to-day life. Pauline focuses on family of origin issues when those early patterns continue to influence current choices and relationships.
She works in a straightforward way that treats the client as the expert on their own life. Sessions involve talking through what is happening now, identifying repeating patterns that may come from childhood or family roles, and testing small changes that feel achievable. Conversations are practical and paced to the person’s comfort level.
Pauline also supports people dealing with abandonment and attachment issues, difficulties in blended family situations, and communication or control problems that affect relationships. She addresses co-morbid difficulties such as substance use and mood concerns alongside relationship and self-esteem work. Where problems feel tangled, she helps separate the pieces so each can be worked on without being overwhelming.
Her approach is oriented to evidence-based therapeutic techniques and aims to be collaborative. She helps clients notice automatic responses, practise different ways of relating, and build predictable steps to try between sessions. People who bring guilt, shame or impulsivity to therapy will find a focus on concrete strategies and clearer next steps.
Language of work is English and sessions are arranged through the site's booking process. Before scheduling, clients are invited to check the session formats offered and confirm what best fits their routine.
Evidence-based approaches and online sessions
Pauline describes her work as grounded in evidence-based therapeutic techniques. One approach she uses focuses on identifying repeating relationship and family patterns that began in childhood. That work helps people see how past roles influence current responses and then practise alternative ways of relating.Another common strand involves behavioural strategies to reduce anxiety and unhealthy coping. These steps are practical and involve small experiments to change reactions to stress, reduce impulsive responses, and support work on substance use alongside mood or relationship goals.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options, explain why a method might help for a given issue, and adjust the plan based on the client’s goals and preferences. This is a collaborative process aimed at matching techniques to what the person needs in everyday life.
Session formats are not specified in the original biography, so please confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. These practical benefits often help people maintain consistency while they try new ways of relating and coping.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she help with?
Pauline works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship concerns, low self-esteem and depression. She also focuses on family of origin issues and related problems such as attachment, abandonment and communication difficulties.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and practical. She talks through current patterns, tests small changes, and helps clients practise different ways of relating between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has six years of professional work experience in Australia supporting people with mood, relationship and addiction concerns.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a PACFA counsellor practising in Australia.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. Exact pricing is provided during the booking process.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the "See online therapy options" button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the site.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.