About Irene
Irene Hughes offers calm, practical support for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, relationship problems, past trauma or questions about parenting and self‑worth. She brings 15 years of experience and works with clients who want to blend psychological care with their Christian faith. Her sessions aim to be simple and grounded.
Irene draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client‑centred therapy to help people notice what matters to them, practice actions that match their values, and build kindness toward themselves.
How Irene works
For those who want spiritual input, she respectfully weaves Scripture, prayer and Christian perspectives into the conversation. Irene describes therapy as a walking‑alongside process. She focuses on small, doable steps rather than big fixes.
Conversations look at thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and explore practical ways to reduce overwhelm and improve connection with others and with God. She pays attention to issues that often sit beneath presenting problems, such as attachment patterns, body image, guilt and shame, and caregiver stress. Irene also supports people dealing with fertility or fatherhood concerns, relationship betrayal, isolation and HIV‑related challenges.
Sessions move at the client’s pace and honour each person’s faith journey. Irene frames change as steady work rather than sudden transformation, and she helps people move toward clearer thinking, more grounded choices and a renewed sense of purpose.
Irene lists 2 ways of working on the entry:
What Irene works with
The areas below are the ones Irene selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Register | AASW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 15 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Australia |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How Irene’s approaches work online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small actions that match those values. Online ACT sessions focus on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, which can reduce stress and increase purposeful choices.Client‑centred therapy emphasises a warm, non‑judgemental listening stance. In this approach the therapist follows the person’s pace and priorities, offering empathy and support so clients can explore feelings, beliefs and life decisions. It suits concerns about self‑esteem, grief, relationship questions and growing spiritual understanding.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Irene collaborates with each person to find what fits best - combining ACT, client‑centred care and, when wanted, Christian perspectives - based on the client’s needs, goals and preferences.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text messaging. Video sessions let people see non‑verbal cues and have deeper conversations. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or a simpler check‑in is preferred. Live chat and text work well for shorter reflections, quick check‑ins or when typing feels easier. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, family and daily life while keeping the focus on practical progress.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
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Common questions
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What credential does she hold and where is she based?
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How are costs and getting started handled?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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