Amy Shumack, AASW
Calm, narrative-informed counselling for life's hard moments
Details
| Name | Amy Shumack |
|---|---|
| Credentials | AASW |
| Based in | Australia |
| Registered with | AASW |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 8 |
About Amy
Amy Shumack is an AASW-accredited social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship pain, trauma and intimacy concerns. She focuses on self-esteem, attachment wounds and issues like abandonment, body image and loneliness. Amy speaks simply and kindly so worried parents can read quickly and understand what to expect.
Her style is warm and down-to-earth. Conversations are respectful and paced to match what each person needs. Sessions combine storytelling about life events with practical tools to help with daily coping and connection.
Background and approach
Amy draws on Narrative Therapy to reframe difficult stories and make space for new meanings. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques to help people notice thoughts and choose values-based actions. Attachment-based ideas guide work around closeness, trust and patterns that repeat in relationships.
She also offers mindfulness and somatic tools such as breathwork and gentle body awareness to calm the nervous system. These practices are offered alongside talk-based methods so people can feel more present in their bodies as well as in their thinking. With eight years of practice, Amy has supported people struggling with post-traumatic stress, forgiveness, sexuality questions and finding life purpose.
Her sessions aim for small, steady changes that fit everyday life. She invites people to bring what matters most and to explore change at a manageable pace.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Trauma and abuse among the things Amy works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Self esteem
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Communication problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Women's issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Amy among the ways she works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Amy among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Amy among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Amy among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Amy among the ways she works.
- Somatic Therapy: Listed by Amy among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Amy among the ways she works.
- Internal Family Systems: Listed by Amy among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Amy directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Amy directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and mindfulness work online
Amy commonly uses Narrative Therapy to help people tell and re-shape the stories that organise their lives. This approach looks at how events are remembered and described, and helps people build new meanings that reduce shame and isolation.She also blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on noticing thoughts and choosing actions that match a person's values. ACT can help with anxiety, stress and moving toward a clearer sense of purpose.
Attachment-based ideas guide work on closeness and trust. These tools help people recognise repeating patterns in relationships and try different ways of connecting that feel safer over time.
Choosing the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, and together they decide which methods to try. That collaborative process helps keep sessions relevant and practical.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let people read body language and keep a conversation that feels more like in-person work. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and are easy to fit into a lunch break. Live chat or text-based messaging can suit short check-ins, emotional processing between sessions, or people who prefer typing. These options make it easier to keep regular sessions while juggling family, work and life.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Amy help with?
Amy works with stress, anxiety, relationship pain, trauma and intimacy-related issues. She also focuses on self-esteem, body image, loneliness, post-traumatic stress and women's issues.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her approach is warm, respectful and pragmatic. She balances listening with practical strategies and gentle body-based practices like breathwork.
How much experience does she have?
Amy has eight years of clinical experience supporting people with trauma, relationship concerns, anxiety and related issues.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is AASW accredited and practises in Australia.
Can I see her if I live outside Australia or need another language?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are arranged through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with Amy?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Amy are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Amy where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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