About Silvia
My name is Silvia Roberts and I hold a Graduate Diploma of Counselling through the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP), a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Greenwich, London, UK and I am currently in the third and final year of training to become a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner through the Somatic Experiencing® Trauma Institute in Sydney. I’m a forever learner and, with my Somatic Experiencing training almost coming to an end, I’m already exploring what to study next.
I’m a PACFA Certified Practising Counsellor currently working towards becoming a PACFA Clinical Counsellor. After working full-time in a trauma and addiction hospital, I decided to take on a part-time role as a school counsellor while also establishing my own private practice, where I see clients on Mondays and Fridays. As a parent to two children, aged 11 and 16, this balance allows me to be present for my family while expanding professionally. My long-term goal is to eventually transition into working in private practice full-time. My work on eating disorders and trauma has been published in magazines such as Body & Soul, Women’s Weekly and Marie Claire.
My path to becoming a therapist was shaped by my own healing journey. After years of navigating transgenerational trauma and feeling stuck in patterns I couldn't explain, therapy helped me process deep wounds and face life’s challenges with more clarity. This experience gave me an appreciation for the power of therapeutic work. I realised I wanted to support others who felt stuck in their lives, just as I once did, and I decided to train as a therapist myself.
I enrolled in a five-year Psychodynamic Psychotherapy course in the UK, but before it began, my family embarked on an adventure to temporarily relocate to Sydney. I made the hard decision to postpone the studies for a year. However, life unfolded differently, and we decided to make Sydney our home. I searched for equivalent psychodynamic psychotherapy courses in Sydney but had no luck. Eventually, I enrolled in a Graduate Diploma through ACAP, continuing my journey towards becoming a qualified counsellor.
I have a passion for approaches that integrate the body into the therapeutic process. Living with an autoimmune condition has shaped my belief in the power of body-based approaches to healing. I work relationally and draw from modalities such as Gestalt therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experiencing, and attachment-based approaches, while also integrating a psychodynamic perspective.
A Day in the Life with Silvia Roberts
5.10am: Wake Up
I wake up and spend 10 minutes stretching before breakfast.
6.30am to 8.30am – Getting Ready
I have always been a morning person. I love getting up early and starting my day before the rest of the family wakes. I begin my day with exercise – either weight training at the gym, yoga stretches at home, or a walk around the beach. Living close to the beach is something I never take for granted. This is an essential part of my self-care as it boosts my energy, creates mental clarity, and helps me feel more connected to myself and therefore more present with my clients.
8.30am: Prep for the day
I have a cup of black coffee, which is something I always look forward to – I love the smell and taste of morning coffee. I then help organise my children for their school day, check home emails, and have my breakfast.
Part of getting ready is taking time to centre myself and set an intention for the day. I reflect on how I want to show up for myself and others, where I want to focus my energy, where I don’t, and I make a conscious decision to slow down. From this place, I then prepare for my office day – pack my lunch, take some fruit and nuts, and some herbal teas. My favourites are fennel and liquorice.
9.00am – Setting Up My Space
My office in Mosman is about a 5-minute drive from home. As I arrive, I turn on the lamps, set up my laptop, and unpack my food. It is important for me to connect with other practitioners in the clinic, who are osteopaths and massage therapists. Being in private practice can sometimes feel isolating, so I appreciate this connection. Before my first client, I attend to my emails, prepare invoices, and go through my notes from the last sessions to refresh my mind.
10.00am – Seeing Clients
I see clients either in person or online from around 10.00am to 7.00–8.00pm. The sessions are 60 minutes with 15-minute breaks between them. If I only have 15 minutes between clients, I quickly stretch or walk around. I also use an aura mist to cleanse the energy in the room between clients.
During longer breaks between clients, I write up my clinical notes, manage emails, and do other admin. Having opened my practice just a year ago, I’m currently focused on expanding it and exploring marketing strategies to grow my client base. In the afternoon, if I can, I pop home to see my children after they return from school. My lunchtime is anytime between 12.00pm and 1.30pm.
5.30pm to 8.00pm – Home Time Equals Downtime
My evenings vary depending on when I finish with my last client. If I’m home before 6.00pm, I like to attend a Yin Yoga class. I take some quiet time for myself – unpack, settle down, and, depending on my day, I use sage to cleanse myself. I am then ready to have dinner and connect with my family. We reflect on our days, play Dobble or Ludo, and prepare for the next day.
On the days I work as a school counsellor, I finish by 4.00pm and I’m usually home shortly after. My afternoons are often spent taking my son to his activities, attending my own therapy, receiving supervision, or participating in professional development.
8.30pm – Reading Time
One of my favourite parts of the evening is reading with my son before his bedtime. We both get our books and spend 20 minutes reading together.
I’m quite selective about what I watch on TV. I do not watch TV on working days and avoid watching the news altogether. If I feel like watching anything during the weekend, it would be a crime documentary or psychological thriller.
10.00pm – Bedtime
At the end of the day, I enjoy winding down with a good book. Right now, I’m reading Five Days in Provence by Simon McCleave. I make it a daily practice to reflect on my day and note three things I’m grateful for, which helps me stay grounded and connected to what matters.
Outside of Work
Outside of work, I love spending time in nature, hiking with family or friends, or swimming in the ocean. I also enjoy reading, particularly crime fiction and therapy books – I always have a list queued up to be read. Another passion of mine is dancing, especially to hip hop music. It’s one of the ways I reconnect with joy and movement.
Connect with Silvia
Website: https://groundedpresencecounselling.com.au/about/