The Manifesto – Counselling and Psychotherapy

About me

My name is Kareena. I am a PACFA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) clinically registered counsellor and psychotherapist. The Manifesto is my private practice and was born out of my desire to help people make sense of, connect and be present in their own lives.

I work online as well as face to face in my private practice in Bondi, NSW.

I was a full-time professional circus performer before I started a new career as a counsellor, after the birth of my two children. I have a deep understanding of the multiple roles we play and the need for reinvention and reflection throughout our lives.

I have a Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy at Western Sydney University as well as a Bachelor of Counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology, I participate in regular ongoing professional development and clinical supervision.

I live and work on Eora country.

I respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. I acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.

“
There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. – Anais Nin

Counselling

I offer emotional support through counselling for those struggling with life and humanistic issues, including grief, anxiety, addiction and depression. I specialise in The Entertainment Industry and work with a range of creatives including actors, dancers, circus performers, writers, producers and production/crew members.

My focus is to provide you with a safe and confidential environment to examine your life and work out what really matters to you, to feel more in tune with your life and how you are in the world. My work is collaborative and my clients are active participants in the counselling process at every stage

Counselling can be short or long term depending on your needs.

I am a humanistic counsellor and my work incorporates person centred, trauma informed, and existential therapy.

Counselling allows us an opportunity to be fully heard and our experiences validated.

As best explained by Ernesto Spinelli, ‘To describe it, is to change it’.

“
In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. – Albert Camus

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is an in-depth exploration of the self that can facilitate fundamental change. This may involve reflecting on your past experiences to help discover any unresolved issues or pain. We analyse how your life experiences have shaped you and discuss opportunities and choices to allow you to live a more present and meaningful life.

Psychotherapy can bring to light our unconscious thinking patterns so that we can make conscious choices about how we see ourselves and in turn how we are in our relationships and in the world.

“
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Testimonials

Christine

I think of Kareena as my diamond, epiphany encouraging friend. When I was just over 40 I found myself at a point of disenchantment so I turned to Kareena for emotional support because I trust and value her opinion.

She lent me her ears and rather than tell me what to do she gently asked prompting questions and helped me to dissect my feelings without ever feeling judged. She engaged me in a conversation that was productive. I felt safe with her. She introduced me to the concept of flow, or the art of now, which is about being present and is the opposite of a stressful life. Kareena educated me about moving towards things instead of away. She also follows up and keeps you accountable. And did I mention that she’s also hilarious with a sharp wit. The combination is empowering. Kareena is authentic to the core and her background as an elite circus performer has cultivated her shining qualities of integrity, community mindedness, confidence, creativity, grit, determination, strength, passion and a tough spirit with a soft heart which stand her in good stead as a life coach. After many sessions with her I had an epiphany where I experienced a moment of sudden revelation. It happened in the form of a moment of clarity and this gave me the strength to take a different direction. My family and I decided to move from
Sydney to Sri Lanka and while it has been a huge undertaking we have never looked back. Kareena facilitated this life change, she gave me courage, and that is a gift that I will forever be truly grateful for.

Charmaine

I have found working with Kareena to be very freeing. She has a playful, kind and authentic way of being that can dive deeply into things with a lightness that makes me feel very safe. I went to her trying to ‘fix’ myself (and, if I’m honest, to try to fix some other people too…). She has been helping me to be able to move through things without needing to ‘fix’ them – more of a sense of resilience than of needing to be invincible and perfect. We talk over zoom, which is brilliant for me, as we can continue just as easily whether I am on tour in some random place or at home. Thanks Kareena for your support! I’m really enjoying the process.

Mike

We first met when Kareena was a performer, then we worked together as colleagues, and now we are life-long friends.

A highly charismatic, skilled, energised and motivated powerhouse of a person, Kareena has always been someone who others are influenced by, inspired by, and who is not afraid to support progress, change and inspiration. She has a very high level of emotional intelligence, yet a ‘positive toughness’ that means she doesn’t tiptoe around an issue.

It makes absolutely perfect sense that Kareena’s training and life-long practise of positivity and empowerment be shared with her lucky clients. For those of us that know Kareena well, it is the perfect fit for her to be a counsellor. There is no-one I know who is better equipped or more naturally right for this role. If you are lucky enough to be one of her clients you have a strong, safe, energising and inspiring friend.

Heather

I approached Kareena for coaching as I was working in a stressful full-time job, while single-parenting two children and also trying to produce work as an artist. I felt I couldn’t create the space by myself to see where I was going or what I should be focusing on. Kareena brought so much compassion for my situation and also challenged me to look beyond ‘goals’ to who I was being for myself and others – to bring vulnerability and authenticity to my life. As a result I got an amazing new job which will give me more financial freedom and also more time to make creative work. I found out as well how to slow down for my own wellbeing, for my children and for creativity. I’m off the hamster wheel and back in life. I highly recommend Kareena and The Manifesto.

Anon

If you have a physical injury you go see a doctor, but what do you do if your soul breaks? Emotions are like muscles reacting to the world’s obstacle course so sometimes you need to work them out just to train for life. I don’t know if it’s her own personal life journey or years of being a circus artist, but Kareena knows how to spot someone who wants to achieve a back flip in life yet sometimes can’t get out of bed. If you are feeling off balance Kareena offers supportive techniques, asks the right questions, and is someone who genuinely listens. So you just feel safe and that’s a start. It will take some time but I feel better now.

Contact me

Kareena@the-manifesto.com.au
+61 410 514972
98 Bondi Road, Bondi Junction, NSW 2022

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For new clients, please get in touch before you book online. Let’s have a conversation or an email introduction to decide if I am the right fit for you, and to ensure I have capacity for a new client.