About Me

About Fiona McColl

I am a qualified social worker and clinical therapist who opts to use a coaching framework with many of my clients.  I earned my social work degree at the University of Victoria, Canada and have continued onward to qualify and specialize in family systems therapy, narrative therapy, and mindfulness approaches to healing.

I have worked in the government and community sectors providing direct clinical and social work services as well as undertaking research, program and policy development and government consultation. My areas of specialist experience include: child protection, domestic violence, trauma, loss and grieving and family therapy, with an emphasis on the complex realities of alternative family forms; divorced, blended, single parent, same sex, inter-racial, kinship, adopted or estranged. My current research is centred on family estrangement and adult attachment theory.

As well as working with individuals and groups around core issues such as trauma, loss, grief and living with complex family challenges, I help  clients develop self awareness, build confidence and understand their personal strengths, values and needs. I work with each individual to help them define what family and healing means to them and support them in recovering equanimity, balance, joy and creating loving, positive and healthy relationships with themselves and others.

I am Canadian by birth, have lived and worked in Canada, the US, the UK and now Australia. I currently reside in Brisbane, Australia with two relentlessly curious cats.  I have three grown children. I undertake contract work in the area of specialist fostering assessment, provide clinical supervision to child and family welfare professionals  and work directly with my own clients. When I am not passionately working, you’ll find me spending time with my family, writing, reading, taking photos or traveling about my new country of residence.

I welcome inquiries, comments, or requests for workshops, training, consultation and speaking engagements. Please email me  at:  e-stranged@live.com