Cindy Kree

Approach

Cindy’s counselling approach is grounded in warmth, authenticity, and a deep respect for each person’s lived experience. She believes meaningful change begins when individuals feel truly seen and heard within a safe, non-judgmental space. Her collaborative style focuses on understanding the person within their broader environment and the systems that influence their wellbeing.

Cindy works closely with children, families, schools, and therapeutic teams to look beyond behaviour and address the underlying needs that drive it. Through this partnership, she helps create meaningful and lasting change.

Drawing on trauma-informed and attachment-focused principles, Cindy tailors her approach to each client’s developmental stage and goals. She integrates evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Narrative Therapy, and basic Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) strategies. When working with children, she incorporates elements of play therapy to support engagement and emotional expression. Her understanding of maladaptive and risk-taking behaviours enables her to provide targeted support and guidance to both individuals and families.

Cindy helps clients build emotional awareness, strengthen coping strategies, and reconnect with their inner strengths and values. She is a committed advocate for her clients, empowering them to move toward healing, balance, and self-agency—at their own pace and in their own way.

Experience

After completing her Social Work Degree at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, Cindy began her career with the Department of Social Development, working in Probation Services. In this role, she supported young people and families involved in the justice system, helping them find pathways toward change and stability. Cindy designed and facilitated programs focused on wellbeing, crime prevention, sexual offending and substance use, while also working closely with families through mediation, reunification, and restorative justice practices. These early experiences deepened her understanding of trauma, resilience, and the importance of seeing the person beyond the behaviour.

Cindy joined a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting underprivileged children, adults, and the elderly. Taking her experiences from working with young offenders, she translated this into community projects that focus on empowerment, social inclusion, and poverty alleviation. During her employment at the Department of Social Development Cindy was able to really engage and understand the impact of poor education, poor support systems and vulnerabilities and channelled this into the projects and programmes. During this time, she also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration at Wits Business School, combining her social work values with strong organisational and leadership skills.

In 2020, Cindy relocated to Melbourne, Australia, and began working in the education sector, providing counselling and wellbeing support to children and families in Primary School. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, she helped students navigate social, emotional, and behavioural challenges, supporting them to thrive at school and beyond. Cindy collaborated closely with teachers, parents, and allied health professionals, developed wellbeing and behaviour plans, and facilitated programs around emotional literacy, protective behaviours, and child safety. She also enjoyed sharing her knowledge through professional learning for staff and parent workshops.

Since 2022, Cindy has worked in private practice, supporting children, adolescents, and families with a range of emotional, behavioural, and developmental needs. She provides counselling using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Play Therapy, Narrative Therapy, trauma-informed approaches, and EMDR (Level 1). Cindy takes a collaborative and family-centred approach, often working alongside schools and allied professionals to ensure consistent support across environments. Her work also includes psychosocial assessments, intervention planning, and assisting families with NDIS processes and Functional Capacity Assessments.

Across her career, Cindy has remained deeply committed to helping individuals and families feel understood, supported, and empowered. Whether working in government, community, education, or private practice, her focus has always been on creating safety, connection, and meaningful growth for those she works with.