Mariyah Shahrin

What is your background?

Growing up in Malaysia, I developed a strong curiosity about people and the human experience at a very young age! I studied a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Criminology and Psychology in New Zealand, which fostered this curiosity and sense of justice in assisting people to achieve their best potential and life goals. Since then, I have completed a Master of Counselling at the University of Queensland, concluding my five-year journey in tertiary study. Now, I’m a Counsellor who has spent time working with individuals experiencing dependence on alcohol and other substances, as well as their loved ones in a community mental health service. In this role, I was very fortunate to work with clients in a range of capacities, including general mental health concerns, life planning and goals, and developing skills to advocate for themselves.

I’m a registered member of the Australian Counselling Association (Level 2) and I am a certified Triple P Parenting practitioner.

Do you have any professional interest areas?

Although I have seen clients with a range of concerns, I have a strong passion for working with the LGBTQIA+ community and other culturally diverse populations. The intersection between culture, sexuality or gender identity and one’s experiences is meaningful to me and I’m very excited to assist you in navigating and celebrating these identities in a society that may not be particularly welcoming to them.

I love working with anything related to motivation, identity and self-esteem, navigating life goals and life adjustments, relationships, as well as other mental health concerns. I’m also interested in neurodivergence and am happy to see clients with NDIS funding. 

Due to the work I have done in the past, I’m also happy to see clients who have had previous dependence on alcohol and other substances, and family members, partners, or friends who are supporting their loved ones experiencing this. In this capacity, I work from a harm-reduction framework that is compassionate of your circumstances.

What are your strengths?

I like to think that I have a warm, curious and approachable energy in the therapy room! My counselling approach is holistic, where I will often try to get to know what’s happening in all aspects of your life to try to create a well-rounded understanding of your strengths and experiences. I also enjoy taking a client-centered approach where you get to lead where our sessions go — whether that is to “fix” a particular problem you’re experiencing, or to better understand yourself!

As such, I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches, such as attachment theory, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), strengths-based approaches and feminist therapy. I particularly love using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy and creative therapies, however I try to pick and mix from these modalities to see what fits best for each client. I am also looking to get further training in Polyvagal Therapy!

What do you like to do in your free time?

When I’m not spending time at Nest, I love being around friends! When I need some quiet time, I love playing the guitar, getting creative or doing some photography. I also love hiking and being in nature, although I’m still trying to get past Australia’s creepy-crawlies!