I am Dana Kabaila, my pronouns are she/her and I live, work and play in Naarm (Melbourne) on unceded Wurundjeri Country.

I hold a Masters of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, am an Honorary Clinical Tutor with Dulwich Centre and recently published my first paper Distmantling Dominant Disability Discourse in the International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work. I specialise in neurodivergent lived experience counselling and have over 20 years of experience walking alonside individuals, families and communities. This includes folks with varied experiences of neurodivergence including autism, ADHD, AuDHD, C/PTSD, bipolar, generalised or social anxiety, depression, OCD, Eating Disorders, unusual thoughts, dissociation and personality vulnerabilities.

I am endlessly fascinated by the diversity of brains, bodies and beings in the world and feel so passionate about supporting folks who visit me for therapy to live meaningfully and sustainably. With curiosity and interest, I help to dignify experiences of suffering, celebrate survival and resistance, identify needs and strengthen belonging.

• Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria and Persistent Drive for Autonomy (also referred to as Pathological Demand Avoidance)
• Gender expansiveness, dating, relationships and sexuality
• Persistent (chronic) pain, fatigue, burn out and recovery
• Neurodivergent parenthood transitions including conception, IVF, loss, adoption, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, parenting and the choice to not hold a traditional (or any) parent role
• Childhood, familial and trans-generational trauma healing and nurturing inner child work
• Creative, symbolic and dream work
• Suicidal thoughts - sometimes explored as "singing your death song"

Narrative therapy training supports me to question oppressive systems of "success" and "normality" and centre voices from the margins. Many people who visit me for therapy have felt misunderstood or like outsiders. My own "spiky profile" keeps my approach grounded in humour and compassion.

My Jungian Coaching training support symbolic work including dreamwork, creativity, nature and mythology that help folks who may be feeling lost or stuck in life. I have facilitated a Practitioner Dream Group and hosted Jungian podcasts including Jungian Coaching Room and Season 4 of the Jung Society of Melbourne

My background in speech pathology offers specialist skills for supporting folks experiencing:

• Situational Non-speaking (clinically labelled Selective Mutism)
• Mealtime differences (often labelled Avoidance Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
• Acquired communication difficulties (e.g. aphasia after a stroke)
• Stuttering
• Navigating systems of care (e.g. medical, educational)

• Australian Counselling Association – Find a Counsellor
• Neurodivergent Practitioner Community
• Northside Therapy Collective
• Northside Relationship Counselling – Neurodiverse Affirming Couple Counselling
• Narrative Connections
• Source – Find the Right Therapist
• International Association of Jungian Coaches and Consultants – Membership Directory

To inquire about an appointment with Dana, please call 0431 829 498, email dana@undertheoaktraining.com or use the form below.