Grace Penman , ACA

Grace Penman is a counsellor and psychotherapist based in Australia with four years of clinical experience who supports mixed-culture adults and people who have moved countries as they navigate identity, belonging, and the challenges of adulthood across cultural contexts. She works with clients from the LGBTQIA+ community and others who find themselves balancing family expectations with personal values, helping them to explore choices that feel authentic while acknowledging where they come from.

Many people Grace works with report feeling torn, anxious, or overwhelmed by the pressure to meet others' expectations while trying to express their true selves. These tensions can surface as anxiety, guilt, confusion, or a persistent sense of not being enough. Whether someone is studying or working in a new country, raising children while honoring multiple cultural traditions, or learning to bridge differing upbringings in a relationship, Grace focuses on the practical and emotional work of finding footing and connection.

She integrates EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative approaches, and mindfulness-based somatic psychotherapy to gently process cultural, relational, and intergenerational wounds that can be held in the body and in story. Grace holds an ACA credential, indicating professional accreditation in counselling, and she aims to help clients reclaim their voice, honour the various parts of their identity, and reconnect with a clearer sense of self beyond outside expectations.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Grace Penman draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy as core approaches in her practice. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed by them, and supports building a life guided by personal values - it is often helpful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationship patterns influence current connections, and it can be useful for people working through relationship difficulties, separation, or patterns of trust and intimacy.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic work. Grace collaborates with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques as trust and clarity develop so the pathway forward feels tailored and manageable.

Online therapy offers flexibility for those balancing work, study, family, or relocation. Grace provides sessions by video call, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing clients to choose the format that best suits their schedule and comfort level. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and access consistent support from a licensed professional regardless of busy or changing circumstances.