A safe space to be heard
About Beyond Chrysalis
Beyond Chrysalis offers specialised counselling in a safe, confidential, and supportive space focused on your wellbeing.
I use a range of evidence-based therapies grounded in a holistic, person-centred approach to help you build self-awareness, self-esteem, and resilience.
Each session is tailored to your unique needs, offering guidance to navigate anxiety, stress, and personal challenges without judgment.
Amber-Marie Hodder
Psychotherapist and Counsellor
Hi, I’m Amber — I work with children, teens, and adults who are navigating challenges like anxiety, low self-worth, emotional overwhelm, and life changes.
At the heart of my practice is the belief that everyone has strengths, even in their hardest moments — and that with the right support, it's possible to move forward with more clarity, confidence, and connection.
I’m currently completing a Master’s in Mental Health and Neuroscience, along with a certification in Nutritional Psychiatry, which helps me bring a more holistic, mind-body perspective to the work I do. I'm especially interested in how lifestyle, nutrition, and brain health can play a role in emotional well-being.
I am a registered psychotherapist and counsellor with a Bachelor of Counselling (Coaching) and a passion for supporting emotional well-being across all stages of life.
"While beauty is in the butterfly,
growth happens in the cocoon, where the creature is struggling to get out. This is where it develops strength.
When it emerges, it soars"
- Jim Kwik
Services
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Counselling and Psychotherapy:
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Anxiety & Depression
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Study/School Stress
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Work/Career Stress
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Self-esteem Issues
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Life Stage Transition Struggles
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Interpersonal/Relationship Difficulties
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Personal Growth
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Face-to-face Counselling
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Telehealth (phone or video) Counselling
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Counselling for your child
My Approach
My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and tailored to you.
I believe in working with the whole person, not just the problem, and creating a safe, supportive space where you feel heard, respected, and empowered to grow.
I aim to support you in overcoming challenges, deepening your self-understanding, and making meaningful and lasting change.
Together, we’ll build a therapeutic relationship based on mutual trust and collaboration, supporting you to move forward with confidence and clarity.
What's the difference between a Counsellor, a Psychotherapist, and a Psychologist?
While all three provide talk therapy and emotional support using evidence-based modalities, their approaches and areas of focus differ:
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Counsellors support people through everyday life challenges - such as stress, grief, low self-worth, relationship issues, or major transitions. Their approach is practical, person-centred, and focused on the present and future. They help build emotional resilience and teach useful coping tools.
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Psychotherapists work at a deeper emotional level, helping clients explore unresolved trauma, unconscious patterns, and past experiences. Their goal is long-term healing, self-understanding, and transformation. They often blend various evidence-based therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Positive Psychology, Strength-based, and Psychodynamic approaches.
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Psychologists generally assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders such as anxiety disorders, major depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia. Their work is clinical and structured, often focused on problem-solving using modalities such as CBT and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Under a GP-referred Mental Health Plan, psychologists are eligible for Medicare rebates, though services provided under this plan are generally limited to CBT.
Each profession offers valuable support - the right fit depends on what you’re looking for: practical guidance, deeper healing, or clinical diagnosis.
Choosing the right support
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Psychologists diagnose and treat mental health conditions using clinical frameworks and evidence-based therapies.
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Psychotherapists explore emotional depth, past experiences, and unconscious patterns to support long-term healing and personal transformation.
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Counsellors offer guidance and emotional support to help individuals navigate life’s challenges, build resilience, and develop practical coping tools.
The right choice depends on what you're seeking
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If you need a formal diagnosis or clinical intervention, a psychologist is the appropriate path.
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If you want to process emotions, gain insight, and grow, a counsellor or psychotherapist may be more suitable.
Ask yourself
Are you looking to unpack a diagnosis or build a better tomorrow through personal insight, healing, and support?
Points to consider
It's crucial to find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable and understood.
Consider the nature of your issue, your therapy preferences, and collaborative care (if needed).
Don't hesitate to seek a second opinion if you're not feeling a connection with your initial therapist.
“I am not what happened to me.
I am what I choose to become”
- Carl Jung
Female, 15
Amber gives me a space where I can understand my thoughts better freely and it has helped me be more motivated day-to-day. I have found some really helpful ways to manage my anxiety and it's a helpful process that isn't intimidating or overwhelming
Male, 32
I have told multiple people to consider a counsellor rather than a psych based on this experience - feels less clinical somehow. not sure if that is the key difference or the key difference is Amber herself, but I have never felt mentally better
Female, 19
Amber is amazing as she allows you to feel heard and provides a safe environment for you. She helps you gather a deeper understanding of yourself that is greatly beneficial to your long term mental health
Contact Us
For all enquiries and appointments, please call or email:
0466 433 989
letstalk@beyondchrysalis.com.au
Alternatively, please fill out the contact form below
Quality Standards & Registrations
Professional registration ensures that mental health clinicians are bound by strict codes of professional conduct and ethical behaviour.
Amber holds professional registrations with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
For more information about PACFA, please click on the logo to the right.
