Close-up of white flowers in bloom, symbolising growth, renewal, and the gentle healing process in therapy.
Gretta O’Hagan, Brisbane-based trauma therapist and professional supervisor, sitting at an outdoor table surrounded by greenery.
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Meet Gretta – Brisbane based trauma therapist and professional supervisor

With a deep understanding of developmental and relational trauma, I walk alongside adults on their healing journeys, offering compassionate guidance and evidence-based approaches that assist in cultivating emotional regulation, resilience, and peace.

As a supervisor, I support other therapists through reflective practice, professional development, and mindful attention to vicarious trauma and self-care.

Contemporary, evidence-based holistic trauma approaches designed to address overwhelm and support resilience.

I provide interventions that help regulate the autonomic nervous system, restore a sense of safety in the body, and rebuild healthy attachment patterns.

My approach combines cognitive processing and body-based interventions to develop self-regulation skills, process traumatic memories at a manageable pace, and gradually reclaim an increased capacity for joy, connection, and meaningful engagement with life.

 

 Committed to Trauma-Informed Care Principles

My work is grounded in three core values that guide my practice and inform how I work with every client.

  • Safety

    Safety is a fundamental aspect of the therapeutic environment. Within therapy sessions, emphasis is placed on establishing clear communication, professional boundaries, respect for individual decisions, and support for developing internal safety.

  • Compassion

    In therapy, I meet you where you are and recognise that your responses and survival strategies reflect your strength and resilience. I validate experiences and emotions, and maintain a supportive presence within clear professional boundaries.

  • Authenticity

    I bring authenticity to the therapy space. This means being honest about the therapeutic process, acknowledging when something is not working, and admitting limitations or mistakes. I offer genuine, transparent interactions within professional boundaries.

Gretta O’Hagan standing in a garden space, conveying a calm and reflective presence as a trauma therapist and supervisor.

The deeper why behind my work

I am drawn to this work because I find meaning in assisting others with life's challenges, fostering personal development, and guiding people toward positive change.

The process of therapy presents opportunities to make a genuine difference in people's lives—whether supporting individuals through mental health struggles, relationship issues, grief and loss, or personal growth. My commitment to healing and resilience drives this work.

Working therapeutically allows me to combine compassion and active listening with professional training and counselling experience, creating a foundation from which I provide structured support and evidence-based interventions.

I am committed to ongoing study in areas such as mindfulness, neuroscience, polyvagal theory, somatic psychotherapy/ies, and emerging psychological approaches, which continually deepen my professional practice.

I am also curious about how individual healing, collective healing, and broader societal change intersect. This lens informs my therapeutic approach and my commitment to understanding personal recovery as inseparable from its social context.

 

Qualifications and Training

Experience & Core Qualifications:

  • 25+ years working in trauma and mental health

  • Accredited Social Worker

  • Social Work Bachelor and Master (with Hons) degrees

  • Approved consultant for Deb Dana’s Foundations of Polyvagal Informed Practice AU Training Team

Specialised Training & Certificates:

  • Somatic Experiencing® Training (Dr. Peter A. Levine, Developer of SE™) - Beginning (Level 1), 2026

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy® Training (Dr. Pat Ogden, Founder of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute) - Level 1, 2026

  • Somatic Trauma Therapy (Dr. Abi Blakeslee)

  • Parts Work for Trauma (Stacy Ruse)

  • Foundations of Polyvagal-Informed Practice (Deb Dana, Creator of Rhythm of Regulation®)

  • Trauma Treatment (Dr. Janina Fischer)

  • The Body Keeps the Score, Trauma, Attachment & Neuroscience (Dr. Bessel van der Kolk)

  • Complex Trauma (Dr. John Briere)

  • Sandplay Studies (The Portiuncula Centre)

  • Advanced Experiential CBT Techniques (Matis Miller)

  • Interpersonal Therapy (Nitin Shulka)

Additional Workshops:

  • Trauma, Attachment & Dissociation Workshop (Dr. John Briere and Dr. Colin Ross)

  • Art Therapy Workshop (James Cook University)

Gentle light through a window with garden views, evoking safety, compassion, and authenticity in therapy.

Find the right therapy approach for your needs

Contemporary evidenced based holistic trauma treatment that aims to reduce overwhelm and build resilience.

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