Life transitions
When the old way no longer fits, but the next step is not yet clear.
Counselling in Castle Cove, NSW 2069 & online
A space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself.
Compassionate, evidence-informed counselling for life transitions, anxiety, identity, belonging, and meaningful integration.
ACA registered counsellor · In person and online
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Life doesn't always fit neatly into a diagnosis.
Sometimes we feel anxious or lost. Sometimes life changes faster than we can understand it. And sometimes we simply know something needs to change. Counselling offers a place to slow down, make sense of your experience, and discover your own way forward.
Ways I can support you
Come as you are.
You do not need to have the perfect words—or a label—for what you are experiencing.
Anxiety & overwhelm
A calm place to understand what is happening and find steadier ground.
Identity & belonging
Support for cross-cultural lives, changing roles, and questions of who you are becoming.
Profound experiences
Thoughtful integration after experiences that have shifted your sense of self or meaning.
Group facilitation
Healing and insight can deepen in community.
I facilitate small, carefully held groups centred on reflection, connection, and meaningful integration. Each gathering is designed to support psychological safety, respectful participation, and authentic human connection.
Integration & reflection circlesWomen's circlesGuided breathwork & groundingCross-cultural & identity-focused groupsEducational workshops & facilitated conversations
My approach
The whole person, not only the problem.
I believe people are more than their symptoms. Each person brings a unique story, culture, body, relationships, values, strengths, and ways of making meaning.
My role is not to tell you who to become. It is to meet you with curiosity and care as we understand what has shaped you, recognise your inner resources, and create room for something new.
How I work“Diversity in forms, unity in essence.”— Choa Kok Sui
Meet Erie
A grounded, cross-cultural perspective.
I'm Irina “Erie” McGuinn—a counsellor, integration practitioner, educator, and researcher based in Castle Cove, Sydney. ERIE is the name of my practice: a space where evidence-informed counselling, cross-cultural understanding, and thoughtful integration come together.
Having lived and worked across Russia, South Africa, the UAE, the USA, and Australia, I understand that identity and belonging can be layered.
My work brings together professional counselling, many years of supporting people through education and change, and an abiding curiosity about how humans heal, learn, and find meaning.
- Diploma of Counselling
- Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC)
- Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (CPAT)
- Mind Medicine Australia (MMA)
- PhD Candidate in Education
- Moscow Pedagogical State University
Research focus: virtual reality and immersive language learning - Professional membership
- Member, Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
Complementary & integrative training
A spiritual framework, grounded in nature.
Alongside counselling, I have undertaken complementary training that informs my understanding of consciousness, personal patterns, energetic wellbeing, and our relationship with the natural world.
- Atmalogiya and Atmahealing, Level 2
- Shamanic Energy Practitioner, trained through The Four Winds Society
- Breathwork facilitation and integration practices
What to expect
Start gently
A brief initial conversation to see whether working together feels right.
Make sense of things
We explore what brings you here, at a pace that respects your needs and boundaries.
Find your way forward
We notice patterns, build resources, and shape practical steps that feel genuinely yours.
Testimonials
Words from the people I've supported.
“My experience was profound. I'm still integrating it, but after our very first two hours together an overwhelming sense of peace and love swelled in my heart. I felt such calmness and am so appreciative of the space that you held for me, with zero judgement, and how the organisation of my family system has brought with it so many new awarenesses and healing. Thank you, Irina, for the gift of your presence and your knowledge and wisdom.”
Begin here
You don't have to have it all figured out.
Book a complimentary 20-minute Zoom conversation to ask questions and see whether we may be a good fit.
Ongoing sessions
60 minutes · A$150 · Online or in person in Castle Cove, NSW 2069
A gentle starting point
Many counselling clients begin with approximately six sessions, then we review progress together. Focused integration work may sometimes be shorter, depending on your needs and goals.
Cancellations
At least 24 hours' notice is requested. A fee of 70% may apply to late cancellations or missed appointments, with discretion for exceptional circumstances.
Initial conversation
20 minutes
Online · Complimentary
Submitting opens your email app with the details addressed to Irina. Please do not include sensitive health information.Prefer to write directly? irina.mcguinn@gmail.com