Across Life Counselling
Offering a safe, compassionate and personalised pathway towards connection, clarity and healing.
Ways We Can Work Together
Individual Counselling
One-to-one counselling centred on your unique story and concerns. I walk alongside you, offering a compassionate, listening presence to help you make sense of your challenges — past, present, and future. Together, we shape a pathway forward that reflects your values, strengths, resources, and goals, helping you overcome barriers and thrive.
Relationship Counselling
If you're feeling disconnected or stuck, I offer a safe, neutral space for you and your partner to explore challenges and strengthen your relationship. Together, we work toward shared goals like improving communication, resolving conflicts, and deepening emotional connection to help your relationship grow and flourish.
Premarital Counselling
Premarital counselling at Across Life offers a supportive space to explore your relationship and strengthen your connection before marriage. We cover important topics like communication, conflict resolution, emotional intimacy, values, and shared goals — helping you build a strong foundation for a lasting, fulfilling partnership.
Group Counselling
Sometimes the best growth and healing happens in community. Join other like minded people navigating similar life challenges. Online and in-person groups are supported and guided in mutual sharing, exploration, learning, and growth. Topics may include self-compassion, boundaries, life transitions, slow living for overworked women, recovering from perfectionism, or healing from grief and loss. Groups are offered based on interest and community need.
Trauma-Informed, Culturally-Sensitive, Personalised & Holistic
I provide a safe, non judgemental, and inclusive space that honours your cultural background, identity and lived experience. Diversity is deeply respected, and you are always welcomed as your whole self.
Any trauma is approached through through best-practice trauma-informed care. I work together with you, tailoring therapy suited to your unique personality, preferences, needs, and goals.
In-Person, Online, & Phone Counselling
Counselling is available in-person, online, or by phone — flexible options to suit your lifestyle and needs. Each mode offers the same high-quality, personalised care, ensuring you feel supported no matter where you are.
About me
Hi, I wholeheartedly welcome you to Across Life.
My name is Snezana, though many people call me Snez, and I’m happy for you to do the same. I’m a qualified counsellor with over 25 years of experience supporting people in pastoral, spiritual care, and mental health settings. My approach is trauma-informed, person-centred, and always tailored to your unique needs, drawing from a variety of therapeutic models. I believe healing happens in relationship—when we feel safe enough to explore our concerns, uncover our strengths, and imagine new possibilities.
For most of my life, I’ve felt called to walk alongside people who are feeling lost, stressed, or overwhelmed. With a migrant background, I understand the complexities of cultural identity, connection, and diversity, and I aim to create a culturally respectful space where clients can explore transitions, meaning, and their place in the world.
Earlier in life, I worked as a Landcare officer, homeschooled my daughters, and held volunteer leadership roles in pastoral care. These experiences have deepened my understanding of environmental grief, caregiver stress, and the inner strength it takes to support others while still holding space for your own needs. Alongside my lived experience with chronic illness, I bring compassion and insight into what it means to live with challenges that may not be visible to others.
Outside of counselling, I enjoy being a grandmother, reading widely, and spending time in nature. I also value the healing power of humour and enjoy incorporating therapeutic playfulness in ways that feel safe and authentic for you. You’ll often find me winding down with an *ASMR video, grounding myself in small, sensory moments. I understand how healing is often found in these quiet and seemingly ordinary ways—and I’m here to walk with you at your own pace.
*Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR): tingly sensations from auditory and visual stimuli that can be accompanied by feelings of relaxation, rest, and wellbeing.
Professional Recommendations
Your First Step Begins Here
Curious about counselling?
Let’s connect for a free 20-minute call — no pressure, just space to talk and explore if Across Life counselling feels right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
At Across Life, I want you to feel informed, supported, and comfortable as you explore your next steps. Here are some common questions people ask, but if you have others please feel free to contact me.
Disclaimer: The counselling services provided by Across Life are not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care. If you are in crisis or require urgent mental health support, please contact emergency services or a 24/7 crisis line such as Lifeline on 13 11 14
Your first session is a chance to get to know each other, discuss what has brought you to counselling, and explore how we might work together. It's a safe, supportive space, there’s no pressure to share more than you’re ready to.
Yes! I offer a free 20-minute connection call. It’s a relaxed, no-obligation conversation where we can talk about what’s bringing you to counselling, answer any questions you have, and see if it feels like a good fit to work together.
This is not a counselling session, but a chance for you to feel heard, supported, and informed before making a decision. You can book a connection call on the Contact Us page.
Each session typically lasts around 50 minutes.
Relationship and premarital counselling often require longer sessions of 80 minutes.
We can discuss your needs and adjust where appropriate.
It depends on your goals and your unique situation. As a starting point, I often recommend weekly sessions to help build momentum in your healing journey. Over time, we’ll check in together and, as you begin to feel more confident and develop helpful strategies, we may gradually space sessions to fortnightly or monthly.
Rest assured, we’ll always work together to find a rhythm that suits you best.
I aim to make counselling as accessible as possible, and you’ll find my rates are intentionally kept competitive:
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Individual sessions (50 minutes): $85
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Couples sessions (80 minutes): $130
A limited number of concession rates may be available in certain situations — feel welcome to ask during your enquiry or free connection call.
A discount is available when booking a block of six sessions in advance. Please enquire if you’d like to explore this option.
Payment is by bank transfer and is expected prior to each session.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes, I ask for at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice may incur the full session fee, unless there are exceptional or unforeseen circumstances. I understand that life can be unpredictable, please contact me if you run into difficulties.
Yes. Everything you share is confidential except for a few exceptions that cover my legal and professional obligations. We will discuss confidentiality and its limits before starting.
I support people in all stages of life and across a range of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma recovery, grief, life changes, relationship challenges, and building self-confidence.
I use an integrated approach tailored to each client. I often draw from therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, somatic (body-based), expressive arts, narrative and strengths-based. As an important foundation, I practice a person-centred, culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed care.
Yes! I offer secure online counselling as well as in-person sessions, so you can choose what suits you best.
No referral is needed. You are welcome to contact me directly to arrange an appointment.
Counsellors, psychologists, and psychiatrists all support mental health but with certain differences:
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Counsellors offer emotional support and practical strategies for life’s challenges.
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Psychologists can formally assess and diagnose mental health conditions.
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Psychiatrists are medical specialists who diagnose conditions and prescribe medication.
Each plays an important role and sometimes work together depending on your needs.
In Australia, Medicare rebates are available for psychologists but not (yet) for counsellors. However, even with a rebate, the "gap payment" for seeing a psychologist often ends up being similar to — or even higher than — the full fee for counselling.
Counselling offers flexible, tailored support without needing a referral or formal diagnosis, and is often more cost-effective and accessible.
If you’re unsure which path is right for you, I’m happy to have a chat and support you in making a decision that best suits your needs. Your wellbeing is the priority, and it's important you feel safe, heard, and supported — wherever you choose to begin.
Qualifications, Experience, & Counselling Philosophy
Grounded in quality care. Guided by lived experience.
Snezana Cook (also known as Snez) brings together high-quality, trauma-informed care with a lived understanding of cultural challenges, keen environmental awareness, pastoral and spiritual care (25+ years), health limitations (20 years), parenting, homeschooling (15 years), and personal transformation. She works holistically and collaboratively, tailoring each session to support your needs, values, and goals. At the heart of her work is a belief in the healing power of being truly heard—in a space that feels safe, inclusive, and affirming.
Snezana holds a Diploma, Advanced Diploma, and Bachelor of Counselling. She is a registered Level 2 Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and abides by their Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
She regularly participates in professional supervision and ongoing professional development, engaging with the latest research and best-practice training to offer the highest standard of care.
Her experience spans both private practice and community mental health settings, working with individuals from diverse cultural and life backgrounds.
Snezana integrates a range of evidence-based counselling approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness practices, somatic (movement-based) methods, expressive arts, narrative therapy, and strength-based modalities—tailored to the needs of each unique client.
Her work is grounded in person-centred, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and whole-person care.
She supports clients with a variety of concerns, including stress, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, grief, and trauma recovery, among others.
See "What Guides Across Life?" for more information.
What Guides Across Life?
My Vision, Mission, & Values
Vision
To offer a safe and compassionate space where individuals can reconnect with themselves and others, find clarity during life’s transitions, and move toward healing and meaningful change—at their own pace.
Mission
To walk alongside people experiencing stress, loss, cultural disconnection, or emotional overwhelm, offering trauma-informed, culturally respectful counselling that honours each person’s story and draws from a range of therapeutic approaches.
Core Values
Respect Every person deserves to be met with dignity, cultural sensitivity, and care.
Safety Emotional safety is the foundation for healing. I strive to create a warm, grounded space where you feel seen, heard, and supported.
Connection Healing happens in relationship. I value real, human connection and place importance on being genuine, empathetic, and non-judgemental.
Empowerment You are the expert in your own life. I support you in discovering your inner strengths and integrating tools, resources, and practices that align with your values.
Compassion My work is grounded in kindness, patience, and deep respect for the courage it takes to seek support.
Authenticity I bring my whole self—lived experience, humour, insight, and creativity—into the counselling space in ways that feel safe and attuned to your needs.
Contact Us
About Across Life
Across Life was founded to provide a compassionate and personalised trauma-informed counselling service by integrating therapeutic approaches to reflect your preferences, personality, needs, culture, and goals. At Across Life Snez draws from cognitive, behavioural, mindfulness, somatic (utilising body movement), and expressive therapies. However, the main focus is always on the client and their story—ensuring safety, building a trusting relationship, discovering untapped resources and skills, and charting a healing pathway that promotes growth and enhanced wellbeing.
Disclaimer: The counselling services provided by Across Life are not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care. If you are in crisis or require urgent mental health support, please contact emergency services or a 24/7 crisis line such as Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Resources Page Coming Soon
Across Life Counselling
Cross-culturally sensitive and trauma-informed counselling that embraces a diverse range of life stages, changes, circumstances, concerns, and challenges.
