I'm a clinical counsellor, psychotherapist, group therapist, clinical supervisor and mental health educator. I have a deep, abiding belief that compassionate, pragmatic mental healthcare is a birthright.In my private practice at Sydney Addictions Recovery, I specialise in supporting individuals, couples and families who are impacted by addictive substances and behaviours, and complex mental health. In particular, I work with people affected by someone else's substance use or compulsive behaviours. This includes alcohol, drugs, prescription medication, nicotine, gambling and complex mental health diagnoses. I am a proud harm reductionist and abolitionist, and actively work to decolonise my practice while critiquing the dominant discourse around substance use, mental ill-health and treatment.In 2020, I founded Rough Patch - an affordable counselling service on Gadigal and Wangal country in so-called Sydney’s Inner West. Rough Patch exists to provide counselling and mental health supports to people who find it difficult to manage the ongoing costs of therapy. Our team of passionate counsellors believe in the power of therapy for healing, change and growth, and generously reduce their usual fees to work within our sliding fee scale. Rough Patch is the first of our kind in Australia, using a unique social enterprise model founded in Canada at Hard Feelings Mental Health.I provide training and consulting to other health practitioners, organisations and businesses who want to learn more about addiction harms and treatment, complex mental health care, compassion-based therapy and social justice oriented approaches. I'm also a casual academic at Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the University of Sydney, and a mental health trainer with PESI Au.Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked in music, film and television for 11 years. This helped me understand the unique stresses of non-traditional and high profile jobs. Much of my private practice work is with creative people or those who work in the entertainment industry, and often involves helping people navigate mental health or addiction challenges when doing creative jobs.You can read more about what I do at www.amberrules.com