http://www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au/

Forest Therapy Victoria, 148-150 Yarra Street, Warrandyte (2026)

29/05/2026

MGA Team member Profile: Kara Mansfield

Kara is the MGA Sexologist, with a special interest is sexual issues for women.

She is described as warm, empathetic, and understanding, drawing on her lived experience of chronic fatigue, neurodivergence, and the restorative benefits of nature therapy to inform her practice.

Kara takes an evidence-informed approach, integrating research-backed strategies alongside explorations of spirituality, meaningful rituals, and play as part of healing and personal growth. She is trained in Forest Therapy, offering one-on-one or group sessions, as well as Walk & Talk Therapy. At the core of her work is a strong commitment to client consent and autonomy. She is passionate about helping people access their inner strengths, fostering empowerment, self-advocacy, and emotional and relational skills so they can engage with the world in ways that feel meaningful to them.

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This post is part of a series profiling the services and team members of the MGA Group.

The MGA Group is made up of MGA Counselling Services, Forest Therapy Victoria, Nature Play 4 Kids and High Sensitivity Australia.

To make an enquiry for any of our services, please call 1300 38 50 20 or email [email protected]

www.mgacounselling.com.au www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au www.natureplay4kids.com.au www.highsensitivity.com.au

27/05/2026

MGA Team member Profile: Liza Costello

Liza works with people who are holding a lot—relationships, work, family, expectations, and the quieter “Who am I now?” questions that often surface during times of change. She has a particular focus on supporting women and brings over 10 years of experience in the mental health space, including roles across children and family services, case work, and Enhance Maternal and Child Health. This breadth of experience has given her a grounded, deeply human understanding of how anxiety, depression, and emotional overwhelm show up in everyday life.

Her style is warm, empathetic, and down-to-earth. She meets clients exactly where they’re at; no fixing, no rushing, no pressure to have the “right” words. Sessions offer a space to feel fully supported while gently making sense of what’s happening beneath the surface. There is room for honesty, depth, and even laughter— because therapy doesn’t have to feel heavy to be meaningful.

Her work is grounded in Emotion-Focused Therapy, supporting clients to explore and understand the emotional layers underneath anxiety, low mood, self-doubt, and relational stress. Together, the process is about slowing things down, tuning into what you’re feeling, and developing a more compassionate and empowering relationship with your inner world.

Outside the therapy room, Liza is a mum of toddler twins and a lover of nature. When her meagre backyard doesn’t quite offer the reset she needs, she heads off on forest explorations where the trees reliably remind her that growth is rarely neat or linear.

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This post is part of a series profiling the services and team members of the MGA Group.

The MGA Group is made up of MGA Counselling Services, Forest Therapy Victoria, Nature Play 4 Kids and High Sensitivity Australia.

To make an enquiry for any of our services, please call 1300 38 50 20 or email [email protected]

www.mgacounselling.com.au www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au www.natureplay4kids.com.au www.highsensitivity.com.au

25/05/2026

MGA Team member Profile: Rhiannon Ross

I first met Rhiannon on a Forest Therapy event I was running the Dandenongs. As we chatted afterwards, she told me she was studying counselling. A year or so later she was on placement with MGA and then joined the team.

Rhiannon is based at our Boronia rooms, but also utilises surrounding outdoor spaces.

She sees individuals of all ages.

From her bio on the website:

“Rhiannon’s experience with those suffering depression, anxiety, and trauma and her innate interest in humanity and the human condition, along with her gentle, inquisitive and friendly nature have driven her to pursue a career in psychotherapy.
Drawing from person-centred, existential and acceptance and commitment therapeutic approaches, Rhiannon strives to help people in the way they want to be helped, without judgement, through finding tools to cope with life’s stressors and ultimately generating holistic and sustainable change in their life outside of therapy.”

Rhiannon sees people in person and online.

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This post is part of a series profiling the services and team members of the MGA Group.

The MGA Group is made up of MGA Counselling Services, Forest Therapy Victoria, Nature Play 4 Kids and High Sensitivity Australia.

To make an enquiry for any of our services, please call 1300 38 50 20 or email [email protected]

www.mgacounselling.com.au www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au www.natureplay4kids.com.au www.highsensitivity.com.au

24/05/2026

The rain held off on Sunday morning and we enjoyed a Forest Therapy session at the Urban Forest in East Malvern. Asifa was my assistant and she introduced the session with her journey into the Forest Therapy space in Australia from the tropics of Mauritius.

These public event are not group therapy as such. Participants are not asked to share any of their own grief or trauma. They don't even have to share their name.

All that we ask is an openness to receive whatever nature has to offer int he moment.

Most of the time there are tears.

Often there is laughter.

There is always the deep breath out that comes with a reduction in cortisol (stress hormone) levels, and a sense of calm.

Forest Therapy Victoria will still be running public events during the cooler months, though the frequency will be reduced a little. One on one nature based counselling sessions will always be available, plus the journal is there for a year of self-guided Forest Therapy.

We've been doing wellbeing/team days for corporate organisations for a while, but we are currently working on some very exciting new partnerships to run some executive leadership wellbeing days that have not been attempted before.

I can't share too much, but as a hint, think of something really big in nature and make it small…

See you under the trees!

22/05/2026

MGA Team member Profile: Laura Cox

Laura joined the MGA team several years ago after completing her Masters of Counselling placement with MGA. With a background in Bush Adventure Therapy she aligned perfectly with our belief that the outdoors can bring significant healing to our clients.

Based in Boronia, but utilising many of the local parks and reserves, Laura sees individuals of all ages, including teens and children.

From her bio on the website:

"Believing strongly in people’s inherent capacity for change, Laura integrates various techniques in her sessions, drawing from Nature-Based Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Her practice offers both indoor and outdoor sessions, allowing for flexible and dynamic therapeutic experiences."

In recent months Laura has rebuilt our Nature Play 4 Kids Program from scratch and successfully launched it in April. NP4K provides school and Kinder programs, family events, public sessions, and 1 on 1 nature based counselling for kids.

Laura’s calm and gentle approach is often commented on by her clients. She is available for in person sessions and online.

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This post is part of a series profiling the services and team members of the MGA Group.

The MGA Group is made up of MGA Counselling Services, Forest Therapy Victoria, Nature Play 4 Kids and High Sensitivity Australia.

To make an enquiry for any of our services, please call 1300 38 50 20 or email [email protected]

www.mgacounselling.com.au www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au www.natureplay4kids.com.au www.highsensitivity.com.au

20/05/2026

MGA Team member Profile: Amanda Myring

If you like your counselling by the beach, Amanda is your go to person. Amanda has a wealth of experience in the public health and spirituality sector, and joined MGA in early 2023. She is based in Point Lonsdale on the Bellarine Peninsula and sees individuals and couples for face to face counselling or online.

Amanda has also done training in Forest Therapy and incorporates the coastal environment in her work when required. She runs public and private groups sessions and has some availability for corporate wellbeing and team days.

From her bio on the website:

Amanda Myring’s practice is rooted in a comprehensive understanding of the diverse nature of human experiences. With a compassionate and client-centred approach, she creates a safe and empathetic environment for individuals to explore their emotions and embark on a journey of healing. Amanda is committed to guiding clients through their immediate concerns with empathy and professional expertise.

Utilising evidence-based techniques and personalised therapeutic methods, Amanda assists individuals dealing with stress and anxiety in developing effective coping strategies that promote resilience and well-being. Her extensive experience as a counsellor and spiritual carer, particularly within cancer services and palliative care, has shaped her ability to help clients discover their inner strengths, understand their unique experiences, that fosters post-traumatic growth.

****

This post is part of a series profiling the services and team members of the MGA Group.

The MGA Group is made up of MGA Counselling Services, Forest Therapy Victoria, Nature Play 4 Kids and High Sensitivity Australia.

To make an enquiry for any of our services, please call 1300 38 50 20 or email [email protected]

12/05/2026

Out talking about the benefits of time in nature today with the team from Very Special Kids, at one of their "lunch and learn" sessions for staff.

It's probably no secret, but I love telling the stories of not only 'how' to connect with nature, but of the amazing stories that emerge when our clients 'do' connected with nature.

One of my favourites is the guy that went into the forest to meet with a tree. He didn't come out when the time was up, so we had to go and search for him.

We found him.

Standing on his feet.

Leaning back against his tree.

Sound asleep!

The teams from MGA Counselling Services, Forest Therapy Victoria, and Nature Play 4 Kids are available for public speaking at training days, community dinners and corporate events.

Get in touch if you're interested in having one of the team join your event.

We really do like telling the stories…

09/05/2026

We run our Forest Therapy Victoria public events in lots of different locations, but in the mountains is my favourite.

When the air is cool, the ground is wet from rain in the previous days, and there is mist in the air clouding the tress – that’s as close as perfect as you can get for me.

I think those conditions remind me of my childhood holidays in the Gramapians. We were always there in winter and often would hike to a peak only to be rewarded with a total white out from low lying clouds.

This morning I led a group of eight folk along the Coles Ridge track in the Dandenongs.

The conditions took me back to those early years.

The smell of freshness.

The cool of an ‘almost winter’ morning in the mountains.

The peaceful solitude that comes with having the place to your self.

I arrived early to do the last risk assessment before the event. I’ll admit there was part of me that hoped nobody would show up so I could wander alone with my thoughts and memories.

But everybody arrived. I’m glad they did.

For the next three hours we wandered our way through slowness and stillness, stopping occasionally to do a mindful or sensory exercise, finishing with nature art and the tea ceremony.

The conversations afterwards were rich.

Nobody really wanted to leave.

But slowly folk drifted off, some to re-engage with home life. Others to wander the trails on their own for a bit longer.

But before he left, one guy came over to shake my hand.

“Now it all makes sense. Thank you”

I’m not sure what he meant. It doesn’t matter.

Something fell into place for him as he sat under the tree.

05/05/2026

Mother's Day is this coming Sunday!

Forest Therapy Victoria has planned a special Forest Therapy experience led by Liza Costello at the Edgars Creek Parklands in Coburg. It's a time for Mums to enjoy three hours of time in nature, free from life's normal pressures.

Bring Mum along to experience a series of sensory, mindful and creative activities designed to help her relax, unwind and refill the tank.

Discounted Forest Therapy Journals are also available for that something extra for Mum.

But don't just buy her a ticket - she will want to do this WITH you.

Come along with Mum, celebrate Mother's Day, experience the health benefits, and make some beautiful memories together.

Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/forest-therapy-mothers-day-experience-edgars-creek-parkland-tickets-1987799549964

30/04/2026

I didn’t set out to become a counsellor.

Like many journeys that end up meaning something, mine began somewhere else entirely—working as a technical officer, then years in pastoral care, walking alongside people in some of their hardest moments.

Sitting with grief. Showing up after crisis. Listening to stories that didn’t have easy answers.

Over time, something kept tugging at me.

A sense that there was more to this work of sitting with people… that there were deeper ways to help them reconnect with themselves, with others, and with something beyond the noise of everyday life.

That’s what led me into counselling.

MGA Counselling Services grew out of that desire—to create a space where people could feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported.

Not rushed.

Not fixed.

Just met, as they are.

But even that wasn’t the whole story.

I began to notice that some of the most powerful moments in counselling didn’t happen in the room.

They happened outside. Walking slowly. Sitting under trees. Letting the natural world do what it does so well—ground us, soften us, remind us that we belong.

That’s where Forest Therapy Victoria was born.

Nature Play 4 Kids followed a few years later. COVID stunted its growth though.

And alongside that, Life Therapies Victoria and High Sensitivity Australia emerged as a broader expressions of the same heart: supporting people through life’s complexity with care, curiosity, and practical tools for change.

These spaces—MGA, FTV, NP4K, HSA and Life Therapies—aren’t separate things to me.

They’re different expressions of the same calling.

To walk alongside people.

To help make sense of pain, grief, and growth.

To create spaces where people can breathe again.

Looking back, none of it feels accidental.

Each step—every role, every conversation, every challenge—has shaped the way I work today.

And I’m still learning.

Still listening.

Still walking.

www.mgacounselling.com.au
www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au
www.natureplay4kids.com.au
www.highsensitivity.com.au
www.lifetherapiesvictoria.com.au

28/04/2026

Our first Forest Family event for Nature Play 4 Kids is on this coming Sunday (3rd May) at 9:30am, Warrien Reserve in Croydon North. This will be fun, but it’s more than that.

This will be educational, but it’s more than that.

Our Forest Family program is about connection. Connection with nature, with each other, and with a greater sense of wellbeing.

All of our NP4K programs have been designed from scratch, drawing on our years of experience in the counselling space with MGA Counselling Services, and in nature with Forest Therapy Victoria. The aim is to enhance creativity, enhance wellbeing, facilitate better regulation, stress management and anxiety levels.

And help families make this a normal part of their weekly rhythm.

The central philosophy of NP4K is “Bring nothing. Leave with Everything”.

You won’t need to bring lots of equipment, or spend hours preparing activities. Nature will dictate what we do and how we do it.

Our guides will teach families to do the same.

Come and join us this Sunday for “Forest Families” or join one of our other events in the coming months.

Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/forest-family-event

www.natureplay4kids.com.au
www.foresttherapyvictoria.com.au
www.mgacounselling.com.au

Forest Therapy Victoria

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