About Sara

Sara Phillips

Counsellor / IFS-Informed Therapist (Internal Family Systems Therapy) /Coach

Please note: This website is under development Feb 2026

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with PACFA and Level 4 Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor with ACA based in Hobart, seeing clients in person at Battery Point and West Moonah, and online from across Australia. I was also a Certified Coach for 5 years (registered with the International Coach Federation 2018-2023). To read more about the type of counselling / coaching / Internal Family Systems Therapy I provide read more here.

Photo of Sara Phillips Counsellor Coach IFS-Informed Therapist in Hobart, Battery Point, Lindisfarne and West Moonah

I am passionate about healing all of our parts so we can all live life more fully from our essence/true Self. Internal Family Systems (IFS) for me is a life practice, a spiritual practice as well as a healing journey. Internal Family Systems gave me the umbrella that holds all of the other modalities I have learned, such as mindfulness, NLP, ACT.

IFS is a loving way of relating internally (to your parts) and externally (to the people in your life), so in that sense, IFS is a life practice, as well. It’s something you can do on a daily, moment-to-moment basis—at any time, by yourself or with others.”
― Richard C. Schwartz, No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model

I combine my love of therapy with my love of connecting with earth in every therapy session. I am a Deep Ecology Facilitator, a Climate Aware Practitioner with Psychology for a Safe Climate and I follow deeply the Work that Reconnects / Active Hope and Wild Mind / Nature and the Human Soul / SoulCraft (Bill Plotkin, Animus Valley and SoulCraft ANZ). I also have Celtic Ancestral Roots and resonate deeply with the Celtic Wisdom in Sacred Soul Sacred Earth by John PhilipNewell and the Sacred Rituals of Grief shared in Francis Weller’s book The Wild Edge of Sorrow.

_{We know things in the core of our being that we have not necessarily been taught, and some of this deep knowing may actually be at odds with what our society or religion has tried to teach us. This book is about reawakening to what we know in the depths of our being, that Earth is sacred and that this sacredness is at the heart of every human being and life-form. To awaken again to this deep knowing is to be transformed in the ways we choose to live and relate and act.”}

_{– John Philip Newell, Sacred Earth Sacred Soul, 2021}

Background/Experience:

I remember reading once from Oriah Mountain Dreamer – the author of The Invitation (my favourite poem!) that our career paths, all the twists and turns, only make sense in hindsight and this is so true for me! I can see now that each twist and turn on my career path has been about wanting to work more with the whole person, holistically!

I began my career working with children (preschool to school age) and their parents as a Speech Pathologist then as a primary school Teacher (briefly!) then as a Coordinator for a Birth and Parenting Centre and as a Family Support Worker. I worked in the following places; Albany WA, Townsville QLD, Kununurra WA, Hobart, Tas, Alice Springs NT and Port Macquarie NSW. I realise now that I love variety and I love working eclectically from many modalities to support others in their healing and learning.

In 2015 I studied to be a Solution Focussed and NLP Coach and from 2015-2018 I ran Mindful Parenting Mindful Coaching working 1:1 with parents / grandparents / foster carers and in groups / workshops such as Bringing Up Great Kids, Positive Discipline, How to Talk So Your Kids Will Listen and Raising Resilient Teens.

And yet I still craved to work more with the whole person, holistically, and so I completed my Master of Counselling at Monash in 2020 and as I studied I worked with teenagers as a Youth Mental Health Clinician and Therapeutic Groups Facilitator at headspace and as a Relationships Counsellor at Interrelate both in Port Macquarie NSW.

In June 2021 I began working as a Counsellor in private practice in Port Macquarie and in May 2024 I moved back to my soul home Hobart where I now see clients online and at Battery Point and West Moonah!

Photo of Sara Phillips waling a labyrinth Counsellor Coach IFS-Informed Therapist in Hobart, Battery Point, Lindisfarne and West Moonah

My Personal Favourite Daily Mindfulness Practices:

Stream of consciousness journalling
Journalling with my parts
10 minute recorded meditation (my favourite right now are music & mantras with Deepak Chopra)
Eco Soul Wander – listening to Earth and her more than human beings
Mindfulness Walk / Swim
Shower affirmations
Art Journalling
Hug until relaxed
Dance / Free Movement
New Moon & Full Moon Labyrinth / Celebration / Ceremony
Experimental Threshold Crossings

I write about my mindfulness journey here: https://deepheartwisdom.com/2015/08/27/my-mindfulness-journey/

_{Innocently immersing yourself in nature, you will discover in time that nature reflects your soul…”}
_{Bill Plotkin SoulCraft}

Deep Eco Soul Wisdom Studio where Sara Phillips, Counsellor and Coach sees clients.

In 2026 I’m Reading or Listening to:

Wise Power: Discover the Liberating Power of Menopause to Awaken Authority, Purpose and Belonging by Alexandra Pope and Sjarne Hugo-Wurlitzer
Second Spring by Kate Codrington

In 2025 I’m Reading or Listening to:

Dr Em The Imperfects Podcast on Communication, Midlife , Health Anxiety, Belonging, Goals
People Pleasing and the Fawn Response with Meg Josephson on Being Well podcast
You’re not broken, a clients story with IFS on The One Inside Podcast
A Self-Led approach to numbing out on The One Inside Podcast
When Midlife interrupts your quest to save the world: https://youtu.be/_W8BQEA3te0?si=S25_m-wCges-yLM-
Parenting Parts & Repair on The One Inside Podcast
What Psychedelics taught Glennon on We Can Do Hard Things
Liz Gilbert on Loving without Losing Yourself on We Can Do Hard Things
Are you Mad At Me? By Meg Josephson
Grief Recovery Handbook by James and Friedman
Gabor Mate on Transforming Trauma on the Conversations Podcast
Is it trauma or neurodivergence with Irina on The One Inside Podcast.
Dr Em on Hope and Values and How to be leaned on on the Imperfects Podcast.
Rick Kahler, Befriending Your Financial System on the One Inside Podcast
Rick Kahler, Who is really running your finances? Financial Therapy Podcast
Bronnie Ware, Your Future Regrets, The Imperfects Podcast
Sarah Bergenfield, IFS and Autism, IFS Talks Podcast
How to fall in love with humanity: 16 life-changing practices for radical compassion by James Fish Gill.
Self-Led Parenting with Chris Parrot and Susan Bauerfield on The One Inside Podcast

In 2024 I’m Reading or Listening to:

Dr Em’s monthly episodes on the Imperfects Podcast on Boundaries, The Risk of Avoiding Risk, Joy and Social Anxiety
We can do Hard Things Podcast with Glennon Doyle on IFS.
Biomimicry; an operating manual for Earthlings with Janine Benyus on On Being Podcast.
IFS and Climate Change with Steffi Bednarek on the One Inside Podcast
IFS and Attachment with David Eckel on the One Inside Podcast
The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller
Francis Weller and Thomas Hubl Podcast on Collective Grief in Community: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7AUJIiuiw8zvRNv8YnGxSu?si=h95ZgMcPRBi5_TtxyeHosw
Sacred Earth Sacred Soul by John Philip Newell
Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm by Stephen Harrod Buhner
The Work that Reconnects Webinars
The Others Within Us: Internal Family Systems, Porous Minds… by Rob Falconer
Come Together: the science and art of creating lasting sexual connections by Emily Nagoski
Brene Brown’s Atlas of Emotions (a reread – so much to learn!)
Nature and the Human Soul by Bill Plotkin (Another re-read – such depth in this book).
Emotionally Immature People Podcasts by Lindsay C Gibson
How to turn climate anxiety into action TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/renee_lertzman_how_to_turn_climate_anxiety_into_action?subtitle=en

Training in 2026:

Ancestral Lineage Healing Course with Ancestral Medicine
Dark Alchemy of Embodied Prayer: Griefs and Gift bearing Intensive Kangaroo Valley with SoulCraft Australia and NZ
PACFA Presentation on IFS and the Nervous System

Training in 2025:

ACA Accredited Individual and Group Supervision Course
Trauma Informed Supervision PESI
Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy – working with parts through the body Seminar with Sonia Milohanic
To Forgive or Not to Forgive: Releasing the Pain of Emotional Trauma IFS Seminar with Frank Anderson
IFS-informed Journal Writing – Skills to deepen relationships of our inner parts Seminar with Leonie Dawson
Advanced IFS and Polyvagal Theory: Healing Through Compassionate Connection with Dr Alexia Rothman
Clay Field Therapy PACFA
Intro to Ennagram PACFA

Training in 2024:

Cultural Capability Training (June 2025) Migrant Resource Centre Training
Advanced Nature-Based Expressive Arts Therapy: Healing Trauma and Grief through Nature with Cathy Malchiodi and Elizabeth Warson
IFIO: Intimacy for the Inside Out, IFS Couples Therapy Training – 6 months accredited program with the IFS Institute.
PESI IFS and Attachment Courses with Frank Anderson and Loranie Leas
Emotionally Immature People with Lindsay C Gibson on PESI
Council and the Art of Mirroring Intensive with SoulCraft ANZ and Brian Stafford (Soul Guide) Nov 2024
Soul Mentoring with Brian Stafford, Animus Valley
First Aid Refresher in July 2024

Read more about recommended resources from 2021-2023 here.

NEW LOCATION: Tas Ethical Building, 86 Hampden Road, Battery Point, near Hobart CBD, plenty of parking available. A new studio in West Moonah is now ready with easy to access nature sessions around Cornelian Bay, Battery Point and Lenah Valley available.

My Purpose:

My Soul Purpose is two-fold:

to listen deeply to my own inner ecosystem and the ecosystem around me, to understand the next right step to care for my Self and parts and to care for my family, community and earth around me in a restorative and regnenerative way.
to support and guide you to listen deeply to your own inner ecosystem (Self and parts) and the ecosystem of your family / community / earth around you to understand the next right step for you in your journey to care for your Self and parts and your family / community / earth around you in a restorative and regnenerative way.

_{the goal of life is to match your heartbeat with the beat of the Universe, to match your nature with nature.”}
_{Joseph Campbell}

Calling Hobart Home

I first arrived in Hobart in 1996 in October to volunteer at the Wilderness Society for a few weeks, and it snowed in November which my warm Kimberley WA blood did not cope with! I was fascinated to meet a tribe of like-minded people at the coldest beach party I had ever experienced and I saw snow on the Mountain for the first time – I began to fall in love with Tassie, her wild beings and her wild people! I was 24! Read more here.

Lived Experience

When I was 13, and 18 I realise now that I had undiagnosed anxiety/depression, and when I was 27 I was diagnosed with postnatal depression with my first baby. It has been a life-long journey to understand my nervous system, and what I need to not feel anxious or depressed and why I find important life transitions so difficult as I feel things so deeply.

I now understand that I have many parts that are highly sensitive, empathic, perfectionistic, (who love overfunctioning and rescuing / people pleasing), and many exiled parts with attachment wounds….. This has steered me on the course to understand and to heal my individual parts to live more in Self / Soul and to understand and begin to heal the collective wounds from our society and from the ancestral lineage that lives within me.

Throughout my whole journey, even as a young child, Mother Earth supported me, (my favourite thing to do was to climb trees and listen to them talk to me) and it is Mother Earth that has been the biggest healer and guide or deep wisdom for me. I am also deeply grateful to all the healers, in all their forms, who have supported me on my journey.

I have personally found that combining IFS, The Journey of Soul Initiation (Bill Plotkin), the sacred work of grief (Francis Weller) and Deep Ecology/The Work that Reconnects with nature-based, expressive art therapies so deeply healing and energising, restoring my hope and ability to take small Soul-led / Self-led actions. I can’t wait to share it with you!

I look forward to hearing from you and getting to know your story, all the twists and turns that have brought you here to this moment in time 🙂

Photo of Sara Phillips with her four children Counsellor Coach IFS-Informed Therapist in Hobart, Battery Point, Lindisfarne and West Moonah — Group hugs in my family aren’t so easy anymore!!

_{We long to discover the secrets and mysteries of our individual lives to find out unique way of belonging to this world….to recover the treasure we were born to bring to our communities….to experience our oneness with the Universe.”}
_{Bill Plotkin author of Soulcraft}