Next Door Counselling & Consultation

Home
Australia
Mornington, VIC
Next Door Counselling & Consultation

Next Door Counselling & Consultation provides specialised Mental Health Support to adults and seniors. Mental Health Service

Based on the Mornington Peninsula we consult in Mornington, Frankston and Capel Sound with Telehealth options also available.

17/03/2026

When I was younger, I worked in a deli. One day, while I was slicing meat, a colleague said to me, “You’re a thinker, Hannah.”

That comment stayed with me. I think because in that moment, she saw something in me that I didn’t quite see in myself…yet.

Over the past 18 years, I’ve worked in many fields of Social Work, each shaping me in different ways. But now working in private practice, I feel truly at home.

Why? Because I can listen and think freely.

I’m not just hearing you in the moment. I’m holding onto the parts of your story you shared five sessions ago, gently connecting them to how you’re feeling today. I’m noticing the patterns, the shifts and the meaning, sometimes even before you can put words to them.

That’s why I consider this work, a privilege.

I love being a Mental Health Social Worker and I feel deeply honoured to sit in the room with you, to hear your story and to walk alongside you as it unfolds.

Happy World Social Work Day 🤍

Hannah

04/03/2026

🌷Quiet looks different for all of us. But it’s vital.

Lately, I’ve been speaking with many of you who are exhausted. You’re caring for others. Pushing harder at work. Trying to untangle complex relationships. Battling financial pressure. And some of you are feeling genuinely scared about the state of the world right now.

When we talk about exhaustion, I often ask: “What percentage are you at?” Someone said to me recently, “Minus 100%.”

We both giggled but I understood what they meant. At –100%, you’re not just tired. You’re switched off. Numb. Running on fumes. And when someone is that depleted, traditional talk therapy isn’t where we start. We go back to basics.

I ask: “How do you recharge your battery?”

For me, it’s wandering through the plant section at Bunnings. Just me, my thoughts and dreams about the spaces I want to create in my backyard. It’s simple. It’s quiet. It fills me up in a small but steady way.

For some people, even the question “What recharges you?” feels too hard. So i ask..

Where can you exhale?
What feels even slightly enjoyable?
When do you feel a tiny bit more like yourself?

That’s where we begin. Not with fixing. Not with analysing. But with reconnecting.

If you are at -100%, you are not alone. Sometimes just telling someone that you have nothing left in your battery is the first step foward.

There is always space at NDC, whether by phone, zoom or in person.

See you soon- Hannah and the NDC Team
Www.nextdoorcounselling.com.au

01/03/2026

NDC continues to grow and there are quite a few new faces here. So, I thought it was time to reintroduce myself!

I’m Hannah, a Mental Health Social Worker and the founder of Next Door Counselling & Consultation. I work with adults and seniors who feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or are quietly struggling.

Alongside counselling, I also offer dementia support and consultation for individuals and families navigating cognitive change.

NDC is for everyone. From those who have never accessed therapy before to those who are familiar. However you arrived here, I’m glad you’re here, welcome ☺️.

More info at www.nextdoorcounselling.com.au

14/02/2026

Valentine’s Day can be a beautiful day.
But it can also be a hard one.

For some, today sits alongside Christmas, Easter and Birthdays. The days that can highlight loneliness, difference, grief, or the feeling of being forgotten.

There are some people who feel empowered today. Some feel loved up and some are living their best life.
However, some are quietly holding memories of people they’ve lost, relationships that ended, or the ache of wondering if love will ever come.

I’ve been in both camps.

Many years ago, I remember sitting on the beach with my little babies, wondering if I would ever find a safe or unconditional love.

And here I am in 2026, sitting on the beach with my children and my new husband, feeling deeply grateful that I did.

So today I wondered… what should I write?

And the answer I came back to was this:
Maybe the greatest gift we can give ourselves isn’t a post about love but the practice of self-love.

The grace to allow ourselves to feel whatever it is we feel today. And the courage to step into tomorrow with fresh hope.

So if today feels heavy, I hope you know this:
🙏 You are not alone.
🙏 You are seen.
🙏 You matter.

Hannah 💫
❤️

05/02/2026

The team at Umbrella Family Law asked me to share a conflict resolution tip, in honor of their “Fight Free February” initiative.

I chose to speak on Conflict Resolution when there is No Agreement. We know that conflict is very often messy, hurtful and hard. In therapy we talk about how to keep yourself safe, how to react in a healthy way and how to move forward even when it feels impossible!

You can read more at https://www.facebook.com/share/1DCKe12bX4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

25/01/2026

Yesterday we celebrated a very special milestone, my Grandmother’s 90th birthday! What an incredible achievement.

Throughout her life, she has done so much and continues to stay engaged, keeping up with current affairs, family updates and enjoying nothing more than a simple cup of coffee. ☕

Next Door Counselling is inspired by that very spirit, the warmth of popping next door for a cuppa, sharing stories and welcoming others in. Grandma’s home has always been a place of connection, reminding us to cherish every moment we have. 💛

Here’s to celebrating life, connection and the simple joys that bring us together.

18/01/2026

Yesterday I took my children to the Tooradin Tractor Pull. I used to be the kid watching in Quambatook, so it felt pretty special to come full circle.

As I stood there, smelling diesel in the air and watching tractor after tractor attempt to pull the same heavy load, I couldn’t stop thinking about my work.

We all start strong and give it everything we’ve got.
And then sometimes, the front wheels lift and you cannot move forward anymore.

I see this all the time in my therapy room.

People who have been carrying far too much for far too long. People who are exhausted, cognitively overwhelmed and still telling themselves they should be able to keep going.

Sometimes our bodies force us to stop not because we’re weak but because the load has become too heavy.

Maybe this is how you feel, stuck and unsure if its burnout but you know something is ‘off.’

As we move into 2026, I keep coming back to this question: What are you still carrying that doesn’t need to come with you into the new year?

If you need space to pause, make sense of the weight you’ve been carrying and work out what comes next my door is always open.

Sometimes, just like these epic tractors, we are forced to stop and thats ok.

See the booking link in my bio to make an appointment ☺️

11/01/2026

After a Bushfire Disaster its likely that you are feeling a whole lot of emotions at once, or you may feel nothing at all. There is no right way to process disaster but here are 4 strategies to help you cope with the huge mental load.

1. Be gentle with yourself.
When the smoke clears, many people spend days learning what has been lost for themselves, those they love and their wider community. This constant stream of information is heavy and it affects everyone differently.
If you need to keep working, stay busy, gather all the information, withdraw, rest, or even go away for a while, allowing yourself the space to do what YOU need is okay. There is no right or wrong response.

2. Connect with supports available.
Help is coming. Disaster recovery services and government supports are designed to ease some of the pressure and allow your brain to take a breather.
Connecting with services on the ground and accessing financial or practical assistance can reduce overwhelm. For up to date government support and local services, visit your local council website. Disaster recovery crews are there to help.

3. Understand the shift from survival to grief.
After a traumatic event, our brains often move into survival mode, running on adrenaline. For a time, this can help us get through. When that adrenaline wears off, grief can arrive suddenly and feel overwhelming.
This is where connection matters. Reaching out to friends, family, neighbours, local supports, or your GP can help share the mental load. It may not feel comfortable at first but it can help you stay grounded and supported.

4. Do not forget the basics, especially yourself.
Amid recovery, essential needs like eating, sleeping and attending to your own health can easily slip into the background. Try to remember that recovery is a staged process and you are needed, for yourself and for others. Small, consistent acts of self care matter.

We all experience disaster trauma differently but these strategies are not limited by time, place, or gender. Recovery is one day, one step at a time.

Standing with you- Hannah and the NDC Team.

10/01/2026

Many of you may not know that I spent several years working in Disaster Recovery. It is a chapter of my life I still hold very close to my heart.

I walked across our great land, from flooded paddocks to burnt bushland, supporting farmers, families, local communities and first responders. What stayed with me most was the understanding of the word impacted.

In disaster recovery, we knew that you did not have to be the person who lost everything to be impacted. If you lived in the town, worked alongside those who were hurting, responded to the emergency, or loved someone who lost their home or livelihood, you were impacted too.

That understanding still guides my work today.

So however this post finds you, please know this. Your feelings matter and they are valid. You do not have to minimise your experience or carry it alone.

If you need someone to talk to, our door is always open. We offer telehealth and phone support, with immediate availability.

You do not have to wait until things feel unbearable to reach out.

Please stay safe out there wnd take care.
Hannah and the Next Door team. 🙏

08/01/2026

💭 Narcissism in Families and Relationships

I see many clients who’ve been impacted by narcissistic parents or partners. It’s more common than people think and while the term gets thrown around loosely, many don’t really know what it means.

When we explore communication patterns, feelings and changes in relationships, it often becomes clear that traits of a narcissistic personality are at play in the background.

And I’m here to tell you: NO, you are not crazy.

Understanding Narcissism can help you:

Recognise unhealthy patterns

Set boundaries with confidence

Heal from repeated emotional abuse

Rebuild relationships that are safe and supportive

Awareness isn’t about labeling, it’s about giving yourself clarity, tools and space to protect your mental health and wellbeing.

If you are feeling unsure, reach out today. Together we will find a path forward.

03/01/2026

The kids were trying to teach me a new game that’s been doing the rounds on Instagram and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t do it without snorting flour everywhere 🤣

It reminded me of the long battles we often find ourselves in. Even with focus, effort and good intentions, sometimes we just can’t do the thing we’re trying so hard to do.

And that’s not failure. It’s a very human limit. Sometimes the work is noticing, softening and letting ourselves laugh, rather than pushing harder.

So if you’re setting 2026 goals, remember to be gentle. Allow the laughter and give yourself permission to enter the new year at your own pace.

We have limited sessions remaining for Jan. NOW booking into February. ✨

See you soon,
Hannah

Address

Mornington, VIC
3931

Website

http://www.nextdoorcounselling.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Next Door Counselling & Consultation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Next Door Counselling & Consultation:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Mornington?