Rosalie Cocchiaro (Trauma Counsellor & Psychotherapist)

Rosalie completed her Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Adelaide where she was awarded most outstanding graduate in clinical trauma by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.

Rosalie is passionate about supporting clients through a wide range of concerns associated with trauma, grief and loss. This includes emotional overwhelm, stress, relationship and family challenges, fertility support, miscarriage, coercive control and abuse, and major life transitions.

Rosalie also has experience working with women impacted by domestic and family violence, and is passionate about creating a safe, supportive space where people feel truly heard and understood.

She works collaboratively with clients to strengthen resilience, self- belief, and compassion; working with them to navigate challenges with greater confidence and clarity.

Her approach is person-centred and holistic, shaped by her own lived experience, clinical training, and her background as a clinical Pilates therapist.

When not at Her, Rosalie can be found Flamenco dancing, travelling, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Enquire with her about
booking a consultation

Accreditations

Master Counselling and Psychotherapy (Clinical trauma specialisation) (PACFA, ACA)
Master Criminology
Bachelor Psychology
Diploma of Contemporary Pilates and Teaching

FAQs

What can I see Rosalie Cocchiaro for?

Rosalie is a trauma counsellor psychotherapist who supports clients through a wide range of concerns associated with trauma, grief and loss. Clients have booked in with Rosalie for help with emotional overwhelm, insomnia, relationship and family stress and/or separation, coercive control and abuse, fertility support, miscarriage, and major life transitions. Rosalie helps clients to foster resilience, empowerment, self-efficacy and self-compassion.
How can a counsellor psychotherapist help with trauma symptoms?

A counsellor psychotherapist can help a client to understand, process and manage the various day-to-day impacts of trauma in a safe environment. An effective counsellor psychotherapist works collaboratively and never pushes a client, always respecting pacing and consent. They support clients in understanding how trauma affects the nervous system, memory, relationships and emotions. They teach grounding skills for emotional regulation and assist clients in processing their traumatic experiences. This can ultimately lead to healthier relationships, clearer boundaries and renewed self-compassion.
What type of therapy does Rosalie use for trauma?

Rosalie uses psychoeducation and mindfulness/ grounding tools to help clients feel safe, regulate, and emotionally stabilise. Over time, and when the client is ready, trauma- informed therapies such as somatic experiencing can be introduced to help process and integrate traumatic memories and experiences.

All therapies are paced gently and are modified for each individual client. Rosalie consistently monitors clients to ensure sessions do not become overwhelming and will slow down and pause when things feel too intense.
How do you measure progress in trauma therapy? Will my symptoms ever go away?

Trauma symptoms may not necessarily disappear completely, but they will become less intense, less controlling and less frequent with regular therapy. Your day-to-day functioning will improve dramatically, and your triggers will stop dominating life. Therapy gives you the tools to learn to manage and control your triggers, reducing their impact and time-frame.

Progress in trauma therapy is the reduction of these symptoms and triggers and the changes in your own self-belief and boundaries. It is important to remember that progress in trauma therapy is often non-linear (you can improve and then feel worse when you are stressed, then improve again). It is gradual, but you will eventually feel safer and live more fully.
How many trauma therapy sessions will I need?

This really depends on the type and complexity of the trauma, the severity of the symptoms and your current life stability. A single event trauma may not need as many sessions as repeated/ complex or childhood trauma. Trauma therapy should work at a pace that your nervous system can tolerate. Although slower pacing can mean longer therapy, it will often lead to safer, more lasting results. Generally speaking, a minimum of 6 to 8 sessions, held weekly or fortnightly, are recommended as an initial phase of trauma therapy.
What if I am not ready to talk about a specific traumatic event with Rosalie?

Rosalie will not force you to discuss any specific event before you are ready. Pushing too early can make symptoms and triggering worse. Trauma therapy is paced around safety and readiness, not disclosure. In initial sessions Rosalie will work with you to build trust and create a strong therapeutic relationship. You can still make progress by working on day-to-day symptoms, grounding and safety.
What if I can’t remember parts of my traumatic experience?

Memory gaps are very common in trauma therapy. Not remembering parts of a traumatic event is common and it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you. Trauma affects memory and the nervous system will often ‘block out’ details as protection. Modalities, such as somatic therapy can work with body sensations and emotions connected to the memory to help with healing. Trauma therapy is about how your system is responding in the present. There is no need to reconstruct every detail in the past.
Does Rosalie focus on talking or body-based trauma work?

Both. Trauma informed therapy should generally include a ‘ground up’ approach as trauma is very often held in the body. Body symptoms often include increased heart rate, dry mouth, insomnia, dissociation (feeling detached from your body), gastrointestinal issues and migraines. These issues should be addressed alongside the cognitive symptoms, such as memory loss and brain fog and emotional nervous system symptoms such as emotional dysregulation and hypervigilance.

How and when these symptoms are addressed depends on the client’s sense of safety and their readiness to explore further. Talk-based exploration alongside body-based awareness can help to increase emotional understanding and support the nervous system in releasing stored stress responses.
What should I expect at my first appointment with Rosalie Cocchiaro?

The first appointment with Rosalie is about feeling safe, supported and getting a sense of how therapy will work for you. Rosalie will discuss confidentiality, safety and the types of modalities she works with. Most importantly, she will ask about what you would like from the sessions and get a sense of your history and concerns (at your pace).

You are not expected to share any details with her unless and until you feel ready to discuss them. Rosalie will often provide some psychoeducation on trauma and the nervous system and give some basic coping tools for stabilisation and emotional regulation. Rosalie will always make sure you are feeling settled and ok to leave the session.
Where is Her Health located if I’m looking for a trauma counsellor psychotherapist in North Adelaide?

Her Health offers integrated women’s healthcare from its North Adelaide clinic. If you’re looking for a women’s trauma counsellor in North Adelaide, Rosalie is part of a broader team focused on supporting women through every life stage, with care that feels connected, thoughtful and tailored to the whole picture of your health. You can also visit Her Health for obstetrics, gynaecology, physician and dietitian services.