About Simonette Vaja

Simonette Vaja began Loving Life Strategies in 1991, out of a desire to help people lead a loving and happy life through personal development and empowerment. In her work as a psychologist and clinical hypnotherapist, Simonette Vaja has collected a wealth of experience, including private practice, lecturing and teaching at the Nature Care College in Sydney.

Professional Profile of Simonette Vaja

M.A.Ps.S. Registered Psychologist

B.A.(psych.S.U.T); M.A.(Syd.Uni.); Post Grad.Dip.Clin.Hypn;,E.M.D.R.

Simonette Vaja is a senior psychologist with over 20 years clinical experience in private practice, corporate consultancy and delivery of community programs. A member of the Australian Psychological Society, registered psychologist and an authorised supervisor for intern psychologists' registration in Australia. She brings to Drake WorkWise a broad range of clinical expertise in EAP, Trauma management and client account management.

Simonette has developed numerous personal development and psychological materials for the general public, corporate training programs and her successful creativity community programs. She has established a successful private practice within multidisciplinary medical centres along the Northern Beaches, and Lower North Shore. She has established best practice procedures and recommendations as part of her professional affiliations and involvement with the Medicare initiatives. Simonette has been contracted by major EAP consultancies and Rehabilitation providers, as a specialist for post-traumatic stress, anxiety disorders, adjustment, chronic pain management and general mental health issues. She has helped thousands of people to overcome and manage personal, interpersonal and work-lifestyle issues.

Simonette's consultancy has developed from applying her psychological services to diverse environments/clients. These have included developing products and services within the area of personal development. She has developed a strong referral base, through individual clients, doctors, allied health professionals and company executives. Some of these initiatives include: Wild at heart - creativity and self expression groups, Women's groups, meeting each week to tell their stories through the creative and performing arts. These programs grew in popularity, and were further developed as 1 year facilitator training programs. Simonette delivered these courses through Nature Care College and was contracted for five years, where she taught and supervised allied health professionals to facilitate their own creativity and self expression groups.

In addition, Simonette has recorded and produced a range of guided meditation CD's and DVD's based on positive psychology, visualisation and meditation strategies. These products have been sold internationally for over a decade, within the ambient and self help category and have consistently rated within the top 10 best sellers. Simonette is committed to building supportive social networks and personal well-being and has been interviewed on radio, cable television and popular magazines in Australia and UK about her work. Her guided meditations were played on international Qantas in-flight radio.

Simonette has an extensive list of corporate consultations and seminars, she is an engaging and experienced trainer/facilitator having presented to major companies such as Westpac Bank, Alcon Australia, Zenith media, Colonial Mutual, Art gallery of NSW, and smaller business groups adding value to employees through 1 day seminars or longer residential leadership programs. Her seminars cover: professional and personal development; resilience and wellbeing; advanced communication skills, dealing with difficult people; self esteem and confidence, relaxation training, creativity and future visioning - planning outcomes; leadership outward bound programs.

Whilst enjoying an early eclectic career in hospitality, television, media, retail and fashion industries, Simonette returned to University and completed two degrees in psychology: B.A. double major in psychology; Industrial psychology, and Applied counselling awarded at Swinburne University of Technology; moving to Sydney University and completing an M.A. & postgraduate diploma in clinical hypnosis; with further professional development attending specialist clinical training in cognitive behaviour therapy, E.M.D.R., couple therapy, marriage celebrant and presentation skills and leadership programs.

Collecting wisdom and inspiration from everybody she meets, observing the resilience of a survivor or trauma, sitting with someone in the depths of their despair, witnessing the collective joy of an apology, to sharing a parent's relief at getting that promotion. Simonette is committed to working with each client, to achieve well-being and overall quality of life.

View Simonette's full resume.