About Brendan Anderson | Trauma Counsellor Brisbane

At First Response Counselling, Brendan provides trauma-informed counselling for adults, adolescents, and first responders across Brisbane and Australia via secure telehealth. Brendan understands that seeking support can feel overwhelming, especially when living with trauma, anxiety, stress, burnout, or emotional overwhelm. His approach focuses on creating a safe, respectful, and non-judgmental space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported throughout the therapeutic process.

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Experience Supporting Trauma & First Responders

Brendan has over 20 years of frontline and emergency services experience working closely with individuals exposed to trauma, chronic stress, and critical incidents. This experience provides him with a practical understanding of the unique pressures faced by first responders, emergency personnel, and individuals experiencing ongoing emotional distress.

He supports clients experiencing:

• Trauma & PTSD

• Complex Childhood Trauma

• Anxiety & Panic Attacks

• Burnout & Critical Incident Stress

• Dissociation & Emotional Overwhelm

• Depression & Stress-Related Difficulties

Brendan works collaboratively with clients to help them better understand their experiences, develop emotional regulation skills, process trauma safely, and move toward improved wellbeing and recovery.

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Evidence-Based Trauma Therapy Approaches

Brendan uses evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches tailored to the individual needs of each client, including:

• EMDR Therapy

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

• Schema Therapy

• Parts Work Therapy

Therapy is adapted to each person’s goals, experiences, and pace to support meaningful and sustainable change.

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A Practical & Person-Centred Approach

Brendan believes therapy should be collaborative, practical, and supportive. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, he works with clients to understand the underlying impact of trauma, stress, and life experiences while building strategies that support long-term emotional wellbeing. His approach combines professional training, evidence-based therapy, and real-world experience to provide counselling that is compassionate, grounded, and effective.​​

 

​Qualifications and Professional Training

• Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling)

• Child Development and Effective Parenting

• Psychological First Aid

• Advanced Training in Suicide Prevention

• Facilitator, Family Connections Program (Borderline Personality Disorder)

• EMDR Qualified Therapist (Levels 1 & 2)

• EMDR Advanced Training: Complex Trauma

• EMDR: Structural Dissociation

• EMDR: Grief and Loss

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Qualified Therapist

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Qualified Therapist

• Ego State Therapist

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Professional Experience

• Extensive experience as a School-Based Counsellor

• EAP clinician for international and Australian corporations and government departments

• Specialist experience in critical incident response and post-trauma support

• Clinical work with Queensland Government agencies, including the Department of Child Safety and Bravehearts

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Professional Memberships

• Member, Australian Counselling Association (Level 3)

• Registered Private Health Fund Provider

• Workcover Qld Provider

• Member, EMDR Association of Australia

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If you are looking for a professional trauma counselling, EMDR therapy, or anxiety support in Brisbane or via telehealth across Australia, Brendan welcomes you to get in touch to discuss how therapy may support your recovery and wellbeing.​