Aleksandra Trkulja
Email: aleks@thepleasurecentre.org
Instagram: @_thepleasurecentre
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OBJECTIVE
I am a certified Sex, Relationships and Body Image therapist, running private practice in Sydney, Australia for the past 6 years. I am also a writer, and content creator, focusing on issues of sex education, relationships and mental health.
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EXPERIENCE
Sex, Relationship and Body Image Therapy @ The Pleasure Centre • Private Practice 2018 – present.
In private practice I work with individuals, couples and other relationship dynamics exploring issues around body image, sexual function, sexuality, and relationships. My practice is kink, poly, and sex-worker informed and friendly. The therapeutic approaches drawn on in sex therapy include person-centred, somatic approaches, CBT, CBT-E, DBT, and ACT. I have also completed EMDR Level 1, and conduct trauma therapy with clients seeking this service.
Achievements and Outcomes:
I attend regular individual and group supervision to support my full-time therapy load. I also engage in continuing professional development. Beyond the role of a full-time therapist, I do my own book-keeping, administration, marketing and advertising, networking, negotiation with brands, content creation, writing, website management, and social media management. I have achieved establishing and running a successful and growing private practice.
Content Creation @ The Pleasure Centre
Over the past 4 years, I have been contracted to write paid articles for sexual wellness websites, spoken on podcasts, been interviewed for articles, and paid to create sex-ed and psycho-ed content for Instagram and TikTok. I have worked with brands such as Durex Australia, SKYN, Pedestrian TV, Refinery29, MamaMia, The Urban List, Fashion Journal, and more which can be viewed through my website (noted above).
Achievements and Outcomes:
To be high functioning enough to run private practice full-time, and do content creation part-time, I’ve learnt how to create balance in my life.
There are many achievements here, including having content that is highly engaged with, and working with some wonderful brands. One in particular is that I am currently a brand ambassador with Durex Australia.
Inpatient/ Outpatient Group Therapist • Ramsay Healthcare
Northside Clinics, The Hollywood Clinic • Dec 2018- Nov 2021.
Working in psychiatric facilities across Australia provided experience working with acute mental health presentations including critical mood disorders, eating disorders and substance abuse disorders. I worked across a variety of inpatient and outpatient programs facilitating skills-based groups (including CBT, ACT, and DBT); and Interpersonal Group Therapy.
Achievements and Outcomes:
Working in acute mental health as one of my first mental health jobs is the equivalent of being thrown in the deep end. I learnt more in these roles than any professional development could teach me. I had ongoing individual, group, and peer supervision given the intense nature of this work.
Other:
Counsellor • Employment Services and EAP • Pure Insights • April 2018 – November 2018
Research Assistant • Internship • The Family Systems Institute • February 2018 – February 2019
Counsellor • School Counselling • Trades NorWest College • March–September 2017
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2024
Intimacy Directors and Co-ordinators Inc. Level 2 Training (Jan 2024)
2023
EMDR Level 1 Training • Therapist Training
Betty Martin ‘Like a Pro’ Wheel of Consent Workshop
Intimacy Directors and Co-ordinators Inc. Level 1 Training
2022
The Gottman Institute • Level 1 Couples Therapy Training
2021
Self-Led Sexuality: IFS Model • Society of Australian Sexologists
Treating Trauma Master Series • NICABM
How to work with Shame • NICABM
2020
Centre for Clinical Interventions • CBT for Eating Disorders (CBT-E)
PACFA Fiona Griffiths • Conducting Online Counselling
2019
In Search of Eros Livestream • Sessions Live by Esther Perel
Neuro-Psychotherapy and substance abuse disorder • PACFA
Addiction and the Window of Tolerance • Penny Wilkinson
Rekindling Desire online course • Esther Perel
Toxic Masculinity Livestream • Sessions Live by Esther Perel
2018
Family System Institute • Challenging Cases Workshops • Intimacy, sex and childhood abuse, Couple therapy after an affair , A family after the disclosure of incest , Working with parents who want to fix a symptomatic child, The Vulnerable Child in the System
2015
How to Talk About Sex Workshop • Tanya Koens/ Surry Hills Therapy
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EDUCATION
Post-Graduate Diploma in Sexology • Curtin University • Graduated 2020
Master’s in Counselling (Research) • The University of Notre Dame • Graduated 2017
Bachelor of Science/Psychology • The University of Sydney • Graduated 2015
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Memberships
Psychotherapy and Counselling Foundation of Australia Registration (PACFA) Registration No. 26848, January 2018-present
Society of Australian Sexologists (SAS) December 2020-present
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Intersections of identity
The intersections of our identities, and the privileges or oppressive structures at play can influence how we move in the world, and will likely work with clients.
I carry privileges being a cisgender person, femme presenting, able bodied, credentialed, highly literate, young, middle class, and non-religious.
The intersecting forms of oppression I experience include being a woman, being brown, a child of migrants, being bi-culturally raised, and first generation Serbian-Australian. I am also pansexual, and have experience bi-phobia, racism, and sexism.
I find that drawing from these lived experiences informs my professional practice, and has taught me a lot about self-care, and personal limitations.
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References
Tanya Koens • Sexologist at Surry Hills Therapy • Group Supervisor
Email: tanya@pleasureloverelating.com
Matt Tilley • Psychologist at Tillver Counselling • Individual Supervisor
Email: m.tilley@tillvercounselling.com
Karen Triggs • Psychotherapist • Individual Supervisor
Email: karen@karentriggs.com.au