I’m Julie Grucza, a counsellor with a Master of Counselling & Psychotherapy, registered with both ACA and PACFA.

I work with adolescents aged 14 and over, adults individually, and couples and partners navigating relationship difficulties. My approach is collaborative and shaped by curiosity about your experiences, relationships and what matters to you.

I created A Beautiful Mess because I wanted to offer a place where people could seek support without having to explain, defend or minimise important parts of themselves. My work is LGBTQIA+ affirming and neurodiversity-affirming, with respect for diverse relationships and experiences.

You do not need to have everything figured out or know exactly what to say. You are welcome to begin with whatever feels important, confusing or difficult right now.

A little about me

Why I created A Beautiful Mess

A Beautiful Mess grew from personal experience, community conversations and the belief that counselling can make room for the complexity of people’s lives.

I am interested in understanding how your experiences have shaped the ways you cope, connect and protect yourself. Together, we can explore which patterns still support you, which have become difficult, and what you would like to do differently.

My hope is that you feel able to slow down, be heard and explore your choices, with support that respects your dignity and autonomy.

I offer individual counselling for adolescents aged 14 and over and adults, alongside couples and relationship counselling. I welcome:

Couples and partners in monogamous, ENM and polyamorous relationships.
LGBTQIA+ people, including those questioning or exploring their identity.
Neurodivergent people, including autistic people and those with ADHD or AuDHD.
People involved in kink/BDSM communities and sex workers seeking respectful, informed support.

You may be seeking counselling about these experiences or about something entirely separate. We begin with what matters to you.

Who I work with

What it is like to work with me

My motto is “always be curious”. I bring reflection, gentle humour and care into sessions, and take time to understand what your experiences mean to you.

Together, we might explore recurring patterns, find words for difficult feelings, consider boundaries, or develop practical ways to manage overwhelm. There is also room to pause, reflect and be uncertain.

In couples and relationship counselling, I draw on Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) to explore the patterns between partners and the feelings and needs beneath them.

We can adjust the pace, structure and ways of communicating to support your participation. I welcome feedback about what helps, what feels difficult and what you would like us to approach differently.

Professional Development

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) Externship — completed September 2026.
Consensual Non-Monogamy in Therapy: Best Practices for Therapists with Martha Kauppi
LGBTQIA-Affirmative Therapy: A Compassionate and Inclusive Approach with Clinton Power

Registered Counsellor (Level 2), Australian Counselling Association

Certified Practising Counsellor (PACFA Reg. No. 33615)

What guides my work

Authenticity

I want counselling to offer room for honesty, uncertainty and the parts of yourself you may usually keep hidden. I bring openness, appropriate humour and an acknowledgement that counsellors are human too.

Non-judgement

I approach your experiences with respect and empathy. We can reflect on difficult choices and patterns, including their impact on you and others, while protecting your dignity and making room for change.

Curiosity

I seek to understand what your experiences mean to you. Together, we can explore how your responses developed, what they help you manage and what possibilities you would like to consider.

My Background

Before becoming a counsellor, I spent more than 20 years working with young people, families and diverse communities through education, student wellbeing and leadership roles.

That background continues to shape the way I work. I understand how strongly systems, schools, families, communities and social expectations can shape a person’s sense of self. I am particularly interested in what happens when people have spent a long time feeling misunderstood, managed, masked, judged or required to make themselves smaller.

Alongside my professional background, I bring lived experience, creativity, neurodivergence, curiosity and a strong commitment to anti-shame practice.

I am passionate about psychoeducation, community conversations and making psychological ideas easier to understand.

Ready to talk?

You are welcome to get in touch, book an enquiry call, or explore the counselling services available.

You do not need to know exactly what to say. You can simply start where you are.

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