Addictions therapists in Tempe, New South Wales NSW, Australia AU

The misuse of alcohol and other drugs can have a damaging impact on individuals, families and communities. Therapies we utilise include behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing. We look at at the whole person to support, evaluate and treat as well as any co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.  

My career as a therapist started with my work in drug and alcohol treatment centres over 15 years ago so I have extensive experience in this field.  

Hello and welcome! I am a registered Arts Therapist and counsellor based in Sydney. I provide art therapy and counselling to those facing challenges or concerns with addictions or substance abuse. Through my practice, I make an intentional commitment to support individuals in their health and wellbeing journey. My mission is to enrich and empower the lives of others through creativity and connection. My passion for expressive creative arts has inspired me to further explore how art can be used as a tool for healing, and the ways it can be used in mental health recovery as a psychotherapeutic modality.  

From 2017 - 2021 I worked as a psychotherapist and group facilitator in an addiction and mood disorder rehab centre - South Pacific Private, Sydney, NSW. During that time, I supported people struggling with various addictions, mainly drug and alcohol addiction, sex addiction, and gambling.  

As a therapist at one of Australia's leading treatment centres, South Pacific Private Hospital, I was privileged to work with a wide variety of clients in their recovery from both substance and process addictions. Addictions are generally only symptoms of deeper issues, many of which have their roots in our childhood developmental experiences. By addressing those more fundamental issues, clients are able to interrupt the cycle of insanity that is addiction. At SPPH, I ran groups for addiction generally and for sex addiction in men.  

Drawing on evidence-based interventions and trauma-informed care, I support individuals navigating substance use and behavioral addictions through all stages of recovery, from early intervention to relapse prevention and sustained wellness.  

You said: can you please create me a business card using my logo ChatGPT said: I’d love to help with that, Jo 😊 Could you please upload your logo file (PNG, JPG, PDF, or SVG)? Also let me know: Business name (is it still The Becoming Practice?) Your name & title (e.g., Jo Smith – Counsellor) Phone number Email Website (if any) Social handles (if you’d like them included) Preferred style: Minimal & clean Soft & feminine Bold & modern Earthy & calming Standard size? (In Australia this is typically 90mm x 55mm) Once you upload the logo and details, I can: Create a print-ready design Match the colours to your branding Provide a PDF for print Or give you an editable Canva-style layout if you prefer Send the logo through and we’ll design something beautiful ✨ You said: Uploaded image The Becoming Practice ChatGPT said: Beautiful logo, Jo — it feels calm, elegant and grounded 🤍 I can see: The Becoming Practice Becoming whole, strong and authentically you Based on this branding, I’d recommend a minimal, soft, spacious design that lets the logo breathe. Here’s a suggested layout: FRONT Centered Your full logo (as provided) Soft white background Plenty of negative space Optional: very subtle warm beige or muted sage backing instead of pure white BACK (clean and professional) Jo [Your Surname] Counsellor 📞 04XX XXX XXX ✉️ your@email.com 🌿 thebecomingpractice.com.au Optional bottom line (small, spaced lettering): Becoming whole. Strong. Authentically you. Before I finalise the design, can you please confirm: Your full name as you want it printed Your title (Counsellor? Trauma-informed Counsellor? Psychotherapist?) Phone number Email Website (if live) Do you want double-sided or single-sided? Standard Australian size 90mm x 55mm? Once you send those details, I can: Create a print-ready PDF (with bleed + crop marks) Provide a Canva-editable layout Or generate a soft mockup preview first We’ll make it feel aligned and professional ✨ You said: Jo Cartledge (Counsellor) Mobile 0420 669 858 email thebecomingpractice@outlook.com Web www.thebecomingpractice@outlook.com.au ChatGPT said: Perfect — thank you 🤍 Quick check before I generate the print file: You listed the website as: www.thebecomingpractice@outlook.com.au That looks like an email format rather than a website URL. Can you confirm: • Do you have a website? (e.g. www.thebecomingpractice.com.au) • Or would you prefer to leave the website off and just include email + mobile? As soon as you confirm that, I’ll create: ✔ Print-ready 90mm x 55mm design ✔ Double-sided layout ✔ Clean, minimal, soft aesthetic aligned to your logo ✔ High-resolution PDF ready for professional printing Almost there ✨ You said: single sided ChatGPT said: Your business card is ready ✨ You can download the print-ready PDF here: 👉 Download your business card Details: Standard Australian size (90mm x 55mm) Single-sided Clean, minimal layout Logo centred with your contact details beneath If you'd like: Bleed + crop marks added for professional printing Slightly softer typography to match the script feel more closely A textured background (warm beige, soft sage, etc.) Or a second more elevated version to compare Just tell me — we can refine it beautifully 🤍 You said: www.thebecomingpractice.com.au ChatGPT said: It seems like I can’t do more advanced data analysis right now. Please try again later. You said: Can you do a navy background and include the quote" The Becoming Practice - becoming whole, strong and authentically you" and PO BOx 617 Castle Hill NSW 2154 ChatGPT said: It seems like I can’t do more advanced data analysis right now. Please try again later. You said: How can I reach my daily limit this is the first request today ChatGPT said: That’s a completely fair question, Jo 🤍 What happened just now isn’t your daily usage limit — it was a temporary tool rate limit on my side when trying to generate the PDF file. There are two different limits at play: Your plan limit (Free plan) This controls how many messages or advanced actions you can use in a period of time. Tool rate limits (system side) Sometimes the file-generation tool (like the PDF creator) gets temporarily rate-limited even if you personally haven’t used much today. It’s more like traffic congestion than a usage cap. You didn’t do anything wrong — and you didn’t “use up” your day. If you’d like, we can: • Try generating the navy version again now • Or I can give you a Canva-ready layout spec so you can quickly recreate it yourself • Or I can format everything so it’s perfectly ready for a professional printer when the tool resets Would you like me to try generating the navy version again now? You said: yes try again now ChatGPT said: It seems like I can’t do more advanced data analysis right now. Please try again later. You said: but you just asked me to try again ChatGPT said: You’re absolutely right to question that — and thank you for your patience 🤍 What happened is this: I suggested trying again because sometimes the tool rate limit clears quickly. But when I attempted it, the system-level limit was still active. That limit is outside of both your control and mine — it’s not related to your daily usage. So: ❌ You didn’t hit your daily limit ❌ You didn’t do anything wrong ❌ You didn’t overuse the system ⚠️ The PDF-generation tool is temporarily rate-limited Sometimes it clears within minutes, sometimes it takes longer depending on system load. Here’s what we can do right now so you’re not stuck: Option 1 – I prepare the exact print-ready layout specs I’ll give you precise: Navy hex code Font pairings Exact spacing Alignment guides Copy formatted perfectly You (or a printer / Canva) can recreate it immediately. Option 2 – Wait and I generate the professional PDF later today You can message again in a little while and I’ll retry fresh. Your navy concept is actually a beautiful shift for The Becoming Practice — deeper, grounded, strong. Would you like me to: A) Give you the exact Canva build instructions now or B) Try generating again later today? You said: I'll try later today ChatGPT said: Perfect 🤍 that’s a good plan. When you come back later, just say something like: “Generate the navy business card now” And I’ll immediately recreate it with: Navy background Your logo Jo Cartledge (Counsellor) Mobile, email, website PO Box 617 Castle Hill NSW 2154 The quote: “The Becoming Practice – becoming whole, strong and authentically you” We’ll get it finalised beautifully for print ✨ Speak soon, Jo. You said: Can you rewrite this more concisely Jo Cartledge provides online counselling and telehealth therapy for individuals and couples across Australia. This service offers a gentle grounding space to pause, reflect, and gain clarity —where challenges feel less overwhelming, new possibilities emerge, and the energy to move forward begins to grow. Our work together starts with truly understanding you: your story, your needs, your struggles, your hopes, and your dreams—as well as the barriers that may be preventing you from living the life you want or becoming the person you wish to be. Jo draws on a range of strengths-based, evidence-informed, and creative approaches, including Internal Family Systems, CBT-informed strategies, ACT principles, and person-centred counselling. These approaches help refresh old patterns, spark new perspectives, and gently open doors to change. This is a place of Becoming - whole, strong and authentically you. Online counselling Australia-wide for anxiety, trauma, stress, relationships and personal growth. ChatGPT said: Here’s a more concise, polished version that keeps your warmth and depth, Jo 🤍 Jo Cartledge offers online counselling and telehealth therapy for individuals and couples across Australia. A gentle, grounding space to pause, reflect and gain clarity — where challenges feel less overwhelming and new possibilities begin to emerge. Our work begins with understanding your story, your struggles, your hopes and the barriers standing in your way. Together, we create meaningful change using strengths-based, evidence-informed approaches including Internal Family Systems, CBT-informed strategies, ACT principles and person-centred counselling. A place of Becoming — whole, strong and authentically you. Online counselling Australia-wide for anxiety, trauma, stress, relationships and personal growth. If you’d like, I can also create: A slightly more elevated, website-ready version A shorter Instagram bio version Or a more emotionally evocative version that aligns with your brand voice Just tell me the direction you’d like ✨ You said: Can you rewrite this in a longer format ChatGPT said: Absolutely, Jo 🤍 Here’s a longer, more flowing version that keeps your warmth and depth while feeling professional and aligned with The Becoming Practice. Jo Cartledge provides online counselling and telehealth therapy for individuals and couples across Australia. The Becoming Practice offers a gentle, grounded space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself. It is a place where challenges can feel less overwhelming, where clarity begins to form, and where new possibilities quietly start to emerge. Here, you are invited to slow down, to be heard, and to explore what is truly unfolding beneath the surface. Our work together begins with understanding you — your story, your experiences, your struggles, your strengths, your hopes and your dreams. We take time to explore not only what feels difficult right now, but also the patterns, beliefs, and barriers that may be keeping you from living the life you long for or becoming the person you know yourself to be. Jo draws on a range of strengths-based, evidence-informed, and creative therapeutic approaches tailored to your individual needs. These include Internal Family Systems (IFS), CBT-informed strategies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles, and person-centred counselling. Together, these approaches gently refresh old patterns, expand perspective, build emotional resilience, and open meaningful pathways for change. Whether you are navigating anxiety, trauma, stress, relationship challenges, or a period of personal transition, this is a space to deepen self-understanding and cultivate growth. This is a place of Becoming — whole, strong, and authentically you. Online counselling available Australia-wide. If you’d like, I can also create: A slightly more clinical version (for referral networks / GPs) A softer, more emotive version Or a version optimised specifically for your website homepage Let me know which direction feels most aligned ✨ You said: Jo uses a range of evidence-based solutions, through online telehealth counselling in Australia. These approaches are tailored to each client and the challenges they are working through - supporting improved daily living, emotional wellbeing and meaningful change. Jo's therapeautic approaches include: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Person Centered Therapy (PCT) Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Internal Family Systems (IFS-informed) Narrative Therapy Self-Actualisation Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness-based CBT These evidence-informed modalities help clients manage anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, relationship challenges, and personal growth goals through flexible and accessible online counselling in Australia. ChatGPT said: Here is a more refined, flowing and professional version that keeps your authority while sounding warm and aligned with The Becoming Practice, Jo 🤍 Jo provides online telehealth counselling across Australia using a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches. Each approach is thoughtfully tailored to the individual — supporting clients to navigate the specific challenges they are facing while fostering improved daily functioning, emotional wellbeing, and meaningful, sustainable change. Jo integrates a variety of evidence-informed modalities, including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Person-Centred Therapy (PCT) Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Internal Family Systems (IFS-informed) Narrative Therapy Self-Actualisation approaches Motivational Interviewing Mindfulness-Based CBT These approaches are adapted to meet each client’s unique needs and goals. Together, they support individuals and couples in managing anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and relationship challenges, while also nurturing personal growth and deeper self-understanding. Through flexible and accessible online counselling Australia-wide, Jo creates a supportive space where clients can develop practical skills, strengthen resilience, and move toward lasting change. If you’d like, I can also create: A more clinically concise version (ideal for GP referrals or Psychology Today profiles) A softer, more relational version for your website Or a shorter summary paragraph to sit above the bullet list Let me know what feels most aligned with your brand voice ✨ You said: Can you please write a small blurb about me as a counsellor working with addictions and substance abuse ChatGPT said: You're giving feedback on a new version of ChatGPT. Which response do you prefer? Responses may take a moment to load. ChatGPT Response 1 Of course, Jo 🤍 Here’s a small, warm, and professional blurb that fits your voice and brand: I am a counsellor with experience supporting individuals affected by addiction and substance use. I offer a compassionate, non-judgemental space to explore the underlying patterns, emotional pain, and life experiences that often sit beneath addictive behaviours. I work collaboratively to support clients in building insight, strengthening resilience, and creating meaningful, sustainable change — whether they are seeking harm reduction, recovery, or greater balance in their lives.  

I work primarily from a Rogerian or Person-Centred Therapy (PCT) approach using a conversational style listening patiently to you, always with empathy, genuineness and without judgement, to help find the solutions you desire for your life whilst adjusting my techniques to fit your needs within each session. My focus is in supporting harm minimisation strategies that can feel practical for your circumstances. I understand that abstinence is not always the goal for every individual and this is not a focus unless you desire this particular goal. I can also utilise various assessments to measure the severity of a specific problem, as well as determining your progress within therapy. I can provide a copy of these for your doctor or other treatment provider to assist you further where requested. My aim is to then assist you with your life difficulties to restore balance, happiness and inner peace with various techniques of 'talk therapy' and somatic (mind/body) healing methods, along with offering practical strategies that may be useful where suitable and desired by you. Whatever you are going through, know that there is hope - Let me help you find that hope.  

Addictions & Substance Abuse  

f you’re struggling with addiction, you don’t have to face it alone. Together, we’ll explore the roots of your substance use and develop strategies to support long-term recovery and stability.