About Sophie Banks

Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.

If you want to feel safer inside - whether as a stressed parent, overwhelmed caring professional or someone living with chronic pain - you’ve come to the right place.

I offer compassionate counselling and mindfulness-based support grounded in evidence and empathy.

You do not have to face the challenges you are going through alone - practical, non-judgmental support is available.

Book a free-15 minute call to see if I can help.

Get in touch and I will reply within 24 hours
Logo of member of the Australian Counselling Association.
Logo of Meditation Association of Australia Registered Meditation Teacher.
Logo of mental health first aid accreditation.
Logo of certified breath coach certification.
Logo of certified Positive Psychology Practitioner Certification.

I can help you feel safer inside

I have always had a keen interest in wellbeing and personal development, however my career began in law.

Initially I worked in family law and expanded into family dispute resolution, and legal roles within education settings supporting school staff. I supported both individuals and organisations in both the private and public sector to navigate complex, high-pressure, and emotionally intense situations.

I then pursued a Masters in Human Rights Law, working in legal policy and capacity building roles - especially in the area of children’s rights and safety. I am passionate about child safeguarding, and continue to work in this area today as the Head of Content and Operations at ChildAware.

Over time however, I increasingly confronted the critical role that self-regulation plays in safety and wellbeing. I wanted to better support caring people under significant pressure - especially parents, and those who work with children.

Alongside my legal and safeguarding work, I became a meditation teacher and began designing and facilitating wellbeing programs focused on emotional regulation, stress, and practical tools for working in high-demand environments.

This work deepened my interest in nervous system-informed approaches and more sustainable ways of supporting caring people to manage stress and increase coping, ultimately leading me to pursue counselling qualifications.

I have a love of learning and I continue to engage in ongoing professional development.

In recent years, my work has evolved to include a special interest in chronic pain — informed through my lived experience of a life-long brachial plexus injury (nerve damage) and chronic pain education. I am a certified Pain Reprocessing Therapy Practitioner, have studied Explain Pain (NOI Institute) and volunteer at Chronic Pain Australia as a meditation teacher.

Chronic pain and my personal experiences of navigating disability, separation and burnout have all contributed to my understanding of suffering and my desire to find practical, realistic ways to support others to find more positive, “in-powered” ways to move forward.

This is what led to Inner Safeguarding.

Inner Safeguarding brings together counselling, meditation, and nervous system-informed support to help people take back control of their lives, increase their sense of inner safety, and move forward with practical, evidence-based tools to better handle life’s challenges.

You can read my LinkedIn bio here.

  • Cartoon illustration of a cute blue blobby character floating in the air in a blissful state.

    Find calm

  • Cartoon illustration of a cute yellow blobby character standing with one hand on heart, feeling happy and peaceful.

    Reduce stress and pain

  • Cartoon illustration of a cute blue blobby character holding a broom smiling while looking down at a smashed cup on the floor.

    Increase coping

“Above all, be the heroine of your own life, not the victim”

— Nora Ephron

  • I offer practical, evidence-based support for challenges such as emotional regulation, stress management, chronic pain, burnout, relationship breakdown, decision-making, life transitions, separated and sole parenting, neurodivergent parenting, disability, chronic illness.

    • Diploma of Counselling (Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors)

    • Master of Human Rights Law (University of Melbourne)

    • Bachelor of Arts (Sociology, Eng. Lit.) / Law (Australian National University)

    • Accredited Meditation Teacher (Melbourne Meditation Centre)

    • Accredited Work on Wellbeing Practitioner (Langley Institute)

    • Expanding the Window of Tolerance: Empowering Clients Through Self-Regulation (David Treleaven, Mental Health Academy)

    • Certified Pain Reprocessing Practitioner (Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center)

    • Explain Pain (Neuro Orthopaedic Institute Australasia (Noigroup))

    • Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner (School of Positive Transformation)

    • Certified Breath Coach (Yoga Body Teachers College)

    • Group Facilitation (Group Work Institute)

    • Tuning into Kids Parenting Program (Tuning into Kids)

    • Mental Health First Aid Officer (Mental Health First Aid Australia)

    • Mediation Certificate (Harvard Negotiation Institute)

    • Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (Relationships Australia)

    • National Training Program for Independent Children’s Lawyers (Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia)

  • I take a strengths-based, integrated and holistic approach, tailored to your specific needs and goals - with you always in the ‘driver’s seat.’

    I believe you already possess the knowledge, skills and ability to move through your circumstances, and that my role is simply to support you to access your ‘inner’ wisdom and available resources.

    All my work is grounded in mindfulness, and depending on your needs, I may draw on:

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

    • Solutions Focussed Therapy (SFT)

    • Explain Pain and Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)

    • Somatic (body-based) practices.

    As a lifelong learner, I am constantly engaged in professional development to add more tools to my toolkit, and yours.

    Please note: As a counsellor, I do not provide parenting, family law, relationship, or safeguarding advice.

    • Australian Counselling Association (MACA Level 1)

    • Australian Meditation Association (Full member)

  • Child Aware - Head of Content and Operations

    Commission for Children and Young People - Education and Capacity Building

    Department of Education and Training (Vic) - Legal Division

    Department of Justice and Community Safety (Vic) - Human Rights Unit

    Slater & Gordon - Family Law

    Melbourne Family Relationship Centre - Child Dispute Resolution

    • Professionalism

    • Kindness

    • Respect

    • Compassion

    • Inclusion

    • Meditation Teacher, Look Good Feel Better (Feel Better Fridays Wellbeing Program)

    • Meditation Teacher, Chronic Pain Australia

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