About Me
Hi, I’m Zidia! I hold a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Queensland and have a rich background in the field of disability. My passion for healing has led me into the world of counselling, where I help people reconnect with the meaning and joy in life.
For seven years, I had the privilege of supporting young people across Australia, aged 5 to 25, in a 24-hour service. I’ve worked with individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, suicide, grief, family and relationship issues, bullying, sexual identity, trauma, and more.
My sense of social justice, truth, and equality is deeply rooted in my upbringing. My parents, refugees from Chile’s 1973 coup, instilled in me the values of resilience and integrity, which I carry into both my personal and professional life.
Both in my personal life and professional journey, I’m committed to maintaining integrity and fostering connection through every challenge I encounter. While my initial dream was to pursue community work overseas, I’ve come to realize that my most meaningful contributions are made right here, within my own family and community.
In March 2021, I faced a major turning point when I lost my job due to the mandates. It was a tough time, but I stayed true to my values, embracing my dignity even amidst stigma and discrimination. This experience led me to entrepreneurship, where I launched three small businesses that year. Two found quick success, while the third is being reimagined alongside the documentary SEEN, set to launch in March 2025.
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Watch Now: https://youtu.be/bZPQXpw6kT0
Though I started my counselling practice in 2021, it didn’t take off right away. But maybe the timing wasn’t right then—maybe it was meant to flourish now
Today, the focus of my effort is first in my relationships with my family.
As i grow and learn in that way, I bring that same effort and energy to those in my community.
My personal achievements are the foundation of all that I offer. They are simple and important things.
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Becoming a parent in the face of my own childhood trauma
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Choosing to be clean and sober for the past twenty four years
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Fostering and maintaining a loving relationship with my husband
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Developing and strengthening a sense of connection with myself, life and others.
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I offer you:
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A safe, empathetic and authentic space in which you can openly share.
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Deep listening, couched in curiosity, compassion, and presence.
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An affordable, accessible online or face to face counselling service.
HEALING FROM ADDICTION
Finding Connection and Hope
In my experience, most people struggling with addiction don’t just battle substances—they battle deep feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and unworthiness. Many feel lost, different, or like they don’t belong. If that resonates with you, please know you’re not alone.
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I firmly believe in the power of connection as the key to recovery. 12-Step programs have been life-changing for me and countless others because they don’t just focus on stopping substance use—they help you rebuild relationships, rediscover purpose, and reconnect with yourself, others, and something greater than you.
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"The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection."
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– Johann Hari TED TALK
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More and more research confirms addiction often stems from a lack of love and connection early in life. I also believe both nature and nurture play a role—some people may inherit a predisposition to addiction, while others develop it as a way to cope with pain, trauma, or dysfunction in their family environment.
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As Dr. Gabor Maté, a leading expert on trauma and addiction, explains:
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“Trauma is not what happens to you. Trauma is what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you.”
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If you’re struggling with addiction, please know that healing is possible. You don’t have to do this alone. With the right support and connections, recovery can lead you to a life of meaning, peace, and true belonging.
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​I’m here to help. Book a session today and take the first step toward healing and connection.
BREAKING FREE FROM CODEPENDENCY
Finding Yourself Again
Codependency is something many of us experience at some point in our lives, often without even realizing it. It happens when our sense of self becomes so tied to another person that we lose who we are. We pour all our energy into trying to please them—seeking love, validation, and a feeling of safety—only to find ourselves feeling lost, resentful, powerless, or unappreciated.
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In a codependent relationship, it can feel like you're constantly giving but never receiving, desperately trying to change the other person while ignoring your own needs. It’s like two people trying to fill each other’s empty cups, but neither has enough to give.
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Healing from codependency is about reclaiming yourself. It’s about learning to be your own source of love, self-worth, and security. When both people in a relationship do this, something beautiful happens—interdependence replaces codependence, and instead of draining each other, you lift each other up.
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​If you’re ready to start this journey of self-discovery and healing, I’m here to help. Book a session today and take the first step toward a healthier, more fulfilling relationship with yourself and others.
HEALING RELATIONSHIP STRUGGLES
Finding Love and Connection
One of our deepest human needs is to feel loved and connected. But despite what Hollywood movies tell us, true love and connection don’t come from someone else—they come from within.
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If you're struggling to build fulfilling relationships, I can help you uncover what’s blocking you from experiencing deeper intimacy, trust, and love—first with yourself, and then with those around you. Whether it’s a partner, friend, parent, family member, colleague, or even a stranger, the quality of your relationships reflects the relationship you have with yourself.
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In childhood, our parents are meant to be our first source of love, safety, and self-worth. But due to generational trauma, many of us didn’t receive the emotional foundation we needed. As adults, we often unconsciously repeat the relationship patterns we grew up with, continuing cycles of dysfunction, disconnection, or insecurity.
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The good news? You have the power to break the cycle. Healing begins with self-awareness and the right support. Book a session today, and let’s work together to create the deep, meaningful relationships you deserve
COUPLES COUNSELLING
Rebuilding Love and Connection
By the time many couples seek counselling, their relationship has reached a place of deep pain—resentment, mistrust, loneliness, disconnection, anger, and hurt have taken over. Partners feel like strangers, struggling to see the love and beauty in each other that once brought them together.
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I am here to help you reconnect. Through deeper intimacy, compassion, and understanding—both for yourself and your partner—you can rebuild trust and create a stronger, healthier foundation for your relationship.
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However, you don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable to seek support. The sooner you invest in your relationship, the greater the chance of healing and growth. Book a session today, and I’ll help you restore the connection, trust, and love you both deserve.
PARENTING
Finding Peace and Empowerment
With so many books on parenting, you'd think we'd all have it figured out by now. But the reality is, even those with tons of support still face challenges.
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Children can be our greatest teachers—they know exactly how to push our buttons and trigger a wide range of emotions. I believe that by understanding these triggers, you can approach parenting with more peace, ease, and enjoyment.
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Contrary to what many believe, the power to create lasting change in the parenting dynamic lies within the adult, not the child. I’m here to support you in feeling empowered and confident in your parenting choices, which will not only strengthen your relationship with your child but also with yourself.
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If you're ready to make lasting changes and embrace a more peaceful approach to parenting, book a session today and let's work together to help you thrive as a parent.
Spiritual Well-Being and Connection
While I am not affiliated with any religious group, I deeply believe in the existence of a higher power—something greater than myself that I turn to for guidance and support. I also respect and honour each person’s unique spiritual path, whether that aligns with religious beliefs or atheism.
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For me, coming to believe in a power greater than myself was a turning point in my recovery from alcoholism and addiction. It was about surrendering, letting go, and asking for help—an act that opened the door to a life filled with connection, love, trust, belonging, and a sense of community.
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​If you’re seeking a deeper sense of spiritual well-being, I am here to help you on that journey. Together, we can explore what connection and spiritual growth mean for you, and make a commitment to being spiritually guided in our work together. Book a session today to begin your path to healing and connection.
Healing the Inner Child
In my experience, many of the challenges we face today are deeply rooted in our childhood experiences. The wounds from our past can affect the way we live and interact in the present, but with the right support, compassion, and care, these wounds can be healed.
Healing your inner child involves offering yourself the same love, consistency, and boundaries that may have been missing in your early years. This process allows you to break free from the emotional patterns and pain that have been holding you back, enabling you to live a life of greater freedom and fulfillment.
As Dr. Gabor Maté, a leading expert on trauma, beautifully put it:
“Trauma is not someone getting hurt. It is a child being alone with that hurt.”
If you’re ready to heal and transform the pain from your past, I am here to guide you. Book a session today, and let's begin the journey toward healing your inner child and embracing a brighter future
HEALTHY COMMUNICATION
A Skill, Not a Given
I have come to believe that healthy communication is definitely a skill. It is not something that naturally comes with talking. For most people, healthy communication was not role modelled to them, therefore we developed communication passed on to us which in most cases came from dysfunctionality. I will support you to seek your truth so you can more easily communicate what you truly need or want. Thus, living a life where you honour your truth, feel more authentic and are aligned with your values.
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If you're ready to make communication one of your strengths, book a session today and let's begin this empowering journey together.
HEALING FROM BULLYING
Regaining Your Power
Bullying is so prevalent in our society and the impacts on your metal health are devastating. At a school level, intervention is definitely needed, as well as emotional support for the person being bullied. Ideally, the person bullying, is the one that needs the most support because the problem stems from a lack of emotional stability, in some, or all, areas of their life. Unfortunately, it is rarely the case that this happens and the person being bullied has no power and control over the other person’s behaviour. I will support you to identify what you do have the power and control over and provide the emotional support and validation that is necessary for recovery from the impacts of bullying.
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You don’t have to go through this alone. Book a session today to start your journey toward healing and self-empowerment.
UNDERSTANDING NARCISSISM &
Protecting Your Well-Being
Once you start learning about narcissism, you may be shocked by how widespread it truly is. That’s why it’s essential to recognize the signs and equip yourself with firm, loving, and consistent boundaries to protect your emotional well-being.
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Narcissism is a term often used to describe a pattern of behaviors characterised by a sense of entitlement, lack of empathy, grandiosity, a chronic need for validation and admiration. They have a real need for power, control and dominance in their relationships and the way this shows up is through gaslighting, invalidation, unpredictable rage, passive aggression, betrayal, lying, cheating, denial, blaming and not taking responsibility.
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Living with or being close to someone with narcissistic traits can leave you feeling exhausted, unheard, confused, unloved, misunderstood, overwhelmed, guilty, frustrated, defeated, drained, tired, blamed, unappreciated and questioning your own reality. I can help you reach a level understanding about narcissism and develop the necessary tools needed to heal emotional wounds, process any lingering hurt with compassion, rebuild your confidence and sense of self-worth.
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“Narcissists don’t have relationships. They have arrangements that serve them.”​
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Dr Ramani – Clinical Psychologist and renown expert on Narcissism.
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You don’t have to navigate this alone. Book a session today and take the first step toward healing.
FIGHT, FLIGHT FREEZE &
FAWN
While most people recognize fight, flight, and freeze as trauma responses, fawning is often overlooked. Fawning is a survival mechanism where a person seeks safety by pleasing and appeasing others, often at the expense of their own needs and boundaries. It typically develops in response to abuse, neglect, or emotionally unpredictable environments.
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As parents, my husband and I unknowingly fawned. Struggling to set boundaries, lacking confidence, and feeling powerless in our role. This led to inconsistency and even feeling bullied by our own children. Only when we recognized and changed these patterns did we build healthier, more balanced relationships, allowing our children to feel loved, safe and be the amazing little humans they were meant to be.
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If you find yourself constantly people-pleasing or struggling with boundaries, you may be experiencing the fawn response. Awareness is the first step to change. Book a session to begin your healing journey.
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Starting a New Business
A Journey of Trust & Resilience In March 2021, I faced an unexpected turning point when I lost my job due to the mandates. While this was a challenging experience, I stood by my values, honouring what felt right for me. Despite the stigma, ostracization, and discrimination I encountered, I held onto my dignity and self-respect. Those times were difficult for everyone, and I carry no resentment—only gratitude for where the journey has led me. This pivotal moment opened the door to entrepreneurship, allowing me to launch three small businesses in 2021. Two found immediate success, while the third is now being reimagined and relaunched alongside the unveiling of the groundbreaking documentary SEEN in March 2025. Interestingly, my counselling practice, which I initially started in 2021, did not take off at that time. Perhaps the timing wasn’t right—perhaps it was meant to flourish now. ​​​
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Through my journey, I’ve discovered an alternative approach to starting a business—one that doesn’t rely on rigid business plans, financial projections, or relentless social media strategies. Instead, it embraces alignment, intuition, and trust in the process. If you're curious about this less conventional, yet deeply fulfilling approach to entrepreneurship, I invite you to book a session with me. Your path to success may not look like anyone else's—and that’s exactly the point. Let’s explore it together
My rates are simple & affordable:
Individual
Counselling
$150 - 1hr
Concession $100
Couple
Counselling
$225 - 1.5hrs
Concession $150
When you choose to work with me, please know, I will help you find your inner divine truth so you will intuitively know what steps to take to find the healing, connection and inner peace you desire.
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Please pay to Zidia Valdebenito , straight after or PayPal (zidia@hotmail.com)
Contact Details
Want to hear more how YOU can transform your life? Payments to be made before our first session.
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Please Pay to Zidia Valdebenito
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Payments by direct debit (invoice will be provided upon booking) or Paypal (link below)
$50 cancellation fee applies if less than 24hr notice is given.
Address: 74 Ernest St, Margate
0434 237 175