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Maria Kairouz

her/she

About

Professional Title

Psychotherapist

Organisation

Wholesense

Locations

  • All of Victoria

Areas Of Expertise

  • Advocacy and Inclusion
  • Community
  • Community and Youth
  • Creating Safe and Inclusive Spaces
  • Creative Expression and Activism
  • Diversity and Identity
  • Education and Equity
  • Identity and Faith
  • Intersectionality and Diversity
  • LGBTIQA+ Awareness and Inclusion
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • Skills and Empowerment

Presentation Topics

  • Advocacy
  • Arab/MENA Community Engagement
  • Awareness storytelling
  • Empowerment
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Family Violence
  • Hope for the Future
  • Improving our Impact
  • Inclusion
  • Intersectionality
  • Large groups
  • LGBTIQA+ advocacy through storytelling
  • LGBTQI+ visibility
  • Mental Health
  • Motivation
  • Motivational speaking
  • Neurodiverse Perspective
  • Neurodiverse perspectives
  • Organisational inclusivity
  • Preventing Future Harm
  • Rainbow Families
  • Womens rights
  • Youth Engagement

Socials

Open to Negotiating Fees

Yes

Biography

I’m Maria Kairouz (she/her), the founder and principal psychotherapist at WholeSense. As an LGBTQ+ identifying therapist, I bring both lived experience and professional expertise to the heart of my practice. I’ve spent over 15 years walking alongside individuals, couples, and communities through the often complex terrain of trauma, identity, and healing.

I hold formal qualifications in Psychotherapy, Counselling, and Social Science, and have trained in a range of trauma-informed, somatic, and relational modalities. My work is grounded in warmth, intuition, and a deep respect for each person’s unique journey. I specialise in supporting LGBTQ+ clients, polyamorous relationships, and people healing from family and domestic violence, sexual trauma, and intergenerational harm.

I believe therapy should be a place where people feel safe to be fully seen—without shrinking, performing, or hiding. My approach is inclusive, culturally sensitive, and deeply rooted in nervous system awareness and embodied compassion.

In addition to my clinical work, I’ve had the honour of speaking in professional and community settings on topics such as trauma recovery, emotional attunement, cultural healing, and self-compassion. I’m passionate about disrupting cycles of harm and helping people return to themselves with gentleness, honesty, and care.

At WholeSense, I lead a team of like-hearted practitioners. Together, we’re committed to creating spaces where healing is possible, truth is honoured, and people feel deeply held.

Experience

In addition to my clinical work, I’ve facilitated local religious and community-based speaking sessions, offering psycho-education and trauma-informed insight into the deep impact of intergenerational homophobia and the cultural and religious repercussions that often silence and harm us especially within our intimate family systems. These sessions have created space for dialogue, truth-telling, and collective healing within communities where these conversations are often met with resistance.

Although I do not currently have video recordings of my presentations, I would be happy to speak with you directly about my speaking experience or explore opportunities for future sessions and collaborations.

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