ACA Counsellor of the Year 2026: Rayma Torresan’s story
At AIPC, one of the greatest privileges is seeing our graduates go on to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
So when we heard that Rayma Torresan had been named the Australian Counselling Association’s (ACA) Counsellor of the Year for 2026, we were thrilled for her and eager to hear more about the work that led to this well-deserved recognition.
We connected with Rayma for an interview to hear about her journey, the impact she’s making in her community, and what the award means to her.
“It’s a funny story as to how I got nominated,” she says. “I have a colleague that rings me and says, ‘I’ve seen these awards and I’d love to nominate you.’ And I basically hung up on her. I said, ‘I’m too busy, go away. This is not me.’”
As we chatted with Rayma, one thing became clear: while the award is a significant achievement, Rayma is far more interested in talking about her clients, their progress and the lives they’ve rebuilt.
It comes as no surprise then as to why she received this award!
Rayma’s Pathway to Becoming a Counsellor: The Role AIPC Played
Before becoming a counsellor, Rayma spent years as a singer and singing teacher. Looking back, she can see how those experiences helped shape the counsellor she would eventually become.
“I noticed that I had this little knack for connecting with people,” she says. “I’m a singing teacher, but they’re telling me all this stuff about their life.”
It wasn’t long until counselling began to feel like a natural next step.
“It just felt right,” she says. “So I did it.”
That decision eventually led her to study the Bachelor of Counselling at AIPC, where she completed her studies while raising three young children.
“I never believed I could do a degree with three small children,” she says.
What stood out most to Rayma wasn’t just the course content, but the support and connections she built along the way.
“The course content was brilliant, but they were also so good at supporting you.”
One of those connections has stayed with her throughout her career. Through AIPC’s residential schools, Rayma met a facilitator who would later become her clinical supervisor.
More than 15 years later, they still work together.
Looking back, it’s those relationships, alongside the practical learning and support she received throughout her studies, that continue to influence her work today.
The DCJ Thursday Initiative
A significant part of the work that led to Rayma being named Counsellor of the Year centres around the DCJ Thursday Initiative, a program supporting women experiencing trauma, addiction, domestic violence and child protection involvement.
The idea grew from more than a decade spent working with children in foster care.
While supporting children, Rayma found herself thinking about their parents and wondering what might be possible if they could access the right support earlier.
“If I could rehabilitate parents, that would be truly meaningful,” she says.
Working alongside local child protection services, she helped create a program that combines trauma therapy, psychoeducation, parenting support, and community collaboration.
The results speak for themselves, “in two and a half years, I haven’t lost one,” Rayma says, referring to the babies and families supported through the program.
Many of the women entering the program have already had children removed from their care. Today, some are parenting their babies successfully while also working towards restoring relationships with their older children.
Listening to Rayma speak about the women she works with, it’s clear how deeply she believes in their capacity to heal and grow.
One of Rayma’s favourite client stories
When asked about a client story that made her proud, Rayma immediately thought of one woman.
A woman who had spent 20 years living in addiction and dealing drugs and was trying to enter the workforce but was overwhelmed with self-doubt.
“We’re trying to transition her into the workforce and she’s petrified,” she recalls. “And I said, ‘Listen, you were a drug dealer for 20 years. You’re an entrepreneur.'”
Rather than focusing on what had gone wrong, Rayma helped her recognise the skills she had developed through years of survival.
“Let’s have a look at everything you had to do in that world to survive with four children. You’re good at sales. You’re good at customer service. How do we translate that?”
The woman went on to secure employment and begin building a new future for herself and her family.
For Rayma, moments like these are what make the work so rewarding.
“I love watching their rebirth into this world,” she says.
Breaking the Cycle: Intergenerational Healing
One of the themes that kept coming up throughout our conversation was intergenerational healing.
Through her work, Rayma has seen firsthand how trauma can be passed through generations, but she’s also seen the power of breaking those patterns.
“Not one of these women had good attachment in childhood,” she says.
Helping clients understand that their struggles didn’t start with them can be incredibly empowering.
One question she often asks is:
“Imagine if your mother had gone and got trauma therapy when you were two. What would have changed for you?”
It’s a simple question, but one that often helps people see their own healing in a completely different light.
“When they understand that this didn’t start with them, they start to get agency,” she says. “They start to see that they can break a pattern for these children and their children.”
Advice for Future AIPC Students
Today, alongside her client work, Rayma is an accredited EMDR therapist, clinical supervisor and creator of several online psychoeducational programs, including Discover Inner Healing, The Connected Parent and The Connected Carer.
These programs reflect the same passion that runs through all of her work: helping people better understand trauma, healing and connection.
For all of her achievements, what stood out most during our conversation wasn’t the award itself. It was Rayma’s strong belief in people and their capacity to change.
Whether she’s supporting mothers through trauma, helping clients rebuild their confidence, or mentoring the next generation of counsellors, her approach is grounded in compassion, curiosity and a genuine desire to see people succeed.
For AIPC students and aspiring counsellors, her advice is simple:
“You’re always going to feel that self-doubt. But you need to have passion and drive. You’ve got to start somewhere. You’ve got to do your 10,000 hours. You’ve got to go through that growth and all these emotions are going to come up for you, but you’ve just got to keep going.”
Congratulations, Rayma.
This is a well deserved award and a testament to your character, your dedication, and the impact you make through your work every day.
We are incredibly proud to call you an AIPC graduate and look forward to seeing the continued impact of your work in the years to come!
About Rayma
Rayma Torresan is a Griffith-based counsellor, accredited EMDR therapist, clinical supervisor and founder of Rayma Torresan Counselling .
With a passion for trauma-informed practice and intergenerational healing, Rayma works with individuals, parents and carers to help them better understand trauma, build stronger connections and create lasting change. Alongside her counselling work, she is the creator of several psychoeducational programs, including Discover Inner Healing, The Connected Parent and The Connected Carer.
In 2026, Rayma was named the Australian Counselling Association’s (ACA) Counsellor of the Year in recognition of her contribution to the counselling profession and the communities she serves.”
Website: https://raymatorresancounselling.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raymatorresancounselling
Instagram: @raymatorresancounselling
