About Mariza Bray
Professional Background
I am a Registered Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA Reg. 26651), having special interest in palliative care, serious illness, grief and bereavement support.
My work is grounded in compassion, emotional safety and practical guidance, supporting clients through some of life’s most challenging chapters.
I have experience working with palliative clients in hospice settings, supporting NDIS participants, and providing in-home counselling for Aged Care (Support at Home) participants, as well as working with private clients and families who need calm, professional support during times of uncertainty, loss and transition.
Creative Work
Before becoming a counsellor, I worked full-time as a ceramic artist, and creativity remains a meaningful part of my identity.
When appropriate, I also incorporate gentle art-therapy–informed approaches into counselling to support clients who find it easier to express and understand emotions through creativity, reflection, imagery or symbolic work.
Today, alongside my counselling services, a significant part of my time is dedicated to creating joyful personalised ashes urns — pieces designed to honour a loved one’s life and celebrate their presence with beauty, warmth and meaning.
This work reflects my belief that love continues, and that remembrance can be expressed through art that feels personal, gentle and deeply respectful.
Personal Life
Outside of counselling, I am a wife and mother of three boys aged between 13 and 20, and family life is at the centre of who I am. I am Japanese Brazilian, and I have proudly called Australia home for the past 24 years, which has shaped my values, perspective and cultural sensitivity.
I’m passionate about living fully and staying connected — whether that’s sharing time with friends and family, running along the beach at sunrise, or finding peace in nature when life feels busy.
These simple moments bring me grounding, perspective and gratitude, and they strongly influence the way I support others through grief, illness and change.