Neurodiverse Affirming Counselling
Therapy for children, adolescents and adults. Evidence based, trauma informed therapies provide practical strategies to help foster self compassion, acceptance and mindful self discovery. Supporting NDIS participants with plan management, self management and combination plans, online and in person session in Croydon, Victoria.
✔️ NDIS National Worker Screening Check
✔️ Police Check
✔️ Working with Children Check
✔️ Master of Counselling Qualification
✔️ Primary Teaching Qualification
✔️ Support for School Stress
✔️ Health Fund Rebates *
Telehealth Sessions
In Person Session
Lived Experience
Lived experiences with ADHD provide a unique perspective to explore mindful photovoice as a method to re-engage students facing school attendance problems. Early in my career as a primary school teacher, I witnessed firsthand how overwhelming the classroom environment can be for some students. Clearly, the demands of relationships, social anxiety, and fitting into an environment that often values behaviour over creativity can be particularly challenging for neurodivergent students. Unfortunately, schools are not always affirming of neurodiversity and the research is fairly daunting to say the least. Much work is needed in professional development as spoken by many educators and researchers on how to provide an inclusive classroom.
Hyperfocus
ADHD hyperfocus provided the stamina to delve into areas that helped me make sense of my own story. In short, exploring evidence based therapies such as Mindfulness Self Compassion (MSC), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Somatics, Focusing and trauma informed practice, proved to be very helpful.
Research
During my Master of Counselling postgraduate studies, I discovered my passion for research. The photovoice method, as an inclusive method for researching those who may be marginalised, took up much of my reading as I found scientific evidence to support the process that I have been instinctively working on for about 10 years. Mindful Photography, as a process to externalise and express difficult emotions, has been a part of my internal and external experience over the past decade. Now, the scaffolds built by researchers such as Caroline Wang and Mary Ann Burris, provide me with a pathway to help neurodivergent students advocate for change around school attendance. I aim to promote inclusivity, raise awareness of diverse experiences, and develop optimal learning environments by demonstrating the lived experience of those who School Can’t. Check out the research proposal on Researchgate if you are a geek like me! DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18506.99521/1
Struggling to concentrate?
Wearing too many hats?
Juggling the books for final exams?
Need to talk with someone about the stresses of school or work?
Call or text 0411 211 509 for a free 30 minute introductory call.
Evidence based counselling to get you through tough times
Mindful Photovoice
Mindful photography is a neurodiverse affirming therapy tool in counselling, helps clients to develop greater self-awareness and to process their emotions in a mindful and compassionate way. As we pay attention to senses, the grounding process assists with emotional regulation. Combining the practice of mindfulness and photography, clients are encouraged to slow down and pay attention to their surroundings. They are encouraged to observe their environment with curiosity and without judgment. As they take pictures, they are asked to focus on their feelings, thoughts, and physical sensations. Noticing and allowing thoughts and sensations as clients photograph, a bodily awareness of the present moment and the physical representation of that, through a photo, can be appreciated and brought forward.