Community Psychologist, Lecturer in Counselling
ACA Academic Member
Australian Counselling Research Journal and Counselling Australia Magazine Peer Reviewer
Each month we spotlight an ACA member in the ACA Monthly Bulletin, our monthly newsletter. The Member Spotlight is designed to showcase the work of our members to you! We hope their stories inspire or spark interest. Let’s share our experiences within our counselling community.
What motivated you to pursue a career in counselling?
I think wanting to help others in need. As a child, I went to many different schools and often found myself lonely and nervous to try new things. So wanted to help others now I have courage.
I enjoyed teaching remedial reading and piano in Papua New Guinea in the mid 70s, and fostering children in the 1980s with my husband and two sons. I was told I would need to do training. Fortunately, Western Institute opened up just a kilometre away, so I became an inaugural student, studying psychology, sociology, and women’s studies. By the time I graduated it had become Victoria University.
In the 90s I worked at Victorian Equal opportunity Commission and then the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, whilst completing a post-graduate degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology at University of Melbourne. That put me off psychology for a while.
So I did a Master of Social Science in International Development at RMIT, doing some work for International Red Cross and International Commission of Jurists, which was fascinating.
In the early 20s I really appreciated concentrated time on research doing my PhD in community psychology, marrying my two loves of psychology and community work, back at Victoria University. My research with youth groups, including recently arrived refugees and a gay support group, was called, Social action with Youth: Creating a sense of community.
What specific areas do you primarily work within?
- Private practice as a psychologist in a city and rural settings, seeing a range of adults, some children and some couples.
- Counselling co-ordinator at Asylum Seeker Resource Centre with much trauma and PTSD.
- Academic teaching counselling at a small college, Eastern College Australia.
- Supervising psychologists and community workers.
Can you share a recent success or achievement in your counselling work that you're proud of?
Publishing a handbook on counselling called, Sing me a song to Soar: Finding hope in our redemptive stories. A hopeful handbook that can be used as a self-help book, on positive psychology and narrative therapy principles, including: narrative therapy metaphors for different issues; compassion-focused therapy for better self-care; The Shark Cage; and nature therapy and much more. Finding what feeds your soul, such as for me, walking in parklands every day.
What is the most rewarding aspect of being a counsellor for you?
Teaching Masters of Community Counselling, and learning from the students. Also, supervision of psychologists, counsellors and community workers.
Are there any projects or initiatives you're currently involved in?
In March this year I became so distressed with USA withdrawing all USA AID from developing countries. So the richest men on earth decided to take away all support from the poorest millions of children around the world. I have now written a handbook on human rights and the rights of the planet, called We sing songs for life: Valuing people and the planet. It will be published later this year, and I hope to have another book launch at Fairfield Boathouse later this year, with their famous scones, jam & cream.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in counselling/psychotherapy?
Counselling is very rewarding, being a guide to help others and a gift to listen to others in their darkest times to hear their secrets, offering support and reminding them of what supports they have within and in the community.
Is there a quote or philosophy that inspires your work?
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented kindness
Open question - tell anything that was not asked in the previous questions?
I am also writing an historical novel, Wild Rose captured in Beechworth Asylum for the Insane.
I started writing the novel nearly two years ago, when my sister Rosalie Joy, died in much pain and suffering. My husband took me to Beechworth to try and cheer me. I have been fascinated by the asylum there, and wanted to write a book, having a female central character with reflections of my sister. The locals assured me that no-one has written a novel based on Beechworth Asylum. The local bookshops are looking forward to the book launch.
I am fascinated to read and write about the worst and the better ways that we treat people, especially women, who have been labelled as mad, bad or sad.
Here is the latest beginning to my novel, of which I have written 65,000 words, about three quarters of the way there. But I keep getting distracted with more handbooks to write and publish.
Wild Roses of Beechworth Asylum - Preface
My Irish Granny, God rest her soul, taught me a prayer that has stood me in good stead through all my heart-ache.
Grant me Oh God, the serenity, To accept what cannot be helped
Courage to change what must be altered, And wisdom to know the difference.
I was taking the courage to accept my fate, but working out what I could alter, when my troubles really escalated, after I was called Wild Rose.
I believe I was the first Wild Rose. All of us women in the insane asylum became known as the Wild Ones, the Wild Roses . . .
