Meet Michelle Hunt
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’ve wanted to be in the helping profession for as long as I can remember. My inspiration came largely from my grandparents. My Grandma was one of the kindest and most compassionate people I’ve ever known. I deeply admired those qualities in her and aspired to embody even a fraction of her warmth and generosity.
While my grandma’s nature had a profound impact on me, it was my relationship with my Pop that truly motivated me to become a counsellor. Pop struggled with alcoholism throughout my Mum’s childhood. When my Mum became a parent, she made it clear to Pop that her children would never witness him under the influence of alcohol. If he wanted a relationship with his grandchildren, he needed to stop drinking.
Pop made the decision to stop drinking. From then on, he and I formed a special bond. My experience of him was entirely different from my Mum’s childhood memories. To me, Pop was fun-loving, humorous, helpful, and dependable. As a child, I came into the relationship without judgement or preconceived notions, and this allowed me to see him through a fresh lens. In turn, Pop embraced this opportunity to recreate himself in a way that benefited not only our relationship but the entire family.
Witnessing the transformative power of connection inspired me to help others. I saw firsthand how a non-judgemental stance could enable someone to create meaningful change. This understanding drives me to provide that same opportunity for others through counselling.
What specific areas do you primarily work within?
I primarily work with adults, offering both individual and relationship therapy, and I am also an ACA-approved Clinical Supervisor.
In my counselling practice, I support clients who feel stuck in unhealthy situations, patterns, and relationships to create healthier connections and behaviours. Feeling “stuck” can manifest in various ways, whether it’s being in an unfulfilling location, career, or relationship, or grappling with challenges like addiction or grief. For many of my clients, the central theme is often a struggle with unhealthy relationship patterns, whether individually or as a couple.
As an ACA-approved supervisor, I also provide clinical supervision along with personal and professional development for counsellors. I am particularly interested in supporting new counsellors and private practitioners as they shape their professional identity, refine their skills, and grow both as practitioners and business owners.
Can you share a recent success or achievement in your counselling work that you're proud of?
Blue Wren Therapy celebrated its 5th anniversary in January, a milestone I’m incredibly proud of. The journey to this point has been one of perseverance and adaptation—launching during a pandemic, relocating to a new state, and continuing to grow despite challenging economic conditions.
In my first year of business, I came across a daunting statistic: four out of five small businesses close within their first five years. From that moment, surpassing this milestone became both a personal and professional goal. Achieving it fills me with pride and gratitude for the support I’ve received along the way.
Looking ahead, I hope Blue Wren Therapy continues to thrive for many more years, and I’m passionate about helping other private practitioners achieve similar success in their own journeys.
What is the most rewarding aspect of being a counsellor for you?
The most rewarding aspect of being a counsellor is the privilege of forming meaningful relationships. While these relationships are professional, they are also deeply personal. I feel honoured to witness the most honest and authentic version of my clients and to be entrusted with their vulnerabilities.
I especially cherish working with long-term clients, as it allows me to witness their growth and achievements over time. This is also why I enjoy supervision work. Supervision offers a unique relationship where I can support supervisees as they evolve both personally and professionally—a process that I find extremely fulfilling.
How do you contribute to the betterment of the profession and your community?
Being a counsellor, especially in private practice, can sometimes feel isolating. I deeply understand the importance of staying connected with peers and networks. Since moving to Townsville, I’ve explored various networking opportunities, including joining a local BNI Chapter and the Sundalah Health and Wellbeing Community. Through these networks, I’ve had the opportunity to present talks and workshops on counselling and wellbeing topics, fostering community education and connection.
One of my proudest contributions has been establishing the first Townsville ACA Chapter in August 2024. This chapter provides local counsellors with access to professional development and the chance to build meaningful connections with one another. I’m incredibly excited about this initiative and encourage counsellors in Townsville and surrounding areas to get involved.
Beyond networking, I also write a blog as an extension of my passion for personal development. As a personal growth enthusiast, I enjoy consuming self-help resources and sharing the insights I gain through my blog. My goal is to inspire and support others on their personal growth journeys.
Are there any projects or initiatives you're currently involved in?
Last year, I created a talk for the Sundalah Wellbeing Festival on the topic of “how to get unstuck.” I’m now in the process of developing this talk into an interactive workshop, which I plan to deliver to the public. Additionally, I’m writing a book on the same subject. Writing a book has always been a personal life goal, and I’m excited to make significant progress on it in 2025, hoping this will be the year I bring it to fruition.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in counselling/psychotherapy?
This is an incredibly rewarding career, but it can also be emotionally demanding. You’ll spend much of your time engaging with challenging emotions and difficult content, so self-care is essential.
Think about strategies for every stage of your day and week: How will you prepare yourself in the morning? What practices will help during sessions and between them? How will you switch off at the end of the day? Consider your boundaries—how much workload is manageable for you? How often will you seek supervision?
Ultimately, remember that you cannot effectively care for others if you’re neglecting your own wellbeing. Prioritising self-care isn’t just beneficial; it’s a vital part of being a sustainable and effective practitioner.
Is there a quote or philosophy that inspires your work?
A quote that has inspired my work comes from a book I had when I was about 12 years old, A Guide for the Advanced Soul. The book offered a different quote or insight on every page and encouraged readers to hold a problem in their mind, then open to any page to find guidance. One day, I opened the book and read: “Free yourself from the responsibility of making other people happy.”
To my 12-year-old self, this concept felt profound, so I shared it with my grandma, who was one of the kindest and most selfless people I knew. Her reaction surprised me—she looked horrified and said, “I’m not sure about that.” In that moment, I felt shame for even considering the idea and resolved to continue my pursuit of making others happy.
This perspective likely shaped my path to becoming a counsellor. For a long time, I believed it was my responsibility to make others happy. However, once I began practising as a counsellor, I was introduced to the concept of The Drama Triangle. This model highlights the dangers of the rescuer role—someone who feels responsible for others’ happiness but, in doing so, risks disempowering those they aim to help.
Understanding this dynamic allowed me to re-engage with the quote I’d read years before, this time without guilt. I realised that my role as a counsellor is not to make others happy but to empower them to take responsibility for their own happiness. This insight has become a guiding philosophy in my work, reminding me to collaborate with clients and support them in achieving the outcomes they set for themselves—not taking responsibility for them.
Open question - tell anything that was not asked in the previous questions?
You didn’t ask me about Sasha! Sasha is my chihuahua and a wonderful colleague in my practice. I adopted her at the end of 2023 after she had experienced a very rough start to life, which included having both of her eyes removed.
From the moment I met Sasha, I suspected she would make an excellent therapy dog. Her quiet and affectionate nature, combined with her incredible resilience, makes her an inspiring role model. I was right—Sasha is a natural. She instinctively connects with clients, often sitting with them and offering comfort.
My clients adore Sasha and having her working by my side is an absolute joy and one of the highlights of my counselling and supervision practice.