COUNSELLING
A lot people ask me, ‘What type of counselling do you do?’ If they mean ‘who do I help?’ then the answer is; I specialise in working with Children, Adolescents, Parents and Teachers. I also work with Individuals in helping them on their life journey toward wellbeing and good mental health covering a variety of concerns.
If the question means, ‘What type of counselling’ do I do? I primarily use ACT therapy. Since my first encounter with ACT (pronounced as the word ‘act’), I have personally experienced an ongoing freedom as I move away from automatic reactions due to being caught up in unhelpful thinking and unwanted emotions. Instead, ACT therapy invites Acceptance of the things that we cannot control, including those unwanted and unpleasant nagging thoughts and feelings. Having deciding on what is important, we make values-based decisions for life with a Commitment to respond to life in a way that is consistent with our values. This therapy approach equips people with the power of choice, fueled by awareness of our thoughts and feelings, and coupled with an acceptance of the things we cannot control. The part that moves us forward, is the decision to respond to life’s events with values-based decisions. This is an interactive therapy style, as practicing is the only way to learn.
I primarily use ACT therapy within the counselling space. However, there are times when some good old fashioned, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is required, as well as Narrative therapy – especially for younger clients. When working with families, we usually will look at the processes or systems that are taking place within the family – what patterns do we see, and what can we do to change unhelpful patterns. All of these therapy styles, have one core element, and that is the wellbeing of those seeking help.
Bookings can be made online, or via the contact page or phone.
Children/Adolescents
Equip Counselling & Consulting specialises in working with children and adolescents of all school ages. Due to Gwen’s work across all school levels from Junior Primary through to Senior Secondary, and formal study in relation to child and adolescent development, Gwen has a knowledge and understanding of the different challenges children and teens face.
In working with children and teens, there are some common concerns that present differently, and will be experienced differently, depending on the individual young person, their age, combined with their social, school and family contexts.
Some of these are:
Anxiety
Anger/Tantrums/Rage
Accepting Responsibility
Being Highly Sensitive
Change of Life: social, physical, emotional and social changes
Depression
Emotional Outbursts
Family Break-down.
Fear of Failure/Perfectionism
Grief
Impulsive Behaviour
Lack of Resilience
Separation Anxiety
Sibling Rivalry
Social Concerns
Self Esteem
Trauma
The Initial Session.
In most cases the initial session includes the involvement of the adult who bought their young person to counselling. It is generally the case that a young person hasn’t chosen to go to counselling and it has been a decision made for them. With this in mind, there are three goals within the initial session: The most important goal is that the young person feels safe; whether the adult who came with them stays for the session or not, is entirely up to the young person. The other two goals are closely related, and that is for rapport to develop between the counsellor and the young person, and that the young person grows in their ability to trust the counsellor.
Using a process of story-telling, illustrations and a variety of other tools, children and teens are encouraged and assisted in identifying thoughts and emotions. Strategies are taught for decision making and identifying when thoughts and behaviour are helpful and when they are not. This process takes time, so one can generally expect a ‘go slow’ approach with potential concerns being addressed indirectly during the process of gaining and maintaining a positive rapport, sense of safety and trust.
Parents/Guardians
Gwen knows the challenges of raising a family combined with career and education. Gwen works with parents in assisting them by exploring potential strategies and providing further understanding to their child’s development. Some areas of need may include:
- Protecting your relationship as you parent
- Strategies for behaviour modification
- Keeping your cool in the face of a tantrum
- Values based parenting
- Understanding your child’s world
- Highly Sensitive Children
See the list of articles written for parents – click on the title for the full articles.
Resilience keeps appearing, be it workshops, books, or a blog like this one. It seems to be what people want, but do they know what they are wanting?
The Desire to Belong to the Peer Group
One of the toughest aspects of school is the peer group. Teaching children about the peer group, and making good choices is essential.
A fear of failure will have children being too afraid to attempt tasks. What is it that they are really afraid of? Is it just failure of a task or is there more at risk? What can we as adults do to help our children and young people to develop resilience to accept their failures and to continue on with determination.
Bully Resilience: Changing the Game – An Overview
A fear of failure will have children being too afraid to attempt tasks. What is it that they are really afraid of? Is it just failure of a task or is there more at risk? What can we as adults do to help our children and young people to develop resilience to accept their failures and to continue on with determination.
When Push Comes to Shove. How Much Should I Push My Child
What is the difference between Pushing your child that results in conflict, and Encouraging that serves to empower them. What do they look like?
Back to School; What Does it Mean for Your Child?
‘Back to School’ can mean different things for different children; are they new at their school, going into prep or Year 7? They could excited or anxious.
Teachers
Gwen’s work as a counsellor follows on from a teaching career where she taught across primary and secondary levels. She knows the demands of education as a profession, as well as the personal toll of trying to do a job that is never completed. Some of the areas that Gwen can assist in are:
- Classroom management
- Creativity in the classroom
- Self-Care and Wellbeing
- Stress/Anxiety reduction
- Teaching Bully Resilience to students
- Work/Life balance
See the list of articles written for teachers (some are also for parents) – click on the title for the full articles.
Resilience keeps appearing, be it workshops, books, or a blog like this one. It seems to be what people want, but do they know what they are wanting?
The Desire to Belong to the Peer Group
One of the toughest aspects of school is the peer group. Teaching children about the peer group, and making good choices is essential.
A fear of failure will have children being too afraid to attempt tasks. What is it that they are really afraid of? Is it just failure of a task or is there more at risk? What can we as adults do to help our children and young people to develop resilience to accept their failures and to continue on with determination.
Bully Resilience: Changing the Game – An Overview
A fear of failure will have children being too afraid to attempt tasks. What is it that they are really afraid of? Is it just failure of a task or is there more at risk? What can we as adults do to help our children and young people to develop resilience to accept their failures and to continue on with determination.
The ACT of Writing: Using Mindfulness to Unlock Creativity
Mindfulness activities with students can help unlock their creativity, by providing them with an experience that is worth writing about.
3 Steps to Prevent Teacher-Burnout
Why is it, that teaching can be so rewarding and also so exhausting? What can you do to protect yourself from Burnout? What are 3 things that you can do?
Individuals
Gwen’s counselling ability and knowledge come from her personal experiences with mental health, education, parenting and formal study. This has equipped her with the ability to connect to adults, adolescents and children.
Her values include; connection, acceptance, affirmation, personal stories and knowing the need for a safe space and community; this is foundational to her counselling practice. Gwen is skilled in helping individuals with a variety of mental health concerns such as:
- social anxiety
- anger management
- grief
- depression
- sexuality
- identity
- relationship concerns
- work/life balance
- self-care and wellbeing
- stage of life
- low confidence
- spirituality
- the highly sensitive
- burnout prevention and recovery
- being a carer
- elderly parents.
See the list of articles written in the interest of mental health and wellbeing – click on the title for the full articles.
Living with a Bully in Your Brain
Do you have a bully that lives in your brain? When I wrote Bully Resilience; changing the game, I had not anticipated its application beyond resilience against bullies. Others have since reported back on how it has helped them in relation to dealing with belittling and bullying thinking.
Do you Want Panic to be Your Default Response?
Do you experience frequent feelings of anxiety, stress or panic? What does it take to re-train our brain to respond differently and remain in control?
Do you lack confidence? Gain confidence by looking to others who have gone before you, start by taking small steps, listen to encouragement from others.
When life is in deep despair with a sense of hopelessness; then to live is pain. The hardest decision is to live; this is when support is most needed.
What do we do with the dreams that just did not happen? How do we reconcile a life that does not look like the brochure? How do we re-engage our passion?
Pre-Marriage – Prepare/Enrich
Gwen is a Prepare/Enrich facilitator and trained to assist couples using the Prepare/Enrich questionnaire responses, to assist couples preparing for marriage. Topics such as stress, communication, conflict, money management, and family are some of the topics explored. For more information go to Prepare-Enrich.com.au.
Couples & Relationship Counselling
For Couples and Relationship Counselling, Equip Counselling & Consulting highly recommend Matt Glover at MGA Counselling Services. https://mgacounselling.com.au/.
Regardless of what form it takes, relationships are hard work.
Whether it be a traditional marriage, a couple, a same-sex relationship, a friendship, or a relationship of some other variety, all need a tune up from time to time.
Matt is trained in the Gottman method of relationship counselling and draws on several other methods depending on the need. Generally, the first session in relationship counselling is a ‘getting to know you’ session. The next two appointments are individual sessions with each person in the relationship, before coming back together for subsequent sessions to do the work required. In between the first couple session and the two individual sessions, the Gottman Relationship Check Up online survey is taken by each person, which results in a comprehensive report that is used for the basis of moving forward together.
For non-traditional relationships, Matt provides a safe and understanding environment to help you achieve your goals and desires.
Call Matt Glover on 1300 38 50 20 or email matt@mgacounselling.com.au.
MGA Counselling Services
Director: Matt Glover
2-4 Bemboka Road, Croydon Hills
1036 Doncaster Road, East Doncaster
Ph: 1300 38 50 20
LGBTIQA+
Since 2011, Gwen has been involved with the Christian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, (LGBTI) communities. She has seen the damage that has resulted from conservative views, and seeks to assist individuals in reconciling their spirituality with their sexuality, with the goal of living authentically in community and wholeness.
Stages of Support for the LGBTIQ Community
There are 8 stages of support for the LGBTIQ community. Some positive, some negative, some intend to be positive, but result in negative.
Counselling Fees and Frequently Asked Questions.
Fees are set as below:
- Individual full fee: $90/session
- Individual concession fee: $80/session
- Couple/family full fee: $100/session (includes working with more than one child, and/or with both parents present)
- Couple/family concession fee: $90/session
- Home visits (exceptional circumstances only): $110 /session to be paid at the time of the appointment
- Weekend and emergency appointments: $110 /session
- Prepare/Enrich clients – a minimum of 3 sessions at $95 /session – ongoing session are maintained at this rate
- Professional Supervision: $100/session
Appointment duration: Appointments are of 50 minute duration; extensions to this time must be arranged prior to appointment and will incur extra charges based on the session rate.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
Can I use the Mental Health Plan – Medicare Rebate?
No. The Medicare Rebate is available with psychologists, psychiatrists and doctors. However, the fee you will pay to a counsellor, is comparable to the the gap you pay after the medicare rebate.
Do you do Christian counselling?
The topic and direction of counselling is strongly determined by the client. If you would like to discuss matters of faith, then I am well equipped from experience and study, to assist in such discussions. Spirituality is a valid aspect of our lives, with our expressions and experiences varying from one individual to another.
Sisters Beach – Tasmania