Your Breath Is Your Anchor......
My Story
My career as a nurse started out in the military when I was 17. It feels like a lifetime ago in more ways than just time. I initially trained to become a medic but after a couple of years I retrained as a the pathology technician before ultimately deciding I wanted something different. It was here that I decided to become a registered nurse (having earned my enrolled nursing in the ARMY) and left the military. All up I'd completed 6 years in the military and grown from the experience.
In 1999, once qualified as a Registered Nurse, I realised that my future was not in the medical wards but with the mental health patients I'd spent time with during my training. So I continued my studies and completed post graduate studies and earned a graduate diploma in Mental Health Nursing. This was my first introduction to mental health counselling, evidenced based treatment models, assessment and psychopharmacology.
From here the fun began and I embarked on an amazing journey. Along the way I have worked in every public child and adolescent inpatient unit in Brisbane and provided assessments and referrals in both the acute and community setting. I've been employed in both management and clinical roles and have had the opportunity to provide clinical supervision to others along the way.
During the last 24 years I have specialised in assisting young people and their families to foster greater capacities for self awareness and understanding of their relationships by utilising a variety of research backed, trauma informed therapies that have extended to include single session therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy and solution based counselling techniques. All of which may mean very little if you're seeking to engage in therapy for the first time. In practice I've always found myself gravitating toward a more collective, humanistic approach that honours the full range of an individuals experiences and It's from here that I hope to continue in my private work....
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Clinical Supervision
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Therapy is both an art and a science, which can make for some complexity, as whilst the science can be taught and learnt the art of therapy can be challenging. Over the years I've continually engaged in my own clinical supervision and have found the process invaluable. As therapists we have an ethical duty to protect clients and provide quality unbiased therapy, however, daily work with distraught people can be overwhelming and draining. If we are not assisted to process through our own emotions and practice self care the development of a healthy, therapeutic relationship, with our clients, may be hindered. I've personally felt this at times over the years and have been lucky enough to have kind, honest, experienced supervisors to assist me process through the complexity of my work. I hope I can provide this same support to others on their own unique client journeys.
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If you are a nurse, teacher, counsellor or any other professional, and would like clinical supervision please hit the connect link below. I'd love to chat and provide support. Im not a registered clinical supervisor as yet (I only have the training I've completed via QLD Health over the years) so those that require their supervisor to be registered with ACA, or another professional body, will not be able to access me for support.