During the rage of COVID-19, few people have been able to continue, unmodified, the daily life schedule they employed before the pandemic. The months of “sheltering-in-place” incarceration have generated some wonderful humour (witness all the jokes about home schooling and weight gain!), and more than a little reflection on what truly matters — and what, […]
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Just Launched: Disaster Counselling Credential Course
Disasters are on the rise. Whether it’s disasters like the recent bushfires in Australia or the current COVID-19 global pandemic, the outcomes can have enduring emotional consequences for individuals and communities. As a mental health professional, how prepared are you to work in a disaster situation and provide the best possible support? And not just […]
- April 23, 2020
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- News & Events, Trauma & Disaster Mental Health
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COVID-19, Fear and What Counsellors Can Do to Help
A member of our writing team related the following experience during these times of near-lockdown. She had gone out to do some essentials such as grocery shopping and getting prescriptions filled for her healthy but self-isolating husband. Returning home, she threw down her things, wailed, “It’s just awful”, and burst into tears. Her astonished husband […]
- April 3, 2020
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- Loss & Grief, Stress Management, Trauma & Disaster Mental Health
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Setting Up Online Counselling: Not Just a Couple of Clicks
The purpose of counselling is generally to help people learn to live in happier, more effective ways, which more often than not means helping them learn how to come together better with other people. In these pandemic-permeated times, however, we are told by authorities that the most effective means of being with others is to […]
- March 26, 2020
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- Counselling Theory & Process, Ethics & Legal Issues, Technology & Social Media
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Living a Mindful Life: Mindfulness Program
For quite some time now, many of our readers and students have wanted a Mindfulness program that not only teaches them about Mindfulness, but progressively helps them integrate Mindfulness into their lives for enhanced wellbeing. Well, we listened, and now we’re delivering! The resultant program is Living a Mindful Life. Living a Mindful Life This was […]
- March 11, 2020
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- Personal Effectiveness, Stress Management, Wellness
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Bushfire Crisis: Resources for Mental Health Professionals
The Australian bushfire crisis has impacted millions, putting individuals, families and entire communities at higher risk of trauma and psychological/emotional distress. In response, many mental health professionals across the country are putting their hands up to assist those impacted by the disaster. To support their efforts, Mental Health Academy created a collection of freely accessible educational resources […]
- January 29, 2020
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- Children & Adolescents, Clinical Mental Health, Trauma & Disaster Mental Health
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Infidelity: Rebuilding After a Betrayal
She makes an appointment to talk about the “what next” since the affair. You assume that her spouse has been unfaithful, but when she turns up to session, she tells you that she was the one who strayed. “It felt so good at the time,” she says. “I felt more alive and sexy than I […]
- January 14, 2020
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- Loss & Grief, Relationship & Families
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Infidelity: Helping the Betrayed Partner
He sits down and looks at you dolefully, his big eyes full of hurt and desperation. “I don’t know why she cheated on me,” he whispers hoarsely, “but this is the worst hurt I have ever felt. I don’t know how I will cope, or what it means for our kids. I guess my marriage […]
- December 17, 2019
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- Loss & Grief, Relationship & Families
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Assessing Therapist-client Fit
Please consider these two scenarios for a moment. Scenario 1. The new client comes in and makes solid eye contact as she seats herself. You feel a surge of warmth toward her and are immediately interested. As the session progresses, you notice she is similar to you in certain unusual ways, and her passing remarks […]
- December 3, 2019
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Counselling Theory & Process, Ethics & Legal Issues
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The Psychology of Bragging
You are asked at the cocktail party what you do. “Well,” you respond with enthusiasm, “I’m so excited right now. I just graduated with my degree in hospitality.” “Oh, a future barista,” says the other guest, swirling his drink. “I guess we can’t all get Ph.D.’s in science like I did.” You run into a […]
- November 14, 2019
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- Addictions, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Courses: Choosing The Right Counselling Course
Counselling is one of the fastest growing occupations in Australia. According to the Australian government job site Job Outlook (1), the counselling profession is expected to grow by 18%; with around 22,000 job openings (4,400 per year for 5 years). This growth is driven largely by increasing consumer need. The statistics on the mental health […]
- October 21, 2019
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- Career Development
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Detecting the Deception
Counsellor to client mandated to come to counselling after an alleged domestic violence incident: “So, did you hit your wife?” Client: (Squirming in chair). “I love my wife. Do you think I would give a black eye to the woman I love? What happened was that there was this jar of honey that couldn’t be […]
- October 21, 2019
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- Addictions, Counselling Theory & Process, Relationship & Families
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Dealing with Deception in Counselling
“You should always believe your clients,” said the counselling-training professor to the trainees, “and you should always disbelieve them” It’s possible that that advice — confusing and impossible as it seems to be — is useful not only for therapists listening to clients, but to any of us listening to a fellow human being. Even […]
- October 10, 2019
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- Addictions, Relationship & Families, Wellness
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Lying: Life Skill or Lousy Habit?
Johnny sings a song to his mum and asks her how well she thought he sang. In reality, Mum likens Johnny’s voice to, as Simon Cowell once said of a talent show participant, “the sound a cat makes after it falls off the roof before it hits the ground”. Does Mum say this to Johnny, […]
- September 30, 2019
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- Addictions, Relationship & Families
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The Rise and Rise of the Selfie
Do any of these statements apply to you? How about to anyone you know, including any clients? “I gain enormous attention by sharing my selfies on social media.” “Taking different selfie poses helps increase my social status.” “Taking more selfies improves my mood and makes me feel happy.” “I become a strong member of my […]
- September 17, 2019
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- Addictions, Children & Adolescents, Technology & Social Media
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