Derek's Practice

I have been a Social Worker since 1997 and worked in a number of areas and acquired learnings in:

• Prison/ forensic mental health

• Alcohol & other drugs / Substance Support

• Sexual health

• Hepatitis C

• Adult mental health

• Depression, anxiety

• Grief work

• Adult autism (ASD-1)

• LGBTI

• Transpersonal understandings of the authentic self, and life meanings

• Trauma counselling

• Needle & syringe, and

• Professional private practice.

• Children in art therapy and sandplay

• Trauma (using EMDR, & the Flash Technique)

My private practice began in 2006 to 2008 after acquiring training in transpersonal counselling.  My Private practice continues working from a Jungian and Transpersonal approach in Art Therapy, Sandplay Therapy and Counselling in which exploring the symbolic and non-verbal is important.

My work is steeped in a Jungian perspective. I’ve had five years of personal Jungian analysis. I completed a year long course in the classical Jungian approach. I am schooled in Jungian Sandplay therapy. I was on the Committee of the Queensland Jung Society 2015-16, and am now moving towards membership with the Jungian ISST.

Therapy based on a Jungian approach is open to exploring dreams, complexes, myths and the archetypes that move throughout our lives.  Transpersonal work covers the area of moving between/ beyond the mask we show to the world.  It has been described as pursuit of the authentic self.  I also see transpersonal work as having overlays with narrative therapy; exploring the stories we make of our lives.  

In recent years I have been working as a Counsellor with NSW Health at the Lismore Liver Clinic, Lismore Sexual Health, and Mental Health; and also at ACON Health as a Substance Support Counsellor.

Friends and colleagues have observed my qualities to include being grounded, a good listener, possessing a good sense of humour and a keen observer of life.  I believe my particular gift for providing the right insights and inspirations at exactly the right moment.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Social Work (Launceston, TAS)

Advanced Diploma in Transpersonal Art Therapy (Brisbane, QLD)

Diploma of Transpersonal Counselling (Melbourne, VIC)

Professional Affiliations and Associations

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) - Accredited Mental Health Social Worker

Social Work England

NSW Working With Children Check:  1042134E

VIC Working With Children Check: 2951888A-01