Individual and Relationships Counsellor

About me

I am an accredited mental health social worker with 20 years experience in both not-for-profit and private practice settings.

In the community sector, I have worked with vulnerable families with complex needs (trauma, family violence, addictions, homelessness); provided counselling interventions for couples transitioning into parenthood; counselling support for individuals and single parents; clinical supervision to social workers and counsellors; managed various programs that involved casework, counselling, crisis intervention, parenting work, outreach and; active development and participation in community and clinical networks.

In a private practice setting, I work with individuals and couples/parents to foster a safe and trusting relationship which underpins the focused and exploratory nature of my approach. I consider people holistically keeping in mind the intersection of the relational, cultural, psycho-social/political spheres of experience, across the developmental spectrum, and how this has shapes and influences the here and now. 

My status as an accredited mental health social worker enables me to receive mental health care plans from referring General Practitioners (GP’s) which entitles clients access to medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions per calendar year (see below for more details).

What can I help with?

Reaching out for support can often be accompanied by a range of mixed feelings particularly if you’ve made the decision to speak with a counsellor for the first time. It can be quite daunting sitting across from someone you don’t know and sharing personal details about yourself.

From the outset, my priority is to ensure that the foundation of the counselling relationship is underpinned by trust, care, respect and curiosity. Forging a safe working relationship from the very beginning is fundamental to the therapeutic process and in facilitating positive outcomes.

Having acquired a broad spectrum of experience working with people from across the lifespan, I have cultivated an approach that is often reported as warm, non-judgmental and grounding.

Some areas of interest include the following.

 

Anxiety and depression

Adjustment and dealing with life transitions

Anger and emotional regulation/attunement

Relationship counselling

Parenting work

Men’s mental health and Fathering

Vocational / Job stress and dissatisfaction

What can you expect?

Although the counselling process isn’t always necessary linear, often if follows a predictable path of assessment, intervention and review.

Typically, the initial session(s) are dedicated to understanding what has brought you to counselling and how this may be impacting on your day to day experience with regards to challenging relationships, behavioural patterns and associated mental health symptoms

Subsequent sessions involve contextualing the above presenting issues by exploring patterns within your personal history, relationships and experience of and in the world.

In most cases, themes may begin to emerge that provide some insights as to why you’re feeling the way you are as well as guide what type of intervention might help to assist in making sense of your experiences and shifting entrenched and unconscious patterns. 

Together, and working in collaboration with your referring GP, goals and aims for counselling will be developed that aim to shift these underlying problematic patterns that lead to positive behavioural and relational change as well as symptom relief.

Qualifications and Training

  • Master of Advanced Social Work. University of Melbourne.

    Bachelor of Social Work. LaTrobe University.

    Bachelor of Arts (Psychology). Victoria University.

  • Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. Australian Childhood Foundation.

    Developmental Psychiatry Course. Mindful Centre.

    Clinical Relationship Therapy Internship undertaken at Relationship Australia.

    Specialist Couples Therapy Course undertaken at Relationships Australia.

    Child, Youth and Family Mental Health Assessment and Treatment undertaken at Alfred CYMHS.

    Parent/Child Centered Parent Work & Assessment conducted by Ron Ingram.

    Mental Health Assessment of Children and their Families conducted by Ron Ingram.

    Psychoanalytic Child Psychotherapy undertaken at the Mindful Centre

    Foundation Course in Psychodynamic Child Development undertaken at the Centre for Child and Family Development

    Clinical Supervision Course undertaken at the Bouverie Centre.

    Single Session Work Training undertaken at the Bouverie Centre.

Social Work Supervision

Social work supervision is essential in the professional development and identity of social workers across sectors. It ensures practitioners are granted a reflective space to explore, consider and grapple with practice, clinical and organisational challenges within a safe and supportive supervisory relationship. It’s fundamental in the process of self-care, recognising how the personal and professional intersect, with the benefit of buffering against burnout and compassion fatigue.

The provision of clinical supervision to social workers (as well as other professionals in the community sector) has been a central component and interest of mine across my career. With extensive experience managing programs in the community, I have participated in the professional growth and development of numerous practitioners often at the coal face of supporting vulnerable children, individuals and families.

I have completed formal supervision training with the Bouverie Centre as well as Willamsroad Family Therapy Centre.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you’d like to discuss supervision availability, fees and options.

Areas of experience include;

Comprehensive child and family assessments

Case formulation and planning

Risk assessments and safety planning (Family violence / Child abuse)

Parent assessments (child / parent centered)

Counselling and casework interventions

Working with highly complex and vulnerable populations

Facilitating in the exploration of critical self reflection

Identifying areas of professional development

Support the expansion of clinical knowledge and practice skills

Providing a containing space for personal/professional intersection

Aiding in organisational/workplace demands and stresses 

Upholding core social work principals with an emphasis on ethical practice and professional integrity

Referral Process & Fees

  • Here are a few simple steps to begin the referral process.

    • Contact me for an initial phone consultation to determine suitability / availability.

    • Make an appointment with your GP to discuss the possibility of a mental health care plan which includes a referral with my details. (Individuals without a referral won’t be eligible for medicare rebated sessions).

    • Contact me to schedule an initial appointment.

  • Session fees are in accordance with AASW guidelines and operate via a sliding scale.

    Fees are determined by household income and are negotiated prior to the initial consult.

    Fee range is between $100 - $150 per session.

    Those with mental health care plans are eligible for up to 10 Medicare rebated sessions per calendar year (approx. $89 rebate)

Contact

Tom Talevski

talevskicounselling@gmail.com

806 Lygon St. Carlton North 3056