Atlas Counselling in Maitland, New South Wales | Medical and health

Atlas Counselling

Locality: Maitland, New South Wales

Phone: +61 421 364 395

Address: 245 High Street 2320 Maitland, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.atlascounselling.com.au/

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• Medical and health
• Mental health service

25.01.2022 When you read the room, are smack-dab in the moment - in the now, when you're right there with the other, taking the cues, open and available to the time shared - magic can happen! I hope this makes you smile!

25.01.2022 Good evening All :) Please feel free to join and share Atlas Counsellings new Facebook Wellness Support Groups. As they are only newly established groups, I am hoping the membership will grow into a thriving community focused on improving individual wellness by honouring the person on the the journey, rather than the journey itself and encouraging people to connect and inspire each other to live fully and authentically. ... The aim is to bring those things that have us feeling alone and isolated from each other, out of the shadows, normalising them and using and sharing resources to help people engage in a process toward improved overall wellness and well-being :) The groups are open to the public, but are private groups and are Administrated by me. Mens group: The Hunter Valley Lions Share - Mens Wellness Support Group! Womens group: The Hunter Valley Mother "Load" - Wellness Support Group! I would love to see you there!

24.01.2022 While I don't subscribe to the full extent of this as it is written, it is a perfect example of the importance of advocating for our own needs, wants, desires and expectations. There is no way that either of the two in the picture could possibly have any understanding of the circumstances impacting on the other, and it isn't their responsibility to, either. If, however, they were to each take responsibility for COMMUNICATING, their experience in this circumstance may be very... different. Atlas Counselling can help you to learn different ways of communicating that could very well change your life. If you would like more information, please call to discuss or consider booking a FREE 20min non-therapeutic Discovery Session. Call/text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au

23.01.2022 Let all the men you know, know!

23.01.2022 UPDATE - We will be closing Wednesday 22nd & Thursday 23rd July to allow for all Staff to get tested and results to be returned, along with a further deep clea...n to the hotel. This is not a Department of Health requirement, however we want to go over and above in regards to how this is managed for the safety of our staff and loyal patrons. We thank you all for your support and understanding during this time. ____ To our Windsor Community, We want to update everyone based on the news which came in late this afternoon (we were only informed an hour before the news broke in the media) of a positive COVID testing of a Sydney visitor who entered our hotel on July 13th between 6pm - 8pm. At this stage, this is an isolated case. With this being 8 days ago, The Department of Health have notified us that no action is required however for those who did visit the hotel during this time and if they are feeling unwell - to please get tested. Maitland Hospital is conducting testing and can search 'COVID Testing Near Me' in your Search Engine and it will direct you to the closest facilities based on your location. We are currently in the process of proactively calling everyone personally who was at the hotel during this time. We would also like to assure everyone that every measure is being taken to ensure we provide a safe experience for our Windsor Community. We have intense health and hygiene measures in place and have had since the beginning of COVID in Feb/March. Some of these including - Temperature Checks, Digital Sign in's, a dedicated COVID Hygiene Marshall, Social Distancing signage and markings, Hand Sanitiser, and more. The hotel will be undergoing a deep clean and all staff will be tested as a precaution. We appreciate all the support which has been shown during this challenging time, we are very thankful to have such a strong and supportive community around us! Thanks, The Windsor Family

22.01.2022 Did you know... Atlas Counselling offers FREE 20min non-therapeutic Discovery Sessions for anyone (new to Atlas Counselling) who is considering Counselling sessions. If you have never tried Counselling before, you may not know what to expect, feel incredible trepidation about making initial enquiries; you may have any range or mixture of feeling including: fear, shame, guilt, sense of being 'overly dramatic', not "sick enough", struggling with feeling inadequate or weak and t...hat by engaging support you're 'copping out'... Alternatively, you may be keenly aware that you would benefit from support but just simply have no idea where to begin - It DOES NOT have to begin with your GP! If you HAVE engaged in talk therapy before, you may not have successfully "clicked" with those that you've tried, or the one you DID click with has moved on. You might be well aware that the quality of the relationship between you and your therapist is at least as important as the therapeutic interventions/modalities that are employed. You are probably aware that there is a significant financial (and time) investment in "trying out a new therapist" and may feel frustration when things don't work out as you had hoped...Or possibly you resent having to move on from a valued therapist because either you or they have moved away or on. In either (or any other) circumstance, by offering a FREE 20min non-therapeutic, no obligation, no pressure Discovery Session, we can meet. You can eye ball me, get that "gut sense" about whether I am likely to be a good fit for you. You can ask any questions about my approach to therapy (or just listen to me tell you about it ). You are offered an opportunity to get an idea about whether you're likely to trust and feel comfortable with me before you consider taking any further steps, because I understand that money doesn't grow on trees and "Just seeing" can prove an expensive exercise. There are no forms or information gathering on my part. There is absolutely no pressure to book a future appointment - Please feel free to let those in your life know! Check out Atlas Counselling for contact details and further information :)

22.01.2022 No one ever grows from joy. We cannot live in a perpetual state of joy, either - joy would lose its meaning and value. Life is punctuated by lessons so that we are better positioned to revel in the joy that inevitably follows...but we have been systemically indoctrinated with the flawed notion that emotional pain or distress is an indicator of something wrong or broken, and as result have not been taught how to recognise, sit with, and process these feelings. Instead ...we have been taught to reject, rationalise, ignore/suck up/get over them. Doing so usually just makes them stronger. Atlas Counselling is a safe, judgement-free, confidential space to unpack and work through these experiences and emotions in a way that helps you to learn the lessons so that you might then be able to focus on the joy! Not sure if counselling is something that would work for you? Get in touch with me and take the first step to find out - not all counselling or counsellors are the same :)

21.01.2022 HAHAHA - Some 'psych humour'...I couldn't resist.

20.01.2022 Amidst the current uncertainty in our community around the coronavirus, it is worth taking the time to remind Atlas Counselling clients and those considering the possibility of engaging Atlas Counsellings service, that you can access support through Atlas Counselling ONLINE Thats right! You dont need to leave home to get support. Atlas Counselling uses the secure, encrypted video conferencing platform, Zoom, to conduct online counselling sessions. You simply book in t...he same way as you would a normal face-to-face session. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this option any further, please do not hesitate to contact me. Any clients currently booked in for face-to-face session who would prefer online sessions at this time, please call to make arrangements. Please note that Atlas Counselling requests that you do not present in person if: * You have returned from overseas in the last 14 days, * You are unwell, * You have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed as having COVID 19. Atlas Counselling is otherwise open and running as normal and urges you all to take care of yourselves and your families at this challenging time. Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlasCounselling

20.01.2022 We are so used to pushing uncomfortable feelings away; avoiding them through various methods of self-medication; twisting ourselves into even bigger knots trying to rationalise them out of existence, or trying to find solutions to them so we can "fix them" away...There are more effective and healthy ways of handling uncomfortable emotions and Atlas Counselling can help you learn.

20.01.2022 Like many people, you might believe that "sucking it up" or forcing yourself to "get over it" are strategies that will help you to move forward from pain and/or trauma. For a time (and in some situations) it may be helpful to you to use this kind of self-talk, but eventually, to truly be able to forge ahead, you will need to find a way to carry your pain in such a way that it no longer holds you prisoner. Healing isn't always about making things go away. There are some thin...gs that we carry with us for ever, but 'healing' simply means that we reclaim our power from it. If you have set your life up in a way that means that you can avoid facing the hurt you carry, you are not living authentically and you are not present fort he opportunities that are around you. Atlas Counselling may be the place you need to help you take the next brave steps in your healing journey. To see if we are a good fit to work together, consider calling to book a FREE non-therapeutic 20min Discovery Session. This is a no-strings-attached opportunity to meet face-to-face, learn a bit more about how I work, and to ask any questions. Call/text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Drop into The Cunning Culinarian between 9am-2.30pm Mon, Tues, Weds & Fri, head to 'The Sage Room', and if the door is open, I am free to chat :)

20.01.2022 If you have ever worked with me, you will know that "What does XYZ mean?" is one of my favourite questions. I ask this because the meaning that you attribute to something is unique to you, however close the assumptions of others may or may not be. Understanding that our reaction are the result of the meaning that we attach to something is an important step in become aware and making authentic choices for ourselves.

20.01.2022 Just in case the mood takes you, Atlas Counselling has just registered for the Hunter Business Awards :) https://thebusinessawards.com.au/busin//Atlas-Counselling-

20.01.2022 YOU NEED TO READ THIS! Ive shared it before and there is no doubt that I will share this again. It is an important message! As a society we are brow beaten with the things that we should or should not be/do/think. We are relentlessly pummelled by family, friends, media, institutions like schools and workplaces, about all the ways we can improve, and all the things that we do wrong ,and all the limitations that we can do little about. We are medicated and solution-focused...Continue reading

19.01.2022 Anyone who has worked with me in the Atlas Counselling space knows that I love a good metaphor, and this one's a good visual one! Can you relate? Do you know someone who can? Could they benefit from seeing this post?... To enquire about how Atlas Counselling could work for you, get in touch through any of the following: Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au

19.01.2022 Stay vigilant, folks!

19.01.2022 Counselling is considered an 'essential service' and Atlas Counselling is still counselling! Still providing both face to face and online counselling sessions! While I am only in the room specifically for face to face appointments, I am available on the phone as usual. Please don't hesitate to get in touch to discuss how Atlas Counselling can help you!

19.01.2022 If you have ever spent time in Atlas Counsellings space, you will have heard me say this (ad nauseum)... The human condition is not a medical condition! Distress is NOT disorder! https://www.forbes.com//researchers-doubt-that-certain-m/

18.01.2022 How true is this for you? For me, this message encapsulates the veritable, yet normalised emotional isolation that so many of us experience on the regular; constantly putting (our perceived) needs of others ahead of our own, while simultaneously feeling ill-equipped to help the other when confronted with their discomfort. It has become so much a part of the way we relate to each other that we don't always notice it until our emotional burden becomes too much to carry and beg...ins to spill out, almost uncontrolled, likely misunderstood, into other (seemingly unrelated) areas of our lives. You do not have to continue to carry the full emotional load of all of your experiences. You do not have to 'suck them up' or 'stuff them down' to spare everyone else the burden of hearing you. Not everything you carry with you is still relevant, and attempts at ignoring it will not usually lead to your load being lightened. You do not need to wait until you get the the point where things become unmanageable before asking for help! You are not designed to exist in any kind of isolation. Get in touch with Atlas Counselling to see how I can help :) Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au OR, take a chance and drop into The Cunning Culinarian Cafe, grab a cuppa and head to 'The Sage Room' between 9am - 2.30pm Mon, Tues, Weds, Fri, and if the door is open, I am free to chat! To ensure I am available to chat, give me a call and book in for a FREE non-therapeutic 20min Discovery Session - an opportunity to meet, learn more about me, how I work and about Atlas Counselling, and to ask any questions you have about therapy and how it can benefit you :)

17.01.2022 Its likely that I have shared this before, but it is worth sharing it again. Trauma is not a choice! We are the the sum, not only of the experiences that we have had, but also those of the people whose influence has impacted our lives - Think: The traumas our parents may have endured, regardless of the degree of success they may have had in protecting us from them (or not); socioeconomic, institutional and political influences etc.... The disconnect that can occur between head and heart or thought versus feeling, of experience versus perception, is not often easily identified, but to one extent or another we each carry the burden of our embodied traumas (direct or indirect), and the decision to do differently must be purposeful for change to happen. Healing doesnt simply manifest. Time, in fact, does NOT heal all wounds (that is wishful thinking). Atlas Counselling provides a space where you can safely take those intentional steps, practice these new skills, try on some new perspectives, and get in touch with your core values. Atlas counsellings aim is to facilitate the reconnection between the lived and felt experiences and to aid in providing a language around it so that you are empowered to assert your needs and wants and advocate passionately for your own values and well-being! When youre ready to consider taking those steps, and to find out more about how Atlas Counselling can support you in your healing journey, call/text/email, and/or book a FREE 20min non-therapeutic Discovery Session :) Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Facebook: Atlas Counselling

17.01.2022 This is worth re-posting...

17.01.2022 When you read the room, are smack-dab in the moment - in the now, when youre right there with the other, taking the cues, open and available to the time shared - magic can happen! I hope this makes you smile!

16.01.2022 I just came across this - I thought it might interest some :)

16.01.2022 A friendly reminder that Atlas Counselling: * Does NOT require a referral from a GP or anyone else, * Does NOT contract minimum numbers of sessions - Come as few or as many times as you need to,... *. Does NOT dictate regularity of sessions - You are free and encouraged to engage in an "as needed" basis. *. Offers a FREE, 20min, non-therapeutic Discover Session option to help provide some comfort and confidence in your choice whether to engage with Atlas Counselling services, Coming into Christmas can be a very stressful time for many, and 2020 has thrown well more than its fair share of curve balls. If you're considering what skills or strategies could help usher you into 2021 the way you would like to, I would love to discuss how I can help.

15.01.2022 Your body can tell you much, if youre of a mind to reconnect to it and listen. Atlas Counselling can help with that - when youre ready! Still offering safe, face-to-face counselling sessions as well as online counselling sessions.... Call/text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Web: www.atlascounselling.com.au

14.01.2022 Men's mental wellness is an often overlooked part of men's overall health and wellbeing. Please share to all the men in your life.

14.01.2022 As I was looking for inspiration, I came across this meme that resonated with me and felt, given the circumstances that surround us all at the moment, it might be worth sharing. There is a lot of dichotomy and division on the social landscape at the moment, and within the milieu are the very many different perspectives, experiences, trauma's, opinions, reactions, pressures, and expectations; all influenced by their own combinations of fear, strength, shame, pride, guilt and h...onour; all trying to find a way to move forward authentically - or at very least, to move forward. For my part, at Atlas Counselling, I work with you to help fortify your "ship"; I help in trimming the ballast, to identify obstacles in the waters, to reorient yourself to the direction that you want to travel, and together we can hopefully find a way to negotiate these "waters" with personal purpose, power and responsibility. When you feel unable (or unsafe) to work through difficult thoughts and feelings within your regular support networks, that is where counselling becomes most valuable. Atlas Counselling is judgement-free, safe, confidential and staunchly YOU-focused. There are no agendas, no ulterior motives and no motivation to be anywhere other than where you are in the moment. It is a space to unpack, be seen, be heard and be understood. If you are unsure if counselling is a good fit for your needs, consider booking a FREE 20min non-therapeutic Discovery Session to meet me, get a sense of the kind of therapist I am and whether you can see yourself working with me. Use this as an opportunity to ask questions and to get a better idea of how I work and what you can expect from working with me. Simply call me to arrange :) Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Facebook: Atlas Counselling (please note FB DMs are not confidential/secure - FB own them ;) ).

14.01.2022 Newy Burger Co always doing good for their local community! Just in case you didn't know what they are offering in these tough times x

13.01.2022 Did you know? There may not be much media coverage about International Men's Day. There may not be a lot of ceremony. There may not be any recognition of contributions to the conversation...but it exists and it is needed! Have the conversations. Begin the process. Support the men in your life.... #InternationalMensDay See more

13.01.2022 In a society where positivity reigns supreme and gratitude is used as a weapon against experience to diminish and invalidate it when those experiences make the 'experiencer' or those around them uncomfortable so that they don't have to be 'dealt with', this is a timely reminder. I rarely go through a day in the Atlas Counselling space where I don't remind people that 'no one ever grows out of contentment'. Rather than reject, diminish and invalidate feelings like fear, anger..., anxiousness, frustration, sadness etc. it is helpful to stop, feel, listen and honour what is going on so we can get the information we need to grow from the messages we are screaming at ourselves. In the pursuit of 'perpetual happiness' humanity seems to have forgotten that in the shadows of our minds, in those spaces that have been relegated to the corners reserved for shame, identity, burden and ineptitude (for the comfort of others), lies the unfathomable potential for personal power and authenticity. When you're ready to look, Atlas Counselling is here to help to find and reclaim your truths.

13.01.2022 Too many of us, too often, use self-deprecating, self-critical, self-diminishing and self-invalidating self-talk as a means of motivating ourselves to do and be better than we think we are (or than we think others think we are) - We use the metaphorical "stick" not the "carrot". Does this sound familiar? Perhaps Atlas Counselling can help. To learn if Atlas Counselling is a good fit for you, don't hesitate in getting in touch either through Messenger, the website www.atlascounselling.co.au or by phone/text on 0421 364 395

12.01.2022 This is one of the reasons that I offer a FREE non-therapeutic 20min Discovery Session. It provides an opportunity to meet in person, discuss expectations for your therapy and for you to ask any questions without first paying for an Initial Session :) A recurring point in this article is that a good therapist may not be a good fit for you personally, but that's not a reason to give up looking for the right support...

12.01.2022 This is where counselling lives: it is about finding the thing, the way, the you - finding that which is relevant to your present needs and wants and how to realise your goals. It is about helping you to create the environment that is conducive to you living authentically and passionately. It is about learning who you are and what you want when the noise of the expectations of others are not in the driving seat of your life. Your happiness lies at the feet of the lessons ...you learn, from the challenges you overcome, toward living with purpose, in line with your core values - not in meeting the expectations of others! <----future Atlas Counselling meme coming your way with that statement in it ;) No GP referral required, no 'My Health' record entry, no wait lists, no pressure or obligation - just a genuine, non-judgemental, safe space and classic talk therapy at your pace. You're still unsure if counselling is the right fit for you? Consider booking a FREE 20min non-therapeutic Discovery Session - no pressure to book. Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Facebook: Atlas Counselling (please remember that FB owns all the DMs, so be mindful of what you share there :) ).

11.01.2022 Australia still has a way to go with changing our attitudes to managing mental wellness. We talk about 'removing the stigma' without acknowledging that stigma is associated with a pathological view of mental wellness. People don't (usually) brush their teeth or wash their hair with a thought emphasis on avoiding disease - people do it to feel better, look better - they do it to take care of themselves. Ultimately, in doing so, we may avoid significant oral health concerns o...r skin disorders (as the case may be). There is no 'stigma' around the brushing of teeth - in fact, there is probably more stigma around NOT brushing one's teeth. Removing the stigma means changing the way we conceptualise mental health - Counselling is not only about addressing problems that we have identified and learning skills to manage them, it is about becoming aware of ourselves, our patterns, our thoughts and our expectations, and how they inform (or intrude) on our needs, wants and values, so that we can make active choices about them. If you want to discuss the potential of counselling through Atlas Counselling, please get in touch in any of the following ways :) Call/text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Facebook Messenger: facebook.com/AtlasCounselling

11.01.2022 Your body can tell you much, if you're of a mind to reconnect to it and listen. Atlas Counselling can help with that - when you're ready! Still offering safe, face-to-face counselling sessions as well as online counselling sessions.... Call/text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Web: www.atlascounselling.com.au

11.01.2022 It might not be 'business as usual' but Atlas Counselling is still here if you need some additional space and support - If in doubt, reach out!

11.01.2022 At this time emotions are running high and we are increasingly more isolated in our experience than ever. Please know that support is still available! Atlas Counselling is here to help; to support you through this trying time; to hold a safe space for you to process your physical and felt experiences. We're all in this together and we will get through this together. If you or your household has lost income as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, I encourage you to contact me directly with issues relating to your capacity to pay for counselling services.

10.01.2022 Send this article to your husbands, fathers, brothers, uncles, friends and sons. We need our Men to understand their importance and that they can benefit from engaging with support outside of their friends and families. While family and friends can provide a super important support network, there is a uniqueness that professional therapy can provide, starting with the reality that there is no need to 'save face' within the therapeutic relationship.

10.01.2022 Ill just leave this here ;)

10.01.2022 https://www.psychologytoday.com//top-10-fears-hold-people- Check out this link ^^ I would consider this list a fair summary of some of the key barriers to people living a full and authentic life.... Atlas Counselling could help you to face and work with those barriers that most effect you and prevent you from having the relationships and life you want for yourself. Get in touch to discover if Atlas Counselling is a good fit for you! Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au OR Take a punt, come into The Cunning Culinarian Cafe, head to 'The Sage Room', and if the door is open I an free to chat :) (In room Mon, Tues, Weds, Fri: 9am - 2.30pm during school terms - After hours appointments available)

09.01.2022 Want help in learning how? Call/Text: 0421 364 395

09.01.2022 If you have ever spent time in Atlas Counselling's space, you will have heard me say this (ad nauseum)... The human condition is not a medical condition! Distress is NOT disorder! https://www.forbes.com//researchers-doubt-that-certain-m/

08.01.2022 HAHAHA - Some psych humour...I couldnt resist.

08.01.2022 A counsellor provides the space where a person can come and put down all the thoughts and feelings they are inevitably obliged to carry around with them; where someone can unburden themselves for a time in a safe, confidential and judgement-free environment. While in the counselling space you are afforded an opportunity to be vulnerable and hopefully able to learn that you are safe to be so; where you can unpack your experiences and speak your truth without it being used a...gainst you; and where the listener does not feel compelled to defend an opposing position. In doing so, you are given the space to work through your thoughts and feelings. You are given the opportunity to develop your own perspectives and contexts for your experiences within a relationship that is there to witness and support you in your process not to alter you or your experience outside of that which you seek for yourself. Counselling with Atlas Counselling is not pathologising in nature. I do not seek to medicalise your experience and I do not seek to perpetuate the use of fear and guilt or other external control mechanism as means to a goal, particularly to one that you have not actively chosen for yourself. To discuss how Atlas Counselling may be able to support you, get in touch in any of the following ways! Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Or, take a chance and drop into The Cunning Culinarian cafe, grab a cuppa and head to 'The Sage Room' - If the door is open I'm free to chat. In room Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9am-2.30pm during school terms (by appointment otherwise).

08.01.2022 It is not uncommon for people to experience duality as a dichotomy. It is not uncommon for people to use one side as ammunition against the other. At Atlas Counselling we call it 'orientation', and how we orient ourselves depends on first becoming aware (noticing), then developing an understanding (context)....only then can we CHOOSE (action) our orientation and move forward with authenticity and intention toward our goals. Get in touch to discuss how Atlas Counselling could support you toward actively engaging with your intentions and living your truth.

08.01.2022 Start the conversations! Make the connections! You're never alone, even when it feels like it! Stronger together!

08.01.2022 I'll just leave this here ;)

08.01.2022 Anyone who has been in the Atlas Counselling space knows that I like an Alfred Adler quote...I have recently found this one, and he does not disappoint ;)

06.01.2022 Keep your head up and your eyes open, folks #StaySafe Stay on top of hand hygiene, Maintain social distancing, Be mindful of sneeze/cough etiquette, Wear a mask if you are able/comfortable to do so,... PLEASE: DO NOT leave home if you're unwell unless it is to get a COVID-19 test and remain self-isolated until you are cleared to do so.

06.01.2022 When we stop focusing on what brought us to where we are, to who we are and to what we do, and instead focus on the realities of where we are, who we are and what we do, we release ourselves from burdens of justification, blame and punishment. In doing so, we free ourselves to begin to create the where, who and what we want. We are able to take responsibility for our next steps, learn our lessons and forge a path to realise our potential with authenticity and purpose. If yo...u're seeking a way to wade through the quagmire of experiences and meaning that you are adhered to that may be preventing you from moving forward with confidence and clarity, perhaps Atlas Counselling can help? Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Facebook: @AtlasCounselling

06.01.2022 The goal is rarely stopping something, getting rid of something or otherwise eliminating the experience of something. The goal is not to allow the thought, feeling or experience to overwhelm and/or control you. At Atlas Counselling, we invite in the shadow affect that we struggle with and we seek an awareness and understanding of it so that we can live more purposefully and authentically. You're invited to book a FREE 20min Discovery Session to learn if Atlas Counselling is a good fit for you. Alternatively, you can book directly through the website: www.atlascounselling.com.au

06.01.2022 Atlas Counselling now offers a LONG appointment option! The online booking system has been updated to make the session options clearer. Providing one-on-one counselling sessions either face-to-face or online, long or standard session lengths, Atlas Counselling is providing flexibility as individuals, personal circumstances and mandates, change giving you the options you need to make the right choices for yourself.... Check it out and book online now at https://atlascounselling.com.au/product/counselling-session/

05.01.2022 Humanity appears to have forgotten that we are fundamentally emotional beings. At some point, society decided that it was too uncomfortable to face our feelings and that in order to feel better we needed to change our behaviour (and the behaviour of others). Over time we began to consider that it was behaviours that caused our uncomfortable feelings and became increasingly frustrated at how the harder we try to control behaviour (ours, or that of others), the less control... we FELT. The less connected we were. Eventually, we forgot how to give a voice to our feelings. We forgot how to ask for what we need. We forgot how to advocate for ourselves, how to set appropriate boundaries, how to communicate with respect and compassion (not just for others, but for ourselves), and how to create and maintain meaningful connections. We got lost. When we got lost we got sad, angry, nervous, fearful...we got numb and we busied ourselves with searching - the search for purpose - looking for "why?" Atlas Counselling exists to provide a place to where we work to re-establish a connection between the lived and felt experience. A place to re-learn the language around our feelings so that we can respectfully communicate, assert and advocate for ourselves. In doing so, we are able to create boundaries for meaningful relationships with ourselves and with others, and thus reconnecting us with our world in a way that is aligned with our individual core values. Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed, directionless, futile, angry, depressed, anxious? Are you tired of fighting everyday to feel normal? No GP referral needed! No long wait lists! No hoops to jump through! Call Atlas Counselling to find out more about the ways I could help you! Ask about booking a FREE non-therapeutic 20min Discovery Session! Call/Text: 0421 364 395, send me a message through messenger or follow the links on the Facebook page to the website for more information :)

05.01.2022 The concept of personal responsibility has been hijacked by the mechanisms of pressure and obligation to the extent that many have lost touch with what it actually means to be personally responsible. One artefact of the work that comes up quite regularly is the question that I refer to as "Is that my [your] shit or your [their] shit?". So often we turn ourselves inside out in an attempt to take responsibility for someone else's shit...Sound at all familiar?... Atlas Counselling can work with you to learn and practice skills that help you work out which is which and to establish clear and respectful (to all) boundaries. Ready to try? Want to know more? Get in touch to discuss how Atlas Counselling can help support you! Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Emai: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Facebook: Atlas Counselling

05.01.2022 Are you fed up? Are you exhausted? Do you feel like you would be burdening your friends and family when you think about venting? Or furthermore, like you would risk changing someone elses opinion of someone if you were to express feelings of frustration or overwhelm about them?... Do you ever think that there might be a better way of getting things done, achieving your goals, creating, developing and enriching your relationships? Do you sometimes feel lost and not sure where to turn next or what your next move will be? If you have answered Yes! to any or all of these questions, you could benefit from the added support offered by counselling. Counselling is not just about managing the distress that we all feel at several stages throughout life. It isnt only valuable for negotiating relationship stress, processing grief, managing anxiety, and working through depression. It isnt only valuable for helping to set and achieve goals, unpack past or current experiences, or providing space to explore life transitions, phases and changes. Sometimes the counselling space is the place where you go that is time just for and about YOU. It is the me time that rarely makes it on the list (if you know why, Id love to hear it!). Counselling conversation is a different kind of conversation. The counselling relationship is a different kind of relationship it is protected, safe, judgement-free and confidential. Still not sure? Atlas Counselling offers a NO COST, NO OBLIGATION, non-therapeutic, 20 minute Discovery Session. This is an appointment time that you can be assured that I am available to answer all your questions about how I work. You get to meet me (in person or online via Zoom) and get a genuine sense of the kind of person and therapist I am. It is an opportunity for you to put a face to the words and develop a sense of whether I am likely to be a good fit for you someone you could see yourself talking to. It is a risk free way to assess whether I might suit you. If you have any questions, or to book your FREE, non-therapeutic, 20min Discovery Session, please do not hesitate to get in touch through any of the following ways: Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlasCounselling Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au

05.01.2022 I am not sure who needs to hear this today, but I will leave it here for you to consider. There are times when we prioritise consideration and planning, and times we can benefit from processing and reflecting, but perhaps, more than ever before we need to make time for this...?

05.01.2022 Atlas Counselling offers individual, judgement-free, confidential counselling services with a qualified and professionally registered counsellor. You do not require a referral from your GP to book an appointment. There are no waiting lists to endure before engaging with support.... Atlas Counsellings services are likely to be similar to, or less than the cost of seeking support with a Mental Health Care Plan through your GP even AFTER the Medicare rebate is deducted. Avail yourself of the opportunity for a FREE, non-therapeutic, 20 minute Discovery Session to meet me face-to-face to discuss how I work and ask any questions you may have. Paying for a session to learn that the therapist isnt right for you can be an expensive exercise. Finding a therapist who is a good fit isnt always easy. It shouldnt be expensive as well! Call or text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au DM through Atlas Counselling (please note that FB DMs are not secure, so be mindful of what you share this way) OR Take a chance, come into The Cunning Culinarian café - 245 High Street, Maitland and head to The Sage Room. If the door is open I am free to chat!

05.01.2022 The cost of accessing professional mental health support is a well-known barrier that prevents some people from seeking and accessing the help and support they need. Having recognised this, the Better Access scheme provides for a Medicare rebate for limited practitioners in the mental health sector namely registered clinical psychologists and mental health social workers, and then only with certain kinds of approaches, most recognised of which may be cognitive behaviour th...erapy (CBT). Better Access does not cover professionally registered counsellors and the very many evidence-based and evidence-informed modalities practiced by these professionals, which has the effect of limiting the choice of consumers in determining their preferred therapeutic process. Furthermore, it is a frustration for Atlas Counselling that consumers are constantly told that if they present to their GP, they can access free sessions. This has the effect of pathologising situational/circumstantial stress and distress under the misapprehension of free sessions. While bulk-billing practitioners exist, they are relatively few, and they often have long wait-lists, which means that consumers are taking their referral and mental health care plans to non-bulk-billing practitioners so they can, none-the-less, claim the Medicare rebate, and receive a discount from the practitioners full fee. What many consumers are NOT informed of, is that often the gap that they pay to see a non-bulk-billing practitioner who is still limited by the parameters of Medicare (where the rebate is claimed), is often as much as, if not more than the full fee they would pay to see an alternative, equally professional and eminently qualified therapist with greater flexibility and less waiting times. In short, when seeking professional support, the Medicare rebate is only one consideration, but unless you are specifically seeking bulk-billing services, please, mind the gap! Please call Atlas Counselling to discuss whether I may be a good fit for your needs without jumping through the hoops of the Medicare system. Call or text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au

05.01.2022 Humanity appears to have forgotten that we are fundamentally emotional beings. At some point, 'society' decided that it was too uncomfortable to face our feelings and that in order to 'feel better' we needed to change our behaviour (and the behaviour of others). Over time we began to consider that it was behaviours that caused our uncomfortable feelings and became increasingly frustrated at how the harder we try to control behaviour (ours, or that of others), the less control... we FELT. The less connected we were. Eventually, we forgot how to give a voice to our feelings. We forgot how to ask for what we need. We forgot how to advocate for ourselves, how to set appropriate boundaries, how to communicate with respect and compassion (not just for others, but for ourselves), and how to create and maintain meaningful connections. We got lost. When we got lost we got sad, angry, nervous, fearful...we got numb and we busied ourselves with searching - the search for purpose - looking for "why?" Atlas Counselling exists to provide a place to where we work to re-establish a connection between the lived and felt experience. A place to re-learn the language around our feelings so that we can respectfully communicate, assert and advocate for ourselves. In doing so, we are able to create boundaries for meaningful relationships with ourselves and with others, and thus reconnecting us with our world in a way that is aligned with our individual core values. Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed, directionless, futile, angry, depressed, anxious? Are you tired of 'fighting' everyday to 'feel normal'? No GP referral needed! No long wait lists! No hoops to jump through! Call Atlas Counselling to find out more about the ways I could help you! Ask about booking a FREE non-therapeutic 20min Discovery Session! Call/Text: 0421 364 395, send me a message through messenger or follow the links on the Facebook page to the website for more information :)

04.01.2022 Good evening All :) Please feel free to join and share Atlas Counselling's new Facebook Wellness Support Groups. As they are only newly established groups, I am hoping the membership will grow into a thriving community focused on improving individual wellness by honouring the person on the the journey, rather than the journey itself and encouraging people to connect and inspire each other to live fully and authentically. ... The aim is to bring those things that have us feeling alone and isolated from each other, out of the shadows, normalising them and using and sharing resources to help people engage in a process toward improved overall wellness and well-being :) The groups are open to the public, but are private groups and are Administrated by me. Men's group: The Hunter Valley Lions Share - Men's Wellness Support Group! Women's group: The Hunter Valley Mother "Load" - Wellness Support Group! I would love to see you there!

03.01.2022 I’m proud to say I’m now the host of the next free Mr Perfect BBQ Like many men, our founder realised he was not Mr. Perfect. After a lifetime of mental struggl...e, he finally navigated a path to tackle his demons and found there was something missing in the support he accessed. Mr. Perfect was born. Mr. Perfect is "Mental Health's Mate", a grassroots "pre-crisis" charity that creates community and connection by bringing men together at BBQs in local parks across Australia, to reduce isolation and encourage better mental health.

03.01.2022 What would you think if I told you that engaging with Atlas Counselling was not only about seeking strategies to help manage and solve challenges, but also to help you to interpret and process your thoughts, feelings and experiences using YOUR values and the meaning that YOU ascribe to them, rather than through the use of the values and meaning prescribed by other people and systems? What would you think if I told you that by achieving the latter you may also achieve the former?

01.01.2022 And thus the benefits of finding the right support! With the right therapeutic relationship transformative healing can begin. If you haven't found a good therapeutic 'fit', don't give up. Not all therapists are going to be YOUR therapist - you will know it when you find it. Could Atlas Counselling be a good fit for you?... Call to book a FREE 20min, non-therapeutic Discovery Session to meet me, learn a bit more about Atlas Counselling and see what you think. Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Or, drop in to The Cunning Culinarian, between 9am-2.30pm Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri (during school terms), and head to 'The Sage Room' - If the door is open, I'm free to chat :D

01.01.2022 Counselling is considered an essential service and Atlas Counselling is still counselling! Still providing both face to face and online counselling sessions! While I am only in the room specifically for face to face appointments, I am available on the phone as usual. Please dont hesitate to get in touch to discuss how Atlas Counselling can help you!

01.01.2022 It's likely that I have shared this before, but it is worth sharing it again. Trauma is not a choice! We are the the sum, not only of the experiences that we have had, but also those of the people whose influence has impacted our lives - Think: The trauma's our parents may have endured, regardless of the degree of success they may have had in protecting us from them (or not); socioeconomic, institutional and political influences etc.... The disconnect that can occur between 'head and heart' or thought versus feeling, of experience versus perception, is not often easily identified, but to one extent or another we each carry the burden of our embodied traumas (direct or indirect), and the decision to 'do differently' must be purposeful for change to happen. Healing doesn't simply manifest. Time, in fact, does NOT 'heal all wounds' (that is wishful thinking). Atlas Counselling provides a space where you can safely take those intentional steps, practice these new skills, 'try on' some new perspectives, and get in touch with your core values. Atlas counselling's aim is to facilitate the reconnection between the lived and felt experiences and to aid in providing a language around it so that you are empowered to assert your needs and wants and advocate passionately for your own values and well-being! When you're ready to consider taking those steps, and to find out more about how Atlas Counselling can support you in your healing journey, call/text/email, and/or book a FREE 20min non-therapeutic Discovery Session :) Call/Text: 0421 364 395 Email: [email protected] Website: www.atlascounselling.com.au Facebook: Atlas Counselling