Stop, Collaborate & Listen | Brand
Stop, Collaborate & Listen
Phone: +61 474 594 446
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25.01.2022 When you choose a counsellor, it's important that it is someone with whom you feel comfortable enough to express yourself with. Not just the positive things, but also if something isn't working for you; it is your right to say so, no matter how big or small you may think it is. I'm a firm believer in finding the right counsellor for you. Therapy should work for you and it's a passion of mine to make that happen. Please know you are welcome to ask any questions to help you decide if I'm the right therapist for your story. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 0474 594 446, on [email protected] or message me direct on this page.
22.01.2022 Did you know that being a mobile counselling service means that I can offer a range of days and times that will suit your schedule? This includes Saturday time slots, as well as outside business hours on weekdays! And even better, I come to any location where you will feel totally comfortable to tell your story. Call 0474 594 446, message us on the Facebook page, or email [email protected].
22.01.2022 This is absolutely how I aim to practise as a counsellor. I am merely a useful witness to your journey as we navigate the direction together. I honour your innate knowledge about yourself, your life, your supports and your solutions. Credit to @lisaolivertherapy for this beautiful expression of what therapy can and should be.
21.01.2022 Everybody deserves to be heard.
21.01.2022 October is International Pregnancy and Infant Loss month. The loss of a baby, no matter what stage of pregnancy, is rightly acknowledged by society as one of the worst kinds of grief one can experience. Yet, it is almost a taboo to speak about pregnancy and infant loss past an "acceptable" and arbitrary period of time. This reluctance of others to be present in these moments deeply saddens me on behalf of bereaved parents. Losing a child can be an isolating experience, often... made more painful when it seems that those around them do not want to talk about this very loved baby gone too soon. To parents mourning this incredible loss, I say to you: do not hide your pain in the shadows for fear of offending others. Find those in your village who will remember every important anniversary, special date and the ones in between. Openly celebrate and commemorate this child as you do your others, if you are blessed with more. Society may fear the deep, lasting pain that comes with the grief of losing a child, but your close support network, including myself if given the honour, will speak your child's name with you, fall in love with the pictures you have of them, and will listen to the love you have for this precious child of yours. Know you have the right to mourn for as long as you need, in the way you choose. You are not alone. Photo credit to Harold Ivan Smith, author of the "Grief Care Kit" quoted on "Grief Speaks" Facebook page (highly recommend this page!)
21.01.2022 The narrative we create about ourselves are very powerful. It will come from a voice inside our minds, and most people will have had this voice trailing behind us for a very long time, sometimes whispering and sometimes shouting. Often, it tells us a story about ourselves that is not coming from a place of love. Sometimes it tells us platitudes which undermine our valid feelings, or worse, tricks us into believing things which are not necessarily true about ourselves. Who is... the voice that says this to you? What does it sound like? How loud is it? What does it look like? Is it a shape, colour? What kinds of features does it have? What can you say to the voice to take back your power? What does it do when you say that? What kind of voice would you like to replace it with?
20.01.2022 The business phone (0474 594 446) is currently down! I'm working hard on getting it back up and running. You can still contact me on the email ([email protected]) and our Fb instant messaging service. Katrina
20.01.2022 So who is behind Stop, Collaborate & Listen - Counselling? A little about me... My name's Katrina, and I have always had a curiosity for hearing people’s stories, a deep passion for fostering hope and empowerment, as well as a desire to be of service to others. I feel blessed to have been able to complete the Masters of Counselling from Queensland University of Technology and cement my desire to sit in the space with a person who has chosen to tell me their story. Prior to ...Continue reading
20.01.2022 Hopefully something to make you smile on a Sunday. Katrina
17.01.2022 Grief is all changing. An event that forever alters how we move through life. It does not discriminate. It changes over time but never leaves. It is the imprint of the love we have for that person for whom we grieve for. It's OK to ask for help from someone to walk beside you on the journey. All credit to ISLA Grief and Loss for one of the most poignant depictions of grief I have ever seen.
17.01.2022 For those of you who have sought counselling in the past, did you ever experience any moments like the picture below during therapy? For those who have, some thoughts to ponder on (please feel free to post any answers you feel comfortable sharing below)... I wonder what your seedling grew into? How long did it take?... What does it look like today? Big and strong, or petite and still being nurtured? Is the plant heavy with fruit or flowers? Does it provide shade for you or other people in your life? Or perhaps it is deciduous, and the leaves reappear when the conditions are just right? How do you continue to tend to your seedling or tree? Who or what helps you? What would you like your seedling or tree to finally grow into? How will it change as it grows? How will you know when it is full grown? Or should it grow forever? See more
17.01.2022 Private Health Fund Rebates now available! Stop, Collaborate & Listen is now a preferred provider for Bupa, Medibank, and St Luke's Health Fund. In the coming week, Police Health and Emergency Services Health will also be added to the growing list of providers. This means that if you have the appropriate cover, you are now eligible for a rebate when you have a counselling session with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me on messenger, or [email protected] or 0474 594 446 for further information. I look forward to hearing from you. -Katrina
16.01.2022 This really spoke to me. Claiming your rightful space in a conversation or requesting clarification about the what is said doesn't have to be prefaced with an apology. It can still be done in a way that is respectful, polite and assertive just by a simple reframe of the statement. This has reminded me that I can be earnest without sacrificing myself in a way that lessens my power. I wonder how removing needless apologies that serve neither myself or the person I'm talking to ...will impact how I engage with others? I wonder how it will impact the view I have of myself when talking to those in positions of authority compared to my own? What would doing this mean for you and how you communicate? Credit to @doodledwellness for the reminder.
14.01.2022 Today is International Pregnancy and Infant Loss day. For those that aren't aware, 1 in 4 pregnancies will end in loss. This means that we will likely know somebody who has been personally affected by this grief, if not ourselves. The taboo of miscarriage and stillbirth must end. The grief is immeasurable and there is no "getting over it" even if you have other children already or choose to have more. You are forever changed, just as a parent with a living child is. At 7pm,... candles were lit by myself and my colleagues at the annual Wave of Light ceremony, together with the candles of bereaved parents commemorating their babies. It is a privilege and an honour to work within this space as a midwife and a counsellor. Bereaved parents: your grief is valid. No words can take the pain away; find those who will feel it with you. Say your baby's name and celebrate their special dates. You are not alone.
14.01.2022 Hopefully something to make you smile on a Sunday. Katrina
12.01.2022 Being a mum or a dad is truly the hardest job in the world. Being a good parent does NOT mean you have to enjoy every single second of every single day. There is no parent alive who has not felt at least one of the sentiments below, sometimes many of them at once! It's OK to acknowledge and talk about the hard parts of parenthood. If you don't feel comfortable doing that with those around you, then find a therapist who can. You can call 0474 594 446 or contact me on this page through messenger.
12.01.2022 Yesterday marked the beginning of Perinatal Anxiety and/or Depression awareness week. 1 in 5 mums and 1 in 10 dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety, which is 100,000 Australians each year. This years theme is 'We're Here, We're Listening'. I wanted to take a moment to explore the social stigma that still surrounds the topic of mental health which stifles how we as a society and as individuals feel talking openly about it. If and when our own mental health requires... extra support, it forces us to confront our own preconceived ideas and judgements that we have internalised throughout our lives. Common threads of social stigma about perinatal mental health often revolve around gaslighting the new parent's feelings and invalidating their experience, or worse, reducing their desire to speak as self indulgent. Parents may even repeat these same harsh judgements to themselves, preventing them from seeking help. No, just because you have a child does not mean that your own health must take a back seat. (Being a parent means your health is just as important as your child's. You cannot care for others if you are not well yourself). No, it might not just be the baby blues and 'you'll be right' (it can happen any time in the first year). No, if you are struggling with mental health it does not mean you love your child less or that you're not a 'good parent'. (Perinatal anxiety and depression can even manifest as overcompensating!) No, you do not have to be the primary carer to have perinatal depression or anxiety. (Dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety just like Mums) No, it does not just happen to those who may have had birth trauma. (No matter what your journey looked like, the transition to parenthood and change in identity alone can create perinatal depression and anxiety). These awareness weeks are so important to challenge how we as a society and individuals talk about issues, particularly one so emotive as perinatal depression and anxiety. Often, these awareness weeks were created by those who have experienced it themselves and want to ensure that people coming after them have a different, better, holistic and shame free experience. Please remember this: often we judge ourselves harsher than others do (sometimes we aren't even judged by anyone else other than ourselves!). Your mental health is valid, real and worthy. There is no shame in asking for help. I wonder what your baby would say to you if you could ask them whether or not you should seek support? Would they congratulate you, thank you, be proud of you? I'm here, and I'm willing to listen. #pmhw2020 #perinatalmentalhealth #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness
11.01.2022 A smile for your Monday. Self-help books are helpful, but they don't know your strengths like you do. @LoadingArtist.com
10.01.2022 As we head into a new weekend, just a reminder that it's OK to spend some time doing what you want to do, even if that means doing nothing! For those who find it very difficult to "do nothing", I would gently challenge you to reframe this thought to something like, "even doing nothing is still doing something", and then examine how this thought sits with you. Think about what doing nothing would look like? What do you need to make it happen? Who will support you in this?... How do you think you will feel after you have spent some time doing nothing? Credit to @theawkwardyeti for the cartoon and reminder that nothing is still something. Picture description: Brain says "we should be doing something but I don't know what." Heart replies "it's OK to do nothing!"
10.01.2022 The phone is back in order! Thank you for your patience. Call on 0474 594 446.The phone is back in order! Thank you for your patience. Call on 0474 594 446.
09.01.2022 Often we reach out for help when we feel that we've tried everything in our own power to solve the problem or when things feel too broken. But it is your unique life experience, inner strengths, initiative and creative ideas that can provide the perfect combination to any problem. Sometimes we just need an impartial, non-judgemental person to hear us, empathise, and help put some important pieces together. If you'd like to find out if I'm the right counsellor for you, please contact us on the Facebook page, email at [email protected] or call us on 0474 594 446.
09.01.2022 When we are in the turmoil of grief, the people who love us will try to relieve the pain as best they can. Often, platitudes are the first words that can come to mind. Grief rarely responds to words; it demands to be felt, seen and heard. As a counsellor, I am not afraid to sit in the grief, bearing witness to it, giving space and respect. Please contact me; I consider it a great privilege to be a part of journeys such as these.
08.01.2022 ahm has joined the growing list of health insurers for whom Stop, Collaborate & Listen is a preferred provider. Other insurers include Medibank, Bupa, St Luke's, Police and Emergency services health funds. This means you can get a rebate* when you choose counselling with me! Please don't hesitate to contact me on the page or on 0474 594 446. I look forward to chatting to you soon. ... (Rebate dependant upon the level of health insurance policy)
08.01.2022 I spent a long time writing and rewriting a blurb to go with this quote, but I haven't been able to find anything that can expand upon it in a meaningful way. Grief is inexplicable, all consuming and life changing. All I will add is, know that you are not alone. Bearing witness and walking alongside a person who is holding hands with their grief is a privilege, and I would be honoured if you chose me as the counsellor to do it with you.
05.01.2022 Sharing stories of hurt, pain, fear, powerlessness or grief are not signs of weakness. Sharing these stories are what will give you your power back. All credit to @BreneBrown and Marc Brackett
05.01.2022 The phone is back in order! Thank you for your patience. Call on 0474 594 446.The phone is back in order! Thank you for your patience. Call on 0474 594 446.
03.01.2022 Our own thoughts can tell us some pretty harsh, judgemental or just downright mean things. If someone talked to you like your thoughts talk to you, would you be their friend? The next time you catch those thoughts saying something unkind, think about someone important in your life who loves you. Imagine what they would say about you in that moment? And yes, this can include the family pet who loves us unconditionally! (It can be anyone or anything that sees us as we truly are...). I wonder what they would say? I wonder how that voice from your thoughts would react if it knew that there are others who don't have the same harsh things to say about you? I wonder how that would affect the way you see yourself? Credit to @swatercolour for the lovely outsider witnessing picture.
03.01.2022 An interesting thought to ponder on as we start a new week... I would be lying if I didn't say that it took me many years to realise that I am worthy of love and to love myself for who I am. Loving myself took the form of being able to say no to other's demands if I need to, practising gratitude for my capable body (even if society tells me I shouldn't), and my boundaries are exclusively mine to decide upon and ensure they are respected. How do you know when you are loving y...ourself? What does it look like? Where do you feel it in your body? Who would notice that you are actively trying to make yourself a priority? See more
02.01.2022 I love this graphic. At a time when we must refrain from being physically close to one another, we cannot underestimate the importance of animals helping to replace some of that lost connection. The impact on our mental health as a result of one on one time with an animal can be huge; not only does it force us to be mindful in the moment, but it reminds us of the unconditional love our pets have for us. What a gift! It doesn't always have to be a human who helps us on our journey.
02.01.2022 Sometimes the hardest part of therapy is the step you have to take to get there. Seeking support for mental health has been historically something that is considered taboo, or to be kept private and separate. In the spirit of smashing the shame that can surround this decision, I want to talk about how I have personally sought out support for my mental health in the past. Getting to that point was probably the hardest part; my family members around me could see the changes in ...my demeanour, I could feel my reactions to every little thing escalating, my sleep habits changed and my work suffered. It was a very painful place to be. And yet, when I hit my own breaking point and I sought out help with a mental health professional, I told almost no one in my life that I had made that decision. It wasn't until a few years later that I was able to talk openly about it, and when I started to, it felt foreign and strange. Why? Was it perfectionism? Was it because I didn't want to be seen as 'weak' for admitting that I needed help? Was it society's judgement that I was avoiding? Was I afraid of the opinions changing of those closest to me? Worse, was I afraid of my opinion of myself changing? With many years hindsight, I can see how each one of these things contributed to my hiding of my mental health support. But all of them, and more, was really about shame. I was ashamed to not 'push through', to 'fail', to 'need help'. At that point, I could not see how by seeking out support, and actually committing and following through with the work that came with it, was truly one of the strongest things I've ever done in my life. I'm constantly amazed by my clients strength. How they can live through some of the hardest adversities, and yet, are still able to tell their story and be heard, to want to work or explore alternative possibilities. The strength it takes to throw off those veils of shame, however they are disguised, or however many there are of them, and to be brave enough to reach out. I often wonder what they would think of themselves if they could see what I see, through a lens of no judgement, no shame and no assumption. There is nothing shameful in seeking support for your mental health. There is nothing shameful in asking for help to work through issues in a relationship. There is no shame to be had in admitting to your professional supervisor that you need a debrief and to work out steps to take next. Whatever the reason, there is never any shame in prioritising your own story; there is only strength, courage, commitment and bravery in doing so. Please, own these parts of yourself as they will be some of your biggest allies in your journey. If you'd like to talk further, please contact me via messenger on Facebook, at [email protected] or 0474 594 446. Katrina
