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About Dom Lawrenson
Originally from England, I migrated to Australia in 2002. I see this country as a place where our true potential can be reached. As someone in my 50's, it is good to see that anything is possible when hope is present.
My motivation for becoming a counsellor was to facilitate positive change in others. Through my personal experience of grief, self-learning, academic learning and taking the glass half full option, difficult situations and long-held negative influences can be flipped over to reveal solutions and new opportunities for growth.
Regardless of your situation my hope is that you leave each therapy session with hope and positive change.
My background
Prior to studying for my degree in Counselling, I had a 25-year career in management, recruitment and sales. My work incorporated a large amount of career counselling which has added to my general counselling skills. Managing, motivating staff and interviewing literally thousands of candidates has enhanced my listening skills and the ability to engage with a wide variety of people, without judgement. I also have many years of counselling experience from working in community health, employment services and specialist mentoring programmes.
Qualification & specialist training
- Bachelor of Counselling, Australia College of Applied Psychology (ACAP)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Practitioner Course
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework
- Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Assault
- Domestic Violence Best Practice
- Working Affirmatively with People in the LGBTQIA+ communities
- Common psychotropic medications workshop
- Diploma of Human Resource Management, Victoria University
Volunteering
I have been a volunteer counsellor at three community based organisations,
providing counselling for
- Domestic violence
- Workplace bullying
- Sexual identity and sexuality related counselling
- Anxiety Counselling
- Self-esteem counselling
- Parenting
Therapies used
I specialise in providing counselling for individuals and couples focused on establishing strengths, self-discovery and facilitating changes to negative beliefs and thoughts and destructive behaviours.
Everyone is different, has unique life experiences and responds differently to various therapies. I use variety of evidenced-based therapeutic approaches that include, but are not limited, to:
· ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
· CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
· Solution Focused Brief Therapy
· Person-centered Therapy
· Motivational Interviewing.
Therapy doesn’t have to be serious all the time - I like a good belly-laugh and the more the better. Managing annoying and painful issues does not have to be agony – when a light bulb switches on it can be funny realising you had the answers all the time. I will not make light of your issues but if you can leave my room more cheerful and hopeful than when you arrived it will be a sign of progress.
Memberships
