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Life TransitionCounsellor
&
Life Coach
My name is Eleanor and as a qualified and registered Counsellor (Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC) & member of the Australian Counselling Association) and long time experienced Life Coach, I offer a unique way in delivering my services by working collaboratively with you and one of our dogs as part of an extension of the Emotional Support Animal model of care. I have recently completed additional studies at La Trobe University, School of Psychology and Public Health in the field of Animal Assisted Therapy for Healthcare Professionals as well as being a member of Animal Therapies, Australia.
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I am extremely fortunate to have had a long career as an educator for 30 years. During that time I have worked in complex, challenging and high needs settings with a variety of children in terms of age, ability, complexity and needs. I have successfully worked within a collaborative approach with adults in multicultural settings in both educational and non educational environments. I have worked closely with those from allied health services and community based family services.
During this period of time, I was fortunate to have Sedin and Aspen commence their work as therapy dogs catering for students Preschool-Year 6. I have had the pleasure of witnessing first hand the incredible impact that therapy dogs can have on a child and adults life. The way in which they provided support, love, a sense of calmness, happiness, a non judgemental attitude and the reliability of just being there every day for the students was amazing.
The therapy dogs worked in a variety of ways via Animal Assisted Educational Programs supporting in- class reading/literacy programs with 1:1 or small group work, participating in a variety of lessons including art, maths, sport, self esteem and resilience lessons. Through these academic and wellbeing programs they worked with students who were anxious, reluctant to attend school, demonstrated challenging behaviours, as well as children with Autism, Receptive and Expressive Language Delays and those with a mild intellectual disability.
More recently I have moved exclusively into the Counselling and Coaching field and have combined my love of dogs and the incredible work that Sedin and Aspen have already done for countless numbers of people and I can now share their love within my private practice, Brighter Life Coaching and Counselling with Emotional Support Dogs.
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As a Counsellor I have many areas of speciality to offer clients, however the Person-Centre Therapy approach (otherwise known as Client-Centred Counselling) very much resonates with who I am as a person and counselling practitioner. The underlying theory supports clients as being "capable and autonomous, with the ability to solve their own difficulties, realise their potential, and change their lives in positive ways" (Seligman, 2006)
As a Life Transition Coach I work within many counselling techniques and theories as I support clients who feel they are lacking purpose and direction in their lives. I guide clients through the process of setting goals that will set them on a path towards a more fulfilling life, while holding them accountable to achieving their goals.
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Remember.... You're not alone!
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Contact me & let's take the first step together on your journey to a better & more fulfilling life.