You may choose in-person counselling at my private home in Mickleham, where you are welcomed to a calm, professional, yet private space that offers mental health support. You can also enjoy the option of working alongside my animals (Ninja and Tropical Fish) as part of your journey with Pawsitive Directions.
For those seeking mental health support in their own familiar surroundings, I also offer in-home counselling sessions across Mickleham, Narre Warren, and Leongatha. You can include your own animals in a safe and supportive way, which is a part of the Pawsitive Directions approach. This adds the benefit of continuing the work between sessions with the help of your companion animals.
If flexibility and convenience are important for you to work around your lifestyle, Pawsitive Directions offers online counselling (telehealth) across Victoria and Australia, providing accessible and secure mental health support from wherever you are. Many clients choose to include their own animals in these sessions, allowing the benefits of animal-assisted counselling to extend beyond the session itself.
For those drawn to movement and the outdoors, Pawsitive Directions offers walk and talk therapy in nature-based settings. This service supports emotional regulation, grounding, and gentle reflection, providing essential mental health support. While there are some added risks that are assessed and managed where possible, the service is also subject to weather conditions.
We also provide mental health support through public space counselling sessions, such as in cafés or community environments, which can be helpful for real-world integration and gradual exposure, as part of our Pawsitive Directions program.
***COMING SOON*** A Pawsitive Directions experiential 6-session personal development program, offered in 1v1 or small groups, focuses on providing mental health support. The program delves into essential themes such as: Emotional regulation, Self-awareness, Boundaries, Healthy relationships, Emotional expression, and Play, joy, and reconnection.
Where appropriate, sessions may also include connection with nature and observation of wildlife, providing essential mental health support and fostering a deeper sense of calm, perspective, and reconnection with the natural world through Pawsitive Directions.
During sessions focused on mental health support, you may be invited to interact with the animals present in a safe, respectful, and enriching manner for both parties. This approach honors both yours and the animals' boundaries and will be guided by myself, the counsellor at Pawsitive Directions.
Some animals have boundaries that do not allow for physical contact, and we honor that by inviting you to observe their behavior and how they model those boundaries. This practice is also crucial for mental health support when observing wildlife, as it helps prevent stress for the animals. Our approach aligns with Pawsitive Directions, ensuring a respectful and nurturing environment for both the animals and observers.