Bev Whitehead
Counsellor, Art Therapist
Bev Whitehead Counselling and Psychotherapy
Mount Barker, SA 5251
In Person + Online Therapy Australia-wide
Philosophy & Vision
Hi, I'm Bev Whitehead, a counsellor based in Mount Barker, SA. I work with adults, children, and young people, offering support in processing trauma, grief, and loss, as well as managing depression and anxiety. My approach is warm, collaborative, and tailored to each individual’s needs.
My journey into therapy and counselling is deeply personal. Through my own experiences—personally and as a parent seeking support for my neurodivergent child—I’ve come to appreciate the importance of feeling truly understood. I know how powerful it is to be met with empathy and support rather than judgment. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to providing a space where people feel valued, heard, and accepted.
That’s why I do this work. Whether I’m supporting children through expressive therapies like clay and drawing or helping adults process their own stories, my goal is to offer a place where healing can happen in
Background
I have spent the last 20 years working with children and families in different capacities, including my time as a primary school and early childhood teacher, and time spent raising my own family. My time in education further developed my passion for working with children and their families and supporting them on their individual and family journey. I have previously worked for The Salvation Army, working with children and their families, and working with people in a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation programme to increase their life skills.
Services
I provide telehealth sessions for adults via Zoom/phone or in person, and face-to-face therapy for children and young people (ages 2-18) in Mount Barker. My work with children and young people often begins with a telehealth session with caregivers to understand how best to support the young person and their family.
I offer a range of therapeutic approaches, including: Traditional talk therapy; Clay Field Therapy: a hands-on, expressive approach; Drawing therapy: art therapy allowing non-verbal expression. I also support parents and caregivers by providing guidance and organizing observations at school and/or home to better understand and assist children and their families.
Quality Provision
I am committed to providing high-quality, client-centered counselling with professionalism, empathy, and confidentiality. Using evidence-based approaches, including talk therapy, Clay Field Therapy, and expressive therapies, I support individuals and families in processing trauma, grief, and anxiety. I ensure a safe, responsive, and ethical environment, tailored to each client’s needs, whether in-person or via telehealth.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Master Counselling and Psychotherapy - 2024 - The University of Adelaide
- Bachelor of Education (JP/P) - 2006 - Flinders University
Modalities
ACT - Art Therapy - CBT - Creative Arts Therapy - Emotional Freedom Techniques - Integrative - Internal Family Systems - Journal Therapy - Mindfulness - Person Centred - Solution Oriented - Strengths-Based - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
My approach is based on the importance of compassion, curiosity, creativity, collaboration and connection. Ensuring that you feel safe, seen, heard and understood forms the basis of how we work. The types of therapy used, unique for each person I work with, based on your preferences and what evidence based approached may serve you best.
I believe that deep down at the core of each of us we are whole. This becomes hidden by life's traumas and challenges, and protected by coping strategies that once served us - such as anxiety, addiction, anger, isolation - that are no longer serving us. When we can connect with this resilient core, we start healing ourselves. My role is to support through safe processing and resourcing.
Professional Associations
- Australian Counselling Association - Level 2
Practice Locations
15 Deer Ave
Mount Barker SA 5251
On street parking available.
Fees & Insurance
I offer a free 15 minute consult.
Concession rates are available.
No referral or Mental Health Plan is needed to access my services.
Fees are comparable to the gap you would pay to see a Psychologist.
Payment Options
Payment is made via bank transfer or via stripe.
Contact Bev
Please contact me to book a 15 minute free initial consult
A conversation with Bev Whitehead
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At 16 years of age, I received training to volunteer with children on a camp. This training was the beginning of a interest in human development and behaviour that has stayed with me. I went on to work as a teacher, where my passion resided with supporting my students and their families who were experiencing difficulty, and particularly supporting children with emotion regulation. This passion lead me to move into counselling as a profession.
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Expressive Therapies - such as drawing therapy and Clay Field Therapy. I have both been a client and and practitioner of these therapies. Expressive therapies provide the opportunity to express ourselves without words and separate our "problems/issues" from ourselves - recognising them as a part of ourselves, but not all of ourselves. Sometimes we do not have the words, we can express and explore the issue, and possible resolutions.
Internal Family Systems has the philosphy that we have many parts, all of the good, all of them serving a purpose. At our core we are whole, but due to our upbringing, life's challenges and traumatic experiences we develop ways to survive such as addiction, anxiety etc. When these survival parts no longer help us, we can explore how to 'help' these parts.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is a scientific, evidence based therapy that can be helpful to explore our thoughts, emotions and behaviour. This approach is more cognitive and logic based, and I like to use it in conjunction with other therapies.
Positive Psychology brings my approaches into balance where the focus is on adding positive things to our lives, instead of focusing only on the presenting issues. -
I am interested in human behaviour - why we do the things we do. I am also interested in emotional regulation. Regulating is challenging for many reasons - trauma, neurodiversity, hormonal imbalances, depression, anxiety. I am passionate about supporting and resources people to regulate. I have an interest in supporting families by resourcing parents and therapeutically supporting children.
I am also interested in how our bodies store trauma. That it is not the event, but the effects of the traumatic event that live on for us. -
I collaborative with clients to discover and explore the methods that might best suit their needs. Talk therapy and expressive therapies.
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I hold hope and belief that change is possible for all. Progress will look different for each client - how long is a piece of string?! Studies have shown that therapeutic change is based firstly on the client's ability to bring about change, followed by the quality of the relationship built with the therapist. I will do all I can to support this process, but there are no clear timelines. It is a journey not a destination.
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Therapy has supported me to understand, know and accept myself. I have learned to tolerate the pain that I ran from for many years. I have found ways to express myself through drawing and clay therapy, that I had no words or logic for. It has brought me hope.
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It is a privilege to hear people's stories and to be trusted with them. The teacher in me enjoys supporting people by resourcing them with information and with tools.
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Hard days come. They do not overwhelm me in the way they used to. Something I have worked hard for is to work towards emotional regulation and independence. Life was a rollercoaster or yogo - I was up and down - elated or in a pit. The pit experience would them lead to an emotional reset. I have found more stability - the hard days still come but the the lows are less low.
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I think that we find it hard to be present and to tolerate discomfort and pain. We have distractions all around us. These distractions, such as phones/tvs, are often used to tune out the world and our worries - to help us regulate.
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The book "Good Inside" by Dr Becky Kennedy, was a healing and transforming read. It gave words to my experience as a child and a parent. The premise is that we are all good inside - this aligns with my philosphy about our parts and about behaviour from earlier questions.