Bhakti De Bon
Social Worker AMHSW, Clinical Supervisor
Clinical MHSW/MAASW/MasterSC/T&A
Geelong, VIC 3220
In Person + Telehealth
Philosophy & Vision
Bhakti provides short and long term psychological intervention and counselling, now via Zoom and FaceTime.
20 + years experience working in medical clinics, treating various difficulties, including anxiety, depression, parenting, stress management, PTSD, Weight management.
Sessions focus on achieving the change you desire and disengaging with unhelpful thoughts and actions. Bhakti uses a variety of evidence based psychological models and works practical and solution focused.
Background
Registered and accredited Mental Health Social Worker with20+ years of experience in Counselling and Mental Health Management, using various models. 4 years of experience in Europe, 6 month in New Zealand and 20 years in Australia. Bhakti obtained her Bachelor of Social Science and Thesis in Mental Health from the University of Cologne in Germany.
Services
Single Sessions as well as short and long term counselling is available. I work with Individuals, Adolescents and Children. Therapy and Counselling can be provided to everyone who feels the need to change any aspects of their life, regardless the issue. As a certified Trainer and Assessor I frequently provide Training, Assessment and Supervision to students in the same or related professions.
Quality Provision
AASW Membership, first 30min session for free but ongoing sessions need to be privately paid (sorry) unless referred through TAC or WorkCover. Undertaking continued Professional Development to remain updated with the latest and most effective therapeutic techniques available. Given a scholarship in 2009 to intensify studies in Mindfulness based therapies and narrative therapy, regularly train and assess students and provide clinical supervision.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Masters in Social Science - 1998 - University of Cologne/Germany
- Bachelor of Social Work - 1998 - University of Cologne/Germany
- Mediation - 2006
- Cert IV Training & Assessment - 2008
- ACT Training/ Scholarship - 2009
Modalities
ACT - Attachment Theory - CBT - Developmental - Emotional Freedom Techniques - Marriage and Family - Mindfulness - Motivational Interviewing - Narrative Therapy - Person Centred - Process Oriented - Solution Oriented - Systems Theory
Therapy Approach
Bhakti prefers a mindful and holistic approach while drawing creatively from a range of therapy modalities in order to find the most beneficial one for each client. The focus of her working relationships is to identify how you can achieve the change you desire and how you disengage with unhelpful thoughts and actions that stop you from moving into your desired direction.
Her goal is for you to resolve current issues and to develop insight, skills and strategies for improving and maintaining mental health with a practical approach.
Professional Associations
- Australian Association of Social Workers
A conversation with Bhakti De Bon
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Many other forms of support are only accessible if the client defines themselves through their problems, ie support for people with a diagnosed Mental Illness, Homelessness, Family Violence, etc. Counselling and Psychotherapy offers clients the opportunity to define themselves by their capacity for growth and change which I find by far a more attractive Framework.
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Greek Mythology is vividly present in my mind when I am working and I am often wondering if it's wise to open “Pandora's†Box or can relate to clients when I imagine their life as Sisyphus's work….! But I am not sure it that's really influencing my development.
If "being practical" is also philosophy than I would say that this is my main influence! -
My professional and personal experience makes me believe that prioritising emotional and physical health will lead to an increase in mental, spiritual and social health as a by-product.
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While drawing from different Methods like ACT and Narrative Therapy, I draw on the past to serve the present and adopt a social constructionist viewpoint; I guess that makes me a friend of the Postmodern School of Counselling - lets hope I am a flexible friend!
It is immensely important to me to not waste my clients time, therefore I try to provide a service that aims to stay as practical as possible so the client can really achieve the changes that are desired. -
Clients that leave the first session feeling acknowledged but not judged, welcomed and not criticised usually identify the first session as the start of their progress.
Acknowledging the recent COVID 19 effects, I have reduced my fees and offer the first 30min session for free - it's an opportunity for the clients to screen the process. -
Being a therapist has made me less reactive and more responsive.
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The experience of working with the human sides of our species!
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Sure thing! On those days I usually try to get my hair into some style that's acceptable, even if it isn't perfect.
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Living in the fast lane, losing our ability to be present for ourselves and for others.
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Paul Watzlawick's “Pragmatics of Human Communication†are nearly as inspiring as “Sesame Street†- I am absolutely serious. The most important event of my life was attending Kindergarten. I truly believe that everything we really need to know we learn in Kindergarten: sharing, cleaning up and that Cookies and Milk solve most problems. I am actually serious.