Philosophy & Vision
My therapeutic approaches include trauma informed and person centred practice; psychodynamic psychotherapy; narrative therapy; acceptance commitment therapy; cognitive behavioural therapy; and recovery focused mental health and substance treatment. I provide therapy, assessments, case-planning and reports. This includes NDIS, victims compensation, immigration, workers compensation and other medico-legal matters. I am a member of the LGBTQA+ Community; disability and Indigenous ally.
Background
I have held a broad range of clinical, project and program management positions in Government, non-government agencies and the private sector. This has included senior management and advisory roles.
In generalist counselling, I have worked with a broad range of children, young people and adults in trauma, grief, child behaviour, family disruption, child protection, mental health, substance use and other issues. As a domestic and family violence counsellor, my role was to provide therapeutic services to victims and survivors of domestic and family violence as well as their children. Whilst working in corrective services, I conducted assessments and provided centre and community based services to offenders and their families.
Services
Aside from qualifications in Social Work and Psychotherapy (three years post graduate); I have additional qualifications in narrative therapy: child protection; domestic and family violence; trauma and sexual assault; social policy; child and family mediation and dispute resolution. Specialist roles have included child and family therapy; corrections and forensic work; child protection; mental health practice; domestic and family violence and disability.
I have been working in private practice as a therapist and social worker for more than twenty years. In this capacity, I have provided individual, couple, family and group therapies with children, young people and adults. I provide assessments, counselling, case-planning and reports.
Quality Provision
High quality, accessible, affordable counselling, therapy and social work services are extremely important to individuals, families and communities. I run a supervised practice with strong investment in professional development and growth. Culture is ever present in my work with children, young people, adults and families and intervention is designed with social justice and structural needs in mind.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Bachelor of Social Work - 2009 - Charles Sturt University
Modalities
ACT - CBT - Creative Arts Therapy - Mindfulness - Narrative Therapy - Person Centred - Play Therapy - Psychodynamic - Sand Tray - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
I offer a broad range of clinical and casework services on a sliding scale, in order to make therapy, supervision and assessments more affordable when required. Based in Sydney, I am available to work in regional and remote areas or using tele-health.
I am trained as a psychotherapist (psychodynamic); narrative therapist; person centred counsellor and therapist. I use creative methodologies in my work and am passionate about sand tray and play therapies. I bring a trauma lens to my work and value anti-oppressive and culturally responsive practice.
I am a member of the LGBTQA+ community and am a strong disability and First Nations ally and advocate.
Professional Associations
- Australian Association of Social Workers
Practice Locations
Elizabeth Street
Sydney South NSW 2200
Close to public transport.
Appointments
Business hours and after hours appointments.
Telehealth available.
Fees & Insurance
Individual counselling: $100-$160 hour
Agency based counselling (not for profit): $100 hour / 3 hour minimum
Individual supervision: $100-$200 hour
Group supervision: $30-50 hour / 4 person minimum
Travel time: $60 hour
Payment Options
Bank transfer, cash, paypal
Contact Deb
Please contact me to make an appointment
A conversation with Deb Gavan
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I LOVE my work with children, young people, adults and families. I became a counsellor and social worker in order to assist people with issues that are overwhelming or hard to make sense of. I deeply care about social justice, equality and culture and how these things impact on people. I have stayed in the profession for a long time because it is diverse and rewarding work.
Being able to witness and assist people recover from trauma, mental health and substance issues are among the things I enjoy most about the work. -
Feminist and anti oppressive practice are at the heart of my work and development. These are the reason I chose to train as a social worker rather than another discipline. Social work has a broad based approach which considers context, structures and culture as well as the experience of the individual.
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The human journey is wonderful because development and change are always occurring. I love working with children and young people as well as older adults (and in-between). Health and ill health, including physical and mental health are areas of interest- particularly the ways that trauma impact.
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I am trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy, which is focused on the relationship between the therapist and client. This approach assist people in building internal resources while growing in understanding of their life and experience.
I use Narrative Therapy in my work, with its emphasis on meaning making and externalisation. The idea underpinning externalisation is that the 'problem is the problem; the person is not the problem'. -
I want clients to feel valued, connected and the beginnings of relief from the earliest possible time. During the first phone call or email, I work to build rapport, safety and connection.
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Yes! Therapy is essential for humans and super important for human therapists. It has helped me in my relationships with family, friends and most importantly, my children.
Through therapy and a strong positive relationship with my therapist, I have been able to make big and consistent changes. -
I love meeting and getting to know new people, identifying goals and areas of change and working with people while they resolve issues and strengthen relationships.
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ALL. THE. TIME.
I approach bad hair days with humour, mindfulness, open mindedness (and chocolate). -
There are some big structural issues that are affecting people at the moment: the cost of housing; access to steady work with a liveable wage; racism, gender issues and homophobia. Relationship issues and experiences of trauma and violence are very common.
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I love reading, films, art and theatre. I am studying (law) at the moment; so my head is often in text books right now, but reading novels is an accessible joy.