Ms Karen Rushbrook
Counsellor, Psychotherapist
kmrcounselling 0430 016 871
Roselands, Sydney NSW 2196
In Person + Telehealth
Philosophy & Vision
I have been guiding families and working as a child Counsellor since 2003. My background is teaching, where I discovered the need for dealing holistically with children, rather than just academically. I specialise in child anxiety, emotional regulation and trauma. I am solution focused which means I am short-term and committed to resolutions. As a therapist I strive to be an empathic individual who is unbiased, supportive, and provides objective, non judgemental guidance.
Services
Therapy for Children and Adolescents.
I am deeply committed to supporting parents to create joyous families and build resilient children.
I have a keen interest in working with children, adolescents and parents to facilitate healthy development and navigate the roadblocks towards a healthy family. I offer children the opportunity to control their anxiety, their emotional regulation and build relationships with others and improve their lives.
Quality Provision
I have been counselling children and adolescents for over 15 years. I have extensive knowledge and experience of the issues facing children. Working as a school counsellor has given me the expertise to know the school system and to help your child navigate it and to know what the school can do.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- BA combined honours - 1982 - Leicester university
- BA Counselling - 2003 - ACAP university
Modalities
Art Therapy - CBT - Marriage and Family - Person Centred - Play Therapy - Sandplay Therapy - Solution Oriented - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
I am a solution-focused, person-centered therapist who believes the client to be the expert of their own world. I work on empowering children and families to problem-solve and improve communication so that the family can thrive rather than survive.
Professional Associations
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia - Clinical
A conversation with Karen Rushbrook
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I began my career as a teacher and quickly realised that children and adolescents need a more holistic approach to their well-being. Often, children who struggle at school have other issues in their lives that impact their ability to learn or to fit in with the school system. I believe the same as Einstien who says "If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid".
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Solution-focused therapy resonates with me as I believe that short interventions and working on solutions empowers children to problem solve and become masters of their own lives.
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I am interested in children and families. I believe that as parents, we are only as happy as our unhappiest child. I believe that catching children early gives them the best chance to become stable, happy, emotionally healthy adults.
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I use Play therapy, art therapy, and CBT.
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I have the ability to build rapport quickly, having had years of experience. This means that progress can be quick and generally weekly sessions move quickly on to fortnightly and then monthly.
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Working with children and being thanked for my work is the greatest pleasure in my life. Knowing that I have helped a child or family to live a better life, makes my life seem fulfilled. Over the fifteen years that I have worked with children, I feel I have touched the hearts of children who have progressed to become mentally healthier adults.
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The best thing about being a therapist is being able to help children to help themselves.
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Of course, therapists are human too. But, I learn from all my "bad hair" days and become better with each experience.
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The most significant problem facing our children is anxiety. This in turn comes from living a more insular life, Our children's world is becoming smaller and this means that children internalise their issues and increases anxiety.
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I love Klimt's painting of a pregnant woman called "hope", It symbolises to me the hope that every parent has for their child and the hope that I can offer if the child struggles with the roadblocks on the road o adulthood. Having two children of my own is the most important event that has helped me to understand a child's struggles, the problem children face during divorce, and how to navigate the many issues that arise at school.