I am a counsellor and psychotherapist with private practice locations in the Lake Macquarie region of Awabakal country. I pay respects to the traditional owners of the land on which we share our stories, and to the Aboriginal elders past, present and emerging.
While working in aged care as a registered nurse, the suffering that I witnessed older people experiencing, connected to loss and grief, was impacting and distressing. Hoping to understand better ways to help, I went to a short course in bereavement counselling with Australian grief expert Mal McKissock. It was enough to ignite a passion that led to a Graduate Diploma in Grief and Palliative Care Counselling at the University of Adelaide in 2010. A placement with the Palliative Care Service on the Central Coast led to a 2-year position with NSW Health as a bereavement counsellor in palliative care, working alongside experienced counsellors and supervisors. By the end of 2012, I had completed a Masters in Applied Social Science (Counselling) at the Australian College of Applied Psychology. I was welcomed to begin my own counselling practice at a Bateau Bay medical centre, later moving north to Bonnells Bay and setting up practice with the team at Ochre Medical Centre.
Continuing an aged care nursing career alongside the counselling career was education-intensive, and I discovered that a change to mental health nursing allowed for better use of my psychotherapy skills in nursing practice. Since 2016 I have gained valuable experience working in acute mental health inpatient units, rehab and forensic mental health, adolescent and older persons mental health, emergency departments, and community care coordination. In 2010, I completed a Masters of Mental Health Nursing and I am now a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse. This qualification has allowed any clients with GP care plans to have Medicare-rebated counselling sessions.
A few years ago, I had a bit of fun attending fine art classes at a local university. Art and psychotherapy really are very similar. Like my lecturer used to say, “every mark has meaning” and it’s all about the process. In fact, trust the process, let go of the expectations of how it ‘should’ look, and something wonderful always emerges. I hope that you will find this is true, when you begin your own therapy journey!
Qualifications
- Master of Mental Health Nursing (Distinction) (2020) University of Newcastle
- Master of Applied Social Science (Counselling) (2013) ACAP
- Graduate Diploma of Grief & Palliative Care Counselling (2010) University of Adelaide
- Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing) Distinction (1991) Avondale College
Education
- Level 1 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (in progress, 2024)
- Certified Brainspotting Therapist (2023)
- Brainspotting Phase One and Two Training (2022) Brainspotting AustralAsia Pacific
- Introduction and Advanced EMDR Therapy (2021) Graham Taylor, Therapist Training
- Clinical Supervision Training (2020) HNE Health, (2021) Sydney Supervision Training
- MoCA Cognitive Assessment Certification (2021)
- Provide First Aid, CPR, Basic Life Support (2015, 2018, 2021) Vital First Aid
- Care of people who may be suicidal (COPSETI) (2018) NSW Health
- Psychosis and Trauma (2018) Blue Knot Foundation
- Trauma-Informed Transgender and Gender Diverse Affirmative Care (2018) Blue Knot
- Trauma & Eye Movement (incl EMDR) Integration Therapy (2017) Judith Reader (ACA)
- Working with Complex Trauma Clients 3-phased approach (2017) Blue Knot Foundation
- Working with Complex Trauma (2014) NALAG
- ASIST Suicide First Aid (2010) Living Works
- Bereavement Counselling Winter School (2008) Bereavement Care Centre
Current Professional Memberships
- Australian Counselling Association College of Clinical Counsellors
- Australian Counselling Association Level 4 Member
- AHPRA Registered Nurse Division 1
- Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (Credentialed)
- Australian Clinical Supervision Association (Member)
- EMDR Association of Australia (Full Member)
- Brainspotting Australasia (Certified Practitioner)
Janine Max 