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About Helen Bannister

I assist clients who are undergoing a challenging life transition in relationships or work which is affecting their well being. Person centred counselling can facilitate these clients in making a succ ...

Special interests

A client may be suffering the stress of illness, the loss of a partner, divorce, a new environment, changes in their work situation, unemployment..... Faced with a major life change a client`s usual coping strategies may no longer be working for them; and they may be experiencing anxiety, depression, panic attacks, addictive behaviours, eating disorders, insomnia.......  I have participated in ongoing professional development in those experiential therapies which I have found of most benefit to the many clients I have collaborated with in making positive changes to their lives.  Schema therapy maps defeating emotional habits/patterns. Mindfulness, a heightened attention to the present moment, helps clients change negative behavioural patterns and reduce anxiety and depression. Focusing, a technique of body awareness, helps clients develop a 'felt sense' which allows for the transformation of emotional patterns which have been disempowering.  Art therapy, writing a personal journal, and working with dreams also provide clients with tools to break free of old patterns.

Qualifications

Grad Dip. Counselling: La Trobe University (2009)
Ph.D Education, University of Melbourne (1986)
Dip.Ed University of Adelaide (1973)
B.A. (Hons) University of Adelaide (1972)

Awards and Publications

Bannister, Helen (2002) Windana`s Drug Withdrawal House:an ethnographic study. The Windana Society

Bannister, Helen (2002) Experiencing Drug Withdrawal: emotions, self and identity. Paper, A Brave New World. Conference The World Federation of Therapeutic Communities. 17-21 Feb 2002. Media CD. Melbourne.

Bannister, Helen (1996) Community Arts and Community Health: "From Participants to Caretakers" :Community Cultural Development in a Ceramics Group. High Life. CDROM. North Richmond Community Health Centre. Victoria

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Your treatment costs may be reduced when the practitioner participates in a health fund member arrangement.

Practice location

Registration numbers and professional memberships

Australian Counselling Association Registration number 8393

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