Don Coles
Mental Health Social Worker, Parramatta
M Social Work (Counselling), B Social Studies (Social Work)
Don has over 35 years of counselling experience, working with anxiety, depression, stress, relationships, confidence issues, trauma effects, disability, parenting and mental health. He worked with the Child Abuse Royal Commission as a counsellor for 3 years, supporting people affected by childhood sexual abuse. He has provided clinical supervision for over 20 years.
Areas of Counselling Practice
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Adult mental health issues
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Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse
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Emotional, physical and sexual abuse
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Grief & loss counselling
I enjoy the process of practice reflection to ensure quality service to clients and to build workers knowledge, skills and confidence.
Don Coles
Professional Experience
I have had 35 years experience as a counsellor, social worker and family therapist in various settings working with individuals, families, couples, children, teenagers & groups. This has included agencies providing individual and couple counselling, family therapy and family support programs, out of home care and foster care, community health, group work and with various disability services. I recently completed 3 years with the counselling team at the Child Abuse Royal Commission, supporting individuals with child sexual abuse and trauma histories who were engaging with the Commission in private sessions and public hearings.
I have extensive experience in supervision and support of staff and students from a variety of backgrounds, including counselling, family and individual therapy, family support, social work, psychology, disability, out of home care and youth work. I enjoy the process of practice reflection to ensure quality service to clients and to build workers knowledge, skills and confidence. From time to time I have taught in counselling and family therapy at University level.
Counselling style
Each counselling situation and client is unique, and I use a combination of:
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Creating a “safe space” in the counselling room for the client(s) to share their personal information and experience
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Understanding and appreciating the client’s particular perspective and experience
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Assisting the client to making sense of things in a way that opens up options for steps forward
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Building and drawing on the client’s previous and current capabilities and wisdom
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Assisting the client to find ways to feel more in control of their situation, and confidence to keep this going.
Fees
My fee is $175 per session, usually between 50-60 min, and payment is made on the day of the appointment.
I am Medicare accredited with clients who have a Mental Health Care Plan obtained from their GP. The Medicare rebate is $77.10 per session for 6 to 10 sessions per calendar year.
If you have private health cover with Teacher’s Health, Uni Health or Nurses and Midwives Health, you may be able to claim a rebate, so please check with your fund.
I am WorkCover and NDIS approved.
If you are having financial difficulties, concessions may be available.
