What is my why?
People sometimes think that being a counsellor must be a painful and difficult profession to enter into. In actual fact, I don't find it to be like that at all. I am endlessly fascinated by the challenge and diversity of the human experience. I love my brave clients who want to dive deep in a world that is often shallow. It is an absolute privilege to witness and support another person making discoveries about themselves and exploring how they can live their best lives.
Having worked in education for 25 years I've worked with many children who have had difficulty regulating their emotions and I've met hundreds of parents who feel challenged by the complexity of parenting in a world that seems to get crazier by the minute. Anxiety seems to be running the show and parents often feel at a loss as to how to manage their own emotional responses, let alone their child's. Supporting parents to soothe their own anxiety, understand their child's emotions and build emotional connection is a particular passion of mine.
Life is an endless series of ups and downs; pain, loss, frustration, trauma, disappointment and grief come to visit us all at some point. I'm drawn to working with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as it recognises this and does not set up false promises that life will always be a bed of roses. ACT can show a way to handle difficult thoughts and feelings more effectively so that they have less impact on a person's life as they move in the direction of their values.
So what else do I do?
Sometimes I think I am a bit of a psychology nerd. I'm always reading and furthering my knowledge about mental health and how to work with people experiencing difficult emotions. To be honest, I haven't read a novel in absolute ages. Something I really need to make more time for. So when I'm not being a psychology nerd I like to play music and sing. I like improvising mostly as it is music made in the moment. I dabble around with bass guitar, acoustic guitar, clarinet and keyboard.
Printmaking using a gelli plate and mixed media collage are things that have come out of my art room. I also love to mess around with paint, glue and torn up paper, inspirational quotes and random thoughts. While I call it art journalling, my friend called me a secret scrapbooker. Then there is also patchwork, bikeriding and yoga. These are all on the "I really must get back to doing" list. We all have one of those, don't we? Here's to living more of the life that I have imagined.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life
that you have imagined.
Thoreau
Qualifications & Professional Development
2019 Motivational Interviewing for Behaviour Change
2019 Certificate in Sandplay Therapy, Sandplay Australia
2018 Masters of Counselling, Monash University
2018 ACT for Beginners (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy), Russ Harris
2018 Playful Therapy for Children, Sydney Centre for Creative Change
2018 Tree of Life, Sydney Centre for Creative Change
2018 Safetalk, LivingWorks Education Australia
2017 Safe Schools, DET, Vic
2017 Berry Street Education Model Unit 2, Berry Street Childhood Institute
2017 ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Support Training), LivingWorks Education Australia
2016 SAFEMinds, DET, Victoria
2016 Calmer Classrooms
2016 Certificate in Disability Training Levels 1,2 & 3
2015 Abecedarian Approach to At-Risk Pre-School Children
2009 Circle Time
2009 Restorative Practice Level 1
2009 Leading Professional Learning (Monash University)
2001 Grad Dip of Education (Primary), La Trobe University
2000 Bachelor of Arts (Sociology/Women’s Studies), La Trobe University
About Angela
Hi, I’m Angela Mitten, a trauma-informed counsellor who can support you to identify and reach your goals or make a change in your life.
I offer a creative and individualised approach to helping people find solutions to life's challenges. I have a Masters in Counselling and 25 years experience working with children and families. I draw upon a range of therapeutic approaches including acceptance and commitment therapy, sandplay therapy, compassion focused therapy, and narrative approaches incorporating play and arts based practices. I have extensive experience working with children with autism and their families. I am a registered NDIS provider and offer counselling , consultancy and positive behaviour support services in the Greater Bendigo area.
