Shona Stewart MAPS

I have over 20 years of experience which includes working as a School Counsellor for the Department of Education and Training for 12 years.  I started working in private practice in 2005 and now divide my time between my practice in Bathurst and my new practice in Epping NSW (my life away from work demands I am in Sydney for part of the week so setting up a second practice seemed logical).

?I have an interest in providing relationship counselling and supporting people living in rural and remote areas.  As well as psychology qualifications I have a post graduate diploma in Agriculture and have lived on a cattle and cropping farm for many years. 

I grew up in a transient household with a father in mining, so I have an appreciation of the issues involved for families with this lifestyle, both for the worker and their family. I provide services to many FIFO workers and their families; this particularly tends to focus on couple’s therapy due to the relationship stresses that often arise due to the complexities the couples face in this sector of the community.
?
Having lived in a small rural centre, I understand the lack of services these locations have and endeavour to continuously offer high-quality support to the rural and remote regions of Australia through phone and Skype sessions.

The main therapeutic modality I use is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. However, rather than adhering to a methodology, I try to get a sense of what will suit each client to best assist them in achieving their desired outcomes.

My psychology qualifications are:

• Bachelor of Arts, University of Tasmania (1986)
• Graduate Diploma Arts (Psychology), University of Wollongong (1990)
• Graduate Diploma Counselling, Charles Sturt University (1996)

I also have a Graduate Diploma in Systems Agriculture from Hawkesbury Agricultural College (1989) and training in Animal Acupuncture

More Information

Phone and Skype sessions have the reduced cost of $130.  There are no medicare rebates for these sessions unless you qualify for the rural and remote criteria set down by Medicare (check my website for details). 

For those in rural areas discounted sessions are considered in certain circumstances (having a rural background I understand the financial stress that life on the land can bring).