Humans Being Counselling

16/10/2025

Last night we hosted a beautiful evening for our Humans Being clinicians quarterly social event, a sound bath meditation with music therapist Rodney Pollak.

In this profession, we give so much of ourselves every day, holding space for others, carrying stories, and guiding healing. It’s not as often that we take time to receive.

Watching everyone grounded, relaxed, and immersed in the soundscape was something really special. These moments remind me how vital it is for us, as helpers, to pause and nurture our own wellbeing too.

Grateful for our incredible team and the calm energy that filled the space last night.

06/10/2025

A warm welcome to Maddy, our newest child psychologist to join Humans Being Counselling!
Maddy’s arrival marks a special milestone. She is our 10th clinician in just over 2.5 years!

The original vision of Humans Being was to create not only a place where clients feel safe, supported and understood, but also a workplace where clinicians genuinely enjoy coming to work. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see that vision come to life. We’re lucky to have such a passionate, supportive and values-driven team who consistently create a positive and collaborative environment. We’ve also built a team with zero turnover to date, which speaks volumes about the culture we’ve created together.

We’re so excited to have Maddy on board and to continue building a workplace and community that attracts incredible talent and allows both clients and clinicians to thrive.

Welcome, Maddy. We’re lucky to have you.

10/09/2025

🌱 R U OK?

Today is about connection, with others and with ourselves.

So often we ask the question “Are you OK?” but forget to pause and ask it inwardly. Checking in with ourselves matters just as much as checking in with those around us.

But what does it actually mean to be “OK”?
For some, “OK” means getting through the day. For others, it means feeling steady, energised, or connected. Our baselines are different, and that’s important to remember.

Sometimes someone might say they’re “OK” when we can see they’re struggling. Sometimes we might think we’re “fine” when really we’re pushing ourselves beyond our limits. That is why expressing concern with care and curiosity, not judgment, is vital. Respecting each person’s experience helps us hold space without comparison.

And it is also okay to not be okay.
Struggle is part of being human. When we respond with compassion instead of criticism, whether towards ourselves or others, we create room for healing.

💛 Today and every day, take a moment to ask yourself:
• “How am I, really?”
• “What do I need right now?”

Then, extend that same kindness outward. Ask the people in your world if they are OK, and be ready to truly listen.

At Humans Being Counselling, we believe connection, respect and compassion are at the heart of mental wellbeing. You do not have to have the answers, just showing up matters. Take care of yourselves, and others.

28/08/2025

A rainbow over our therapy room today reminding us that light always finds its way through.

05/08/2025

We're growing!

Humans Being Counselling is on the lookout for a warm, skilled Child & Adolescent Psychologist to join our vibrant team in Malvern.
We’re looking for someone with strong clinical skills and exceptional interpersonal and relational qualities, someone who thrives in a supportive, collaborative environment and is passionate about making a meaningful impact in the lives of young people.
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please email info@humansbeing.com.au. Please share to your networks!

📍 More info and application link here: https://lnkd.in/dFdbEFak

22/07/2025

Jeremy recently took a wholesome winter break to Halls Gap with the family. The days were filled with waterfalls, wildlife, and a rewarding climb (with some very eager little hikers!) to the top of The Pinnacle.

This trip wasn’t just about stunning views and crisp mountain air. It was also a gesture of support. The Halls Gap region was heavily impacted by the recent summer bushfires, and visiting was a small way of contributing to the community and landscape as they recover.

What stood out most was the quiet strength of nature. Blackened tree trunks sprouting new green shoots, trails reopened, and wildlife slowly returning. Recovery isn’t immediate, but it happens. Steadily, and with quiet determination.

It’s a reminder we often explore in our work at the clinic. Resilience isn’t about avoiding difficulty, but rather how we respond when it comes. Just like the bush, we don’t always choose the challenges we face. But we can choose to respond with care, adapt where we can, and reconnect to what truly matters.

Nature teaches us that strength is not about never breaking. It’s about the ability to bend, to fall, and to begin again.

Grateful for the time away, the adventure, and the powerful reminder that both personal and collective healing is always possible.

27/06/2025

Today is PTSD Awareness Day.

Our hearts go out to all those affected by PTSD, especially those impacted by current world events, conflict, and trauma in war-affected regions. But PTSD doesn’t only stem from war. It can also result from events like accidents, abuse, medical trauma, or ongoing interpersonal stress. Trauma takes many forms, and its impact is deeply personal.

At Humans Being Counselling, we see the very human side of PTSD. The fear. The shame. The avoidance. The exhaustion. And yet, we also witness something incredibly powerful: the strength it takes to seek help, the courage to face the pain, and the transformation that can come from reconnecting to the self.

Our Director, Jeremy, often reflects on how much of a privilege it is to support individuals living with PTSD. "Holding space for someone as they share their story, begin to heal, and rebuild a sense of safety and purpose is deeply rewarding work".

The good news is that PTSD is highly treatable. With the right support, people can recover and even thrive.

If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD symptoms, please don’t wait. Reach out to your GP or a mental health professional. You are not alone.

At Humans Being Counselling, we have four clinicians trained in EMDR, one of several effective, evidence-based therapies available to support trauma recovery and PTSD.

Let’s keep breaking the stigma. And let’s continue standing with those impacted by trauma, near and far.

18/06/2025

🌿 Practice Update: Immediate Availability at Humans Being Counselling & Psychology Clinic 🧠
We’re excited to share that due to increasing demand and the popularity of some of our clinicians, several have expanded their hours. That means immediate availability for new referrals with very minimal wait times.
If you're a GP, allied health professional, or someone in the community looking for support, now is a great time to connect with us.

💡 What makes us different?

🧠 Comprehensive intake assessment to understand each person's needs and match them to the most suitable therapist
🤝 Highly experienced, holistic, and relational clinicians who make good engagement easy
📚 Ongoing peer supervision and professional development with a focus on clinical excellence
💬 Strong communication with referrers
📞 A dedicated Practice Manager who also oversees reception and ensures smooth communication
💛 We’re a values-based practice
🌿 Generalist clinic with diverse specialties including:
- Anxiety, stress, trauma and PTSD
- Mood-related issues (depression, emotional dysregulation)
- Addiction of any kind
- Life transitions, burnout, and identity concerns
- ADHD and neurodiversity
- Child, adolescent, and adult mental health
🌀 Half of our team are fully EMDR-trained amongst many other modalities.
🧾 We accept Medicare, TAC, WorkCover, NDIS, and private health insurance
🪷 Clients are welcomed into a calming, trauma-informed space that reduces stigma and supports healing.

We're here for you, when you need us.

📍 17 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern VIC 3144
📞 (03) 9112 5778
🌐 www.humansbeing.com.au
info@humansbeing.com.au

06/06/2025

Why does rest feel so hard?

A common theme lately has been exhaustion without relief.
People describe lying down but feeling restless.
Taking a break but feeling guilty.
Slowing down only to speed up internally.

We often talk about burnout as the result of doing too much. But sometimes, burnout is also a result of not knowing how to stop.

Many of us have absorbed messages that rest must be earned, that stillness is laziness, or that our value comes from how productive we are. When the nervous system is stuck in a state of sympathetic activation, rest doesn’t feel safe. It feels unfamiliar, even threatening.

Polyvagal Theory offers a useful framework. When the body is in fight or flight, it doesn’t settle just because we want it to. It needs cues of safety.

As Stephen Porges says, "Safety is the treatment."
Not just physical safety, but emotional and relational safety, especially the kind we offer ourselves.

This isn’t about a lack of motivation or discipline. It’s about a system that has adapted to stay on high alert, and needs support to find its way back to calm.

The return to regulation often starts small.
A breath before checking your emails
Slowing your walk right down from one meeting to the next.
A few quiet moments without needing to fill them.
Permission to pause, even when everything tells you to push through.

It also means noticing and accepting that we feel stressed, anxious or agitated and not trying to fight it.
Not forcing calm, but allowing it to arrive in its own time.
Letting the nervous system unwind gradually, at a pace it can trust.

Rest is not the reward.
It’s the foundation.

14/03/2025

We’re thrilled to welcome Diya and Felicia, our newest round of psychology students, to the clinic! 🎉

At Humans Being Counselling we deeply value learning, growth, and the power of shared knowledge. Having students as part of our team is an opportunity to not only support the next generation of psychologists but also to enrich our own practice. Teaching is a two-way street, while we offer guidance and clinical insights, Diya and Felicia bring fresh perspectives, curiosity, and a passion for mental health that reminds us why we do this work.

Learning, supervision and mentoring are at the heart of our clinic’s ethos. We believe in fostering an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and inspired as they step into the world of psychology. Their journey is just beginning, and we’re so excited to be part of it!

Welcome, Diya and Felicia! 🚀

28/02/2025