B.B.SC, B'Ed (counseling), Adv Dip Gestalt Therapy, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). MAPS. ClinGANZ,
Medicare mental health scheme Rebate provider number - . 2642591W
Noel has been a psychologist since 1997. He is a gestalt therapist, faculty member and trainer at GTA (Gestalt Therapy Australia) since 2001, and now works in full time private practice as a Psychologist and Psychotherapist working with individuals and couples, as well as offering supervision and professional development workshops to allied health professionals and organizations. He also practices and offers Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.
He has worked extensively in a wide variety of counselling and psychological services since 1995, including most recently the role of Senior Psychologist at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre for 4 years. Previous to this he has worked in family counselling, drug and alcohol, sexual assault, problematic gambling, men's behavioural change programs, and the mental health fields.
Noel has a special interest in Trauma and somatic approaches to therapy, as well as integrating developmental/attachment perspectives, buddhist psychology and non-dual spiritual approaches into his work. He is a certified 'Somatic Experiencing' practitioner, which utilises highly effective and safe body awareness methods for negotiating and releasing trauma, developed by Peter Levine. Noel is also an ongoing student of the 'Diamond Heart approach', a western psycho-spiritual school that integrates mindfulness, western depth psychology, Sufism and Buddhist approaches to personal and spiritual development.
Noel also co-facilitates as the senior trainer with Meg Kirby at the The Equine Psychotherapy Institute, offering the Foundation training program in equine assisted psychotherapy, and Advanced training programs.
My own journey began in my early 20's when I decided to do my own therapy to address my deep unnamable sense of lost-ness and low self-esteem. Since my late teens I have always had a deep longing to know how to love fully, be happy, free and at peace. This desire sparked a strong commitment to personal development and self-awareness, taking me into many rich experiences of my own therapy, mindfulness and various spiritual paths and practices. Over time I learnt to find a place of goodness and deep acceptance within myself which was for many years buried under layers of self-criticism, shame and fear. I slowly discovered that instead of trying to become an improved version of myself, change happened naturally and paradoxically when I turned towards the truth of my experience as it was, with awareness, acceptance and compassion. I discovered that I naturally unfolded towards a deeper, fuller level of peace and happiness through learning simple practices in awareness, acceptance and self-compassion. It is from this place that I was able to then risk showing up in the world authentically, including all my limitations and my unique talents and gifts.
I found over and over again, that my clients are much more able to be aligned with their deepest intentions and values, and to live from them, when they can bring the deepest acceptance and understanding to where they are now. So learning to be where we are in this moment with acceptance and kindness is the support that takes us naturally to who we are, and ultimately to how we want to live on this beautiful planet.
My deepest passion is to support people to know and connect with their innate goodness and inherent value. It is from this place that people seem to thrive and live a connected, healthy, satisfying and meaningful life. How did I come to this conclusion!