ThE KARUNA CENTRE
Dr Julie Perrin
Clinical Social Worker with Mental Health Accreditation
Relationship counselling for couples and family members, and individual counselling. Decades of experience working with people impacted by alcohol and drug use, and/or mental health issues. Clinical supervision for groups and individuals. Accredited 5-Step Practitioner and Trainer.
“Life can bring challenges that leave us feeling stuck or uncertain. At times, a careful listener with a fresh perspective can help us reconnect with our own strengths and move toward meaningful change.”
As a Mental Health Accredited Social Worker I have a Medicare Provider Number so you can claim a Medicare Rebate if you have a GP prepared Mental Health Plan.
Appointments available Tuesday – Thursday, also after hours and usually within a couple of weeks. Returning clients are prioritised.
Services
What you can expect
Our first session
When I first meet with you, I will ask you to share what led you to reach out. I then work to develop a comprehensive understanding of your concerns. I am usually interested in broader contextual issues like family of origin, other relationships, what works well and not so well. I work from the position that you are the expert on your own life, and through our work together, we can identify changes and resources with the goal of getting you closer to where you want to be.
My approach
The therapeutic relationship is key to good work together, without it the benefits of counselling are limited. I believe and trust people are capable of much, and inherently well intentioned. I work with people compassionately, respectfully and with great interest to create an encouraging therapeutic space where deeper understandings, discoveries and change are possible. I do expect the people I work with to be open to other ways of seeing and doing things, willing to experiment, and to focus attention on what can be done differently. Ultimately, I want the counselling process to be a helpful experience.
Working by video
Working by video makes accessing counselling convenient. It is reliable and relatively easy to use, even for people with little experience. I am usually able to trouble shoot difficulties with technology. It is important to have a private, quiet and comfortable space where we can work together without interruptions. Devices also need to be charged up because video can drain the battery.
Specialties
Relationship Counselling
Relationship counselling, including couples, siblings, parenting, parent and child relationships.
My work with couples and families is informed primarily by theories such as systemic family therapy, emotionally focused therapy, Gottman method, humanism and attachment theory.
Individual Counselling
Drug and Alcohol, and mental health concerns.
When I work with individuals I also draw from other theories as well such as cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, harm minimisation, strengths based practice and bereavement therapies/concepts.
Clinical Supervision
Group or Individual clinical supervision.
I endeavour to create a safe space to reflect on practice for social workers, community workers, health professionals, and drug and alcohol clinicians.
5-Step Method
5-Step Method is a specific brief intervention for family and/or friends who are concerned about a loved one’s drug and alcohol use. The approach has been refined in consultation with affected family members over thirty years in the United Kingdom.
About the Karuna Centre
The Karuna Centre has been a place for like-minded independent counsellors (sole-traders) to come together providing individual, couple and family therapy in the Canberra region since 2003. I was born and bred in Canberra so I have unique insights into the city’s culture.
While responding to COVID the transition to telehealth was made. Since then feedback has been that video creates a convenient and flexible option for busy people. There is no need to rush to an appointment, find parking and/or organise childcare because video brings counselling into the comfort of your chosen environment. For these reasons and more video is now my primary mode of working with people.
I am able to work with people from anywhere in Australia.
about Julie
My academic qualifications
I hold a PhD, the title of my thesis was on “Sibling bereavement when death is drug related; a qualitative study”.
I also hold a Master in Advanced Social Work, specialising in Couple and Family therapy, and a Master in Primary Health Care, specialising in the Addictions. In addition, I hold a Bachelor of Social Work with 1st Class Honours, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare and a Post Graduate Diploma in Arts – Anthropology.
Other training/accreditations
5-Step Method Accredited practitioner and trainer.
Emotionally Focused Therapy externship, skills A & B, Transforming Addiction through EFT & Attachment.
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy Levels I & II, and EFIT for individuals with trauma.
Gottman Certificates I, II & III.
Memberships
Australian Association of Social Work (AASW)
Australasian Professional Society for Alcohol and Drugs (APSAD)
Association of Death Education and Counseling (ADEC)
Lifetime membership with the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT).
Trustee for the Addictions and the Family International Network (AFINet).
Consultation
Contact me
Let’s talk about what you are looking for and decide if you think my way of working will be helpful. Once we decide we will make an appointment at a mutually agreeable time and I will send you a registration form to complete. Closer to the appointment I will send you a reminder for the session with a video link.
Telephone: 0402 262 168
Email: julie@karunacentre.com.au
Karuna Centre 