Counselling – Our counselling team work from a philosophy to collaborate with clients and their world experience to enhance character. Our counselling position is that clients are the expert in their world.

How and what they care for:

• Character enhancement
• Behaviour activation
• Social and emotional learning
• Affirmations
• Story telling – co-constructing desired narratives
• Identity crisis and formation
• Depression, anxiety, bullying, stress, academic pressure
• Family issues and crisis
• Grief and loss
• Hospitable unique experience
• Goal setting and strategy building, where therapists are experts in facilitating safe communicative environments.
• Encourage service to others and to participate in our interactive group experiences.

Additionally, our therapists will encourage the people we care for to engage in our interactive group experiences as a means of stimulus therapy. Inspired by field and evidence based experiences, the power of working in groups participating in our carefully designed activities, enables social and emotional learning. As an extension to individual therapy, these settings empower the people we care for to develop further strategies to overcome their issues.

Our Therapists

Matthew Bates M.A.C.A., & College of Supervisors

Resident Counsellor and Practice Manager

Matthew Bates is our lead counsellor and practice manager at Character Care. Matthew has worked closely with the Character Group over the past few years and shares the unique philosophies and values of the organisation, which permeates in his practice. With a client driven focus, Matt uses client world view and language via Narrative and Existential techniques, having studied a Bachelor of Psychology and Masters of Counselling, gaining qualification as a counsellor and psychotherapist with Australian Counselling Association membership.

Over his life, Matthew has been an athlete and coach within the baseball community having represented his state, country and played collegiately (USA) and professionally. Coaching a variety of age levels has provided a genuine approach to understanding how individuals learn about themselves uniquely which has shown benefits in his practice. In the Counselling profession, Matt has worked within the disability sector, working with families and systemic organisations to facilitate growth and NDIS transitioning. With Character Builders, Matt has been a lead facilitator producing skills and values aligned with Character Care practices. Also during his professional life, he has supervised aspiring mental and allied health professionals, providing further leadership and educational attributes.

Matthew is passionate about mental health, understanding how 21st century ideals of healthy living are sometimes overshadowed by the demands of everyday life. The importance of the client’s own life understandings, skills and resources are paramount to collaborating preferred futures.

Margarida Sousa Ramos M.A.C.A

Counsellor and Social Worker

Margarida is a Social Worker and a Counsellor with both national and international experience. In Portugal, she mostly worked as a Case Manager in Child Protection, dealing with children who were exposed to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect. Not only did she have to understand these children’s unique experiences, she also had to work closely with their families, schools and community in order to provide them with a safe environment as well as the necessary opportunities and tools to strive in the face of adversity.

In Germany, she worked with immigrants and refugees, trying to understand their stories and communicating them to the general population with the intent of raising awareness to the conflicting feelings experienced by these individuals. In Australia, Margarida has been focusing on her development as a Counsellor and is still working with school-aged children and adults in this context. She strongly believes that we can overcome even from the most difficult situations, learn from them, and evolve as individuals.

Tarini Mathrani M.A.C.A

Counsellor

Tarini is a qualified counsellor with experience working in the areas of individual and family therapy, foster and adoption related issues, sexual assault counselling, crisis intervention and corrections. Working primarily through a client centred approach, Tarini tailors her therapeutic approach to the unique needs and demands of the client. She also enjoys working through Narrative, Acceptance & Commitment and Interpersonal Therapy approaches. Upon completing a Masters in Psychology overseas, she was driven to work with individuals on an interpersonal level thus pursuing a Masters in Counselling, gaining qualification as a registered counsellor and psychotherapist with the Australian Counselling Association.

Tarini is driven by her passion to work closely in the area of Trauma Counselling. Previously, she has worked overseas collaborating with leading Cancer Specialists in the delivery of Art Therapy and support for Breast Cancer Survivors. She is a trained Helpline volunteer for Suicide Prevention and Domestic Violence Helplines. Tarini has worked in Schools as a Lead Counsellor delivering support and development programs for young adults. And for three years she has been a listener on the Mental Health service 7 Cups of Tea providing support to victims of Sexual Assault.

Therapy is a two way street where both therapist and client engage in powerful and meaningful ways. Tarini is passionate about working collaboratively with her clients providing a safe space to explore and facilitate growth and development.

Menaka Thomas M.A.C.A., & College of Supervisors

Counsellor

Menaka is a qualified Counsellor, Physiotherapist, Yoga Therapist, and Registered College of Supervisors with ACA. She has extensive experience working in the human services sector with children and adults living with the effects of mental health issues, disability, grief and loss and chronic illness.

Menaka is passionate about the interrelationship and interdependence of mental and emotional health with physical well-being. She herself has experienced the effect of chronic disease on the mind and body and has come to value the importance of working to integrate all aspects of health, both physical and emotional.

Menaka’s knowledge and skills in the diverse fields of Counselling, Yoga and Physiotherapy help her to provide an integrated, whole approach to the individual and their quest to improve their health and well-being. She incorporates the approaches of Mindfulness, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy into Counselling conversations. She values collaboration and the work of “journeying with” clients to help them move closer to their preferred ways of being in the world. Menaka is also known to throw out the old Yoga mat, if and when the client indicates that Yoga Therapy could be a useful tool to help them move forward!

Menaka is also passionate about practice and skill development and loves teaching, sharing and interacting with peers  through workshops and seminars. She has developed and facilitated many workshops for various community organisations all over Queensland.

Katherine Desoe M.A.C.A.

Counsellor

Katherine is a Registered Nurse and Counselor with experience collaborating within multidisciplinary teams and navigating the health care system. She is enthusiastic about supporting individuals to unlock their full potential. Working as a Registered Nurse, Katherine is experienced in working with people of all ages, and caring for individuals from differing cultural backgrounds.

Every individual is unique and Katherine strongly values the lived experience, using her personal experiences as an opportunity to empathize and deeply connect with clients through an understanding framework. Passionate about facilitating positive mental well-being, Katherine strives to celebrate each client’s individuality. One cannot have assumed perceptions of another’s circumstances, with this in mind, Katherine works collaboratively with her clients providing an individualized, non-judgmental, client centered practice.

Krystle Brady M.A.C.A., & College of Supervisors

Counsellor

Krystle is a qualified counselor and supervisor who has experience working both in New Zealand and Australia. Having completed a Bachelor of Social Practice and Master of Counselling, Krystle works from an integrated model that is primarily influenced by a strengths-based, narrative, solution-focused approach to change. She values the therapeutic relationship and the creation of a safe space in which people feel their stories and experiences are heard, validated and understood. Krystle understands that each person’s experience of the world is unique, and as such adapts her approach to best suit the individual, group, couple or family.

In New Zealand, Krystle worked as a homelessness social worker, working with people who were experiencing homelessness due to a variety of reasons. Since moving to Australia, Krystle has worked as a case manager and team leader in the youth sector, and a health and well-being worker in the education sector.  She has supervised students and team members providing support as they continue to grow and develop their practice. Alongside this, she has gained experience in working with adults, young people, families and couples in a counselling setting. These roles have provided her with experience working with a variety of issues in a broad range of areas.

Krystle is interested in developing her practice to include animal-assisted therapy, with plans for her Labradoodle puppy Bowie to complete therapy dog training later this year.

Robert Sayers M.A.C.A. & College of Supervisors

Counsellor

Rob is a registered counselor and member of the ACA College of Supervisors, who enjoys working, walking alongside and collaborating with people of all ages and backgrounds. Holding a Bachelor of Psychology and a Master of Counselling, Rob works from a person-centered, integrative model of counselling including aspects of narrative, acceptance and commitment therapy and more.  He acknowledges each person is the expert in their own life and experience.  Rob priorities authentic connection in the counselling relationship and recognizes the importance of each person being genuinely listened to and feeling heard.

Rob has particular interest in working in ways to assist people to develop their own intuition and innate ability to know what the best way forward for themselves is, and then to begin to make positive changes in their lives. Rob has experience of working with clients through a spectrum of concerns, some of which include matters around identity and self-concept (including gender identity); impacts of physical, emotional or sexual abuse/assault; loss and grief; relationships (romantic, family, friendships); self-harm or suicide related concerns; disability related matters; school or workplace bullying; mental health and many others.

Guidance in mindfulness and meditation can be offered also, as a means for dealing with stress or the future/past thought habits people experience as aspects of anxiety or depression.  With over 20 years’ experience in community organisations and a background in the disability sector prior to working as a counselor, Rob has been amazed and moved by the resilience of individuals and families through challenging life experiences.

Rob also has experience of working with people for whom speech is not their primary method of communication.  Examples include people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices such as Lightwriters and Proloquo2Go on iPads.  Additionally, Rob has experience working with both foreign language and sign language interpreters.

Rebecca Rutter M.A.C.A.

Counsellor

Rebecca is originally from Canada and offers a wealth of experience as a Registered Nurse with a Masters Degree in Counselling. Rebecca offers a warm approach and is skilled in providing intervention for clients with low mood, anxiety and stress. Rebecca offers practical solutions for mums and dads to adjust to the emotional and physical changes after a new baby, to reduce overwhelming feelings and to choose how they want to show up as parents and partners.

Bec has a keen interest in Horticulture therapy using practical and stimulating ways of exploring your narrative. Trained in Narrative and Solution Focused Therapies, integrating these tools and the Character Garden could offer a variety of different ways to engage in therapy with Bec at Character Care.