Bright & Dark Counselling

Welcome!Bright & Dark is a counselling space for people who feel that conventional labels or stories are not working for them.This is a space to explore, and to develop your own approach to the challenges and joys of your life.You do not need to identify in any particular way to access this space: all genders, identities, relationships, and bodies are welcome here.

About Me

Hello! My name is Warren [they/he].I am a clinically registered counsellor with nearly ten years experience supporting people facing questions of identity, illness, sexuality, relationships, grief, trauma, religious and spiritual crisis, and the big existential mysteries of life.I am a counsellor because I want to provide spaces where people can have conversations that matter to them, in ways that are transformative for them.In our increasingly digital, and alienated world, I believe in the power of presence and what can happen when we bring our care-full attention to our lives and communities.Prior to counselling, I worked for 8 years as the communications and membership coordinator at LGBTI Health Australia - the national peak body representing the health and wellbeing of LGBTI people in Australia.

My qualifications and accreditation

  • Masters in Counselling & Applied Psychotherapy - Torrens University

  • Clinically Registered Counsellor with the Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia [PACFA#26578]

Being a clinically registered counsellor means that I hold the highest level of registration currently available for a counsellor in Australia; that I am accountable to my colleagues; that I undergo regular continued study; am bound by a code of ethics; and have professional supervision of my work.

I have also engaged in a wide range of further studies. Including:

  • Narrative Therapy [Dulwich Centre, Adelaide]

  • Existential Therapy [Centre for Existential Practice, Sydney]

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy [Russ Harris]

  • Advanced Clinical Frameworks in Trans Affirming Therapy [Trans Wellbeing]

  • LGBTIQA+ Inclusive & Affirming Practice [Various]

  • Polyvagal and Nervous System Informed Therapy [Deb Dana]

  • And more!

My aproach

I provide nervous system informed, narrative and existential therapy. I can also weave in elements drawn from Acceptance & Committment Therapy if needed.

Nervous system informed means that our work recognises the important role that your body and nervous system have to play in shaping your experineces of life and the world. With deep respect for the ways you have kept your self safe and survived, I provide space to get to know and engage with your embodied experience. This deepens what is sometimes called trauma-informed practice.Narrative therapy is all about the stories we tell, and the stories that are told about us. It is about exploring the ways in which these stories shape the possibilities we imagine for our lives. In this approach we can explore how broader societal expectations, politics, culture, and power dynamics impact your life. Narrative therapy is a socially aware therapy that recognises you as an expert in your life.Existential therapy is about the meaning and mystery of our lives. In this collaborative and philosophical approach, we make space for the full spectrum of life, and for exploring how we understand and relate to life and our existence. This is a chance to explore what it is like to be who you are, and exist as you in this strange world!Acceptance & Committment Therapy also know as ACT is a about developing psychological flexibility. This approach encourages us to open up, get present, and take action based on our values.

Key features:Space for the bright and the dark: As you might guess from the title of this practice, I am passionate about making space for the whole of life. This is a both/and space. Our conversations are an invitation to explore the good, the bad, the big, the small, and that which cannot be spoken. What bright and dark means is up to you.Human-to-Human: I meet you as a person, not as a diagnosis to fix, or a category to treat. This is about what happens when two humans meet.Collaborative & Social Justice Ethics: I strive to stand alongside you in your experiences of discrimination, oppression, or harm within mainstream health systems.Privacy, consent, & safety: Your privacy and safety are of utmost importance. All records securely stored in compliance with Australian privacy standards. I am happy to discuss any concerns related to privacy at any point and develop an approach that works for you.Safety is central to my practice. This includes your immediate safety, how safe you feel, and your safety in the wider world. I am always open to hearing about what helps you to feel more at ease in our meetings.Lived experience as a source of possibility: I recognise that we each bring a unique lived and living experience to these conversations and that these similarities and differences are a source of possibility in our work together. Please feel welcome to ask me about my lived experience if this is important to you.Choose your own adventure: Where we go in these conversations is up to you. I offer you agency and choice.Not Just Mental: While I am a trained and accredited mental health provider, I offer a space that does not automatically assume your problems are all about your mind. We can draw on the wisdom of 'mental health' when needed, but also make space for other ways of approaching our lives.Please feel free to chat with me about how I approach counselling and therapy at any point in our work together.

Areas of Support

People I support include those who are:

  • Exploring identity, worldview, and relationships: Navigating gender, LGBTQA+ experiences, personal philosophy, spirituality, or unique ways of sensing the world (including neurodivergence).

  • Seeking marginalisation-informed support: Space to explore and respond to experiences of oppression or discrimination, or looking for an alternative to mainstream mental health services.

  • Are grieving or making sense of change: Including experiences of disenfranchised, ambiguous, personal, and stigmatised grief.

  • Making sense of our changing world: Including changing political contexts, cilmate, the emergence of AI, and political contexts within LGBTQA+ communities.

  • Living with impacts of traumatic events or Illness: Nervous system impacts, chronic illness, dis/ability, or the impact of a diagnosis.

  • Looking for a safe space: Seeking a trustworthy therapist to explore life’s big questions and clarify your perspective at your own pace.

This list is not complete. If you don't see your concern on the list above, but still want to chat, please reach out and we can talk about the possibilities!Please note:
As a small private practice I am not able to provide crisis supports. I can however support you to make plans and connections for times of crisis.

Services

In-Person Counselling:
A 50 minute face-to-face meeting at my practice in Surry Hills, Sydney.Telehealth:
A 50 minute meeting by video or phonecall.Fees
$140 per 50 minutes.I offer a limited number of spaces on a sliding scale starting at $100 per hour. These spaces are intended for people who would otherwise not be able to access this service. You do not need to disclose to me the reason for requesting this rate.

Contact

Please use the form below to get in touch. All enquiries are welcome.Please let me know if you would like to organise a free introductory phonecall or if you have any questions about counselling at Bright & Dark.The information you provide here will not be used for any purpose other than responding to your enquiry.