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About Me
Prue Longstaff
Qualified ACA Counsellor,
Mental Health Specialist, Tuning into Teens Facilitator and Owner of Better You HQ Counselling
Hey there! Let me introduce myself - I'm someone who's best known for my warmth, compassion and commitment supporting client's achieve their goals.
But what makes my counselling expertise unique is my own personal journey. You see, I've had my fair share of challenges growing up in a dysfunctional childhood and facing adverse childhood experiences and trauma. However, I firmly believe that these experiences have shaped me into a resilient individual who knows how to overcome obstacles.
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With a Bachelor's in Counselling and over two decades of professional experience in education, disability services, human behaviuor studies, and clinical practice, I bring a wealth of expertise. My crisis support work at Lifeline has provided invaluable experience in handling serious issues such as suicidality. Through a blend of professional and personal experiences, I've gained deep insight into meeting individuals' unique needs.
With over a decade in education and disability, I've developed deep insights into neurodiversity, disability, and mental health. As a trauma-informed care practitioner, I approach my work with children using a 'whole-child' perspective, considering their temperament and the impact of early life experiences, including their support network, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), on their behaviour and development.
I am without a doubt a champion for the wellbeing of children and adolescents. In fact, it was during my time working in a support role that I had a revelation about the impact of counselling. Even though I was pursuing a Bachelor of Education at the time, it was while assisting children and adolescents who faced various learning and behavioral challenges that I experienced an epiphany: my true calling lay in fostering deep connections. Thus, I made the decision to embark on a rewarding journey as a counsellor.
During the moments when I'm not engrossed in work, you'll often find me indulging in the intellectual pleasure of diving into a non-fiction book. My boys affectionately refer to this as "nerding," a term that perfectly encapsulates my passion for knowledge and personal growth. Or drinking coffee ( I love an almond latte), however, as much as I cherish coffee, I do acknowledge the importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle and perhaps consider reducing my coffee intake for the sake of my own wellbeing!
My approach to working with clients is rooted in my values of connection and compassion. I believe that each person deserves individual and personal support, which guides how I interact with each client. As registered member of the Australian Counselling Association, I am committed to upholding a strict code of ethics and practitioner standards. I also hold a current WWCC no. 0367728A-04. This ensures that I provide the highest level of professionalism to my clients.
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