International Women's Day

In recognition of International Women's Day, I thought it would be fitting to pay homage to two women who have positively influenced, supported and helped educate me as a psychologist. Both of these women have been my superivsor at two different points in time and both have made a significant contribution to my growth and development as a health professional and psychologist.

Firstly, there was the wonderful Wendy who I met with regularly in Canberra back in the late 1990's, at the very beginning of my career as a psychologist. Wendy is an extraordinary psychologist with great skills in Narrative and Strengths Based psychological therapy techniques. Wendy has an engaging warmth and calm demeanour. I always felt heard by her and safe in her presence. These are two powerful skills to have as an effective psychologist as I have subsequently learnt. Wendy also balanced well a sense of empathy for your situation without falsely leading you to think or believe she had all the answers to the issues, more the tools to help gently guide you to understanding these concerns for yourself. With the understanding comes the opportunity for growth and change. Again, Wendy was able to help me change my story and see how other beliefs were possible. From my hearts bottom, I will always be grateful to Wendy for these enduring learning experiences both for me personally and in my ongoing work in mental health. I recently contacted Wendy and she is continuing to practice in Canberra and has expanded her skills into the Clinical Hypnosis area. Always learning, always growing. 

The second person is the equally wonderful Kay. Kay has been my supervisor since 2007 and I have been seeing her regularly for the past 10 years (where did those years go?). Kay is similar to Wendy in her psychological learning roots and also has a strong background in the Narrative and Strengths Based models. Meeting and working with Kay helped reinforce my earlier learning and to further my confidence that this approach was the best one for me to purse and engage with as a therapist. Kay has a similar calm and engaging demeanour as Wendy. Kay has demonstrated and taught me the power of asking a useful question, for example, asking questions to help a person to work out how their thoughts are working for or against them, as the case maybe. Kay is also holistic in her approach and avoids the clinical or pathologising approach to treatment, with her emphasis being on "your story is unique to you'. Kay made a memorable statement to me one day some years ago that ultimately everything we do "Is all about Love". That statement has stayed with me and has helped me to focus on being a practitioner who engages with empathy, kindness, compassion and care, to the best of my ability (while still being flawed and human). 

So, to dearest Wendy and Kay, my deepest felt gratitude to you both. Your are both exceptional role models and mentors, inspiring me and I am sure many others to experience through supervision and therapy the enduring power of change, self care and love.

Happy International Women's Day.

---