Mrs Marcia Watts
Relationship Therapist, Counsellor
Gateway Counselling & Wholeness Centre
Mackenzie, Brisbane QLD 4156
Currently On Leave
Philosophy & Vision
I am a counsellor in private practice and offer my clients a compassionate, solution-oriented counselling service in a safe confidental environment, enabling them to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential.
I am passionate about helping adults and couples improve their personal lives, marriages, and family relationships and I have a special interest in the impact of an oncology diagnosis on a marriage, grief & loss, step families, pregnancy, infertility, perinatal issue
Background
I have eleven years of individual, couple and family counselling, individual mentoring and coaching and group facilitation. I have served as the Centre Co-ordinator for the Gateway Counselling & Wholeness Centre, vice-chair of the Eating Disorders Association QLD and have served on boards as a committee member for a women's domestic violence refuge and 2 community centres. I have also served as secretary on the management committee of domestic violence counselling service WAVSS Logan. I am also currently a sessional lecturer at Christian Heritage College and I am right in the thick of writing a book on a strengths-based approach to becoming a thriving stepfamily. I am regularly asked to present training, group facilitation or be a speaker.
Services
Affordable, caring counselling service assisting couples to improve their relationship effectivness, perinatal issues, life transitions, intimacy & sexuality issues, infertility and involuntary childlessness, divorce and re-marriage challenges. I am also available for mentoring and coaching sessions. I have undergone specific training in non-directive pregnancy counselling, eating disorders and /divorce recovery/stepfamily issues.
Quality Provision
Counselling is very a personal and individual journey and it is my goal to assist you in identifying the issues of key significance for you and work with you to find the right strategies to assist. I individually tailor my counselling approach to suit your needs. It is my goal to collaborate with you to discover your change process and support you on your healing journey.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Master of Counselling (CHC) - 2012 - Christian Heritage College
- Bachelor of Social Science (SCU) - 2006 - Southern Cross University
- Diploma of Ministry (CHC) - 1993 - Christian Heritage College
Modalities
ACT - Christian Counselling - Emotionally Focused Therapy - Existential - Marriage and Family - Narrative Therapy - Self Psychology - Solution Oriented
Therapy Approach
I believe the therapeutic relationship is the most important part of a healing journey so my orientation is towards therapy that is both integrative and relational. Your sessions with me will be non-judgemental, safe and confidential. I draw upon interventions such person-centred counselling, solution focused therapy, narrative therapy, DBT, ACT and EFT that are aimed at being flexible and adaptive to a wide variety of relational challenges and have a warm and compassionate focus in therapy. I have a special interest in supporting those seeking support through perinatal issues, divorce recovery, foster/kinship carer families, stepfamilies and re-married couples grow, thrive and succeed.
Professional Associations
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
A conversation with Marcia Watts
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Why am I a therapist? This is a really good question and the answer for me informs everything I do in therapy. I became a therapist because my own healing and transformation journey allowed me to experience how much better life can be when we work through the things that are holding us back. Growth is a big motivator for me, both personally and professionally. I am committed to my own growth and ongoing transformation, and I truly gain no greater joy than being able to witness the growth, healing and transformation of another individual. I consider it a huge privilege to be invited by another person to come alongside them and support them in this process. I am constantly curious for ways to develop my skills and understanding so I can provide better service to my clients and to become a better person and therapist. I am passionate about assisting people to do the journey of life well. This profession provides many opportunities for my learning and growth and has my endless fascination.
Published Articles
As attached as we might be to the idea of the "perfect family", one can't help wondering if suc...
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It may seem a little strange in a discussion about family relationships to talk about taking ca...
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One important piece of advice I would offer as both therapist and stepmother to another therapi...
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We know from family research that gender is a crucial factor in stepfamily life. It really help...
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Have you set upon a path of change only to be hit by a series of road blocks and set backs? If...
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Founder of positive psychology and researcher Martin Seligman coined the phrase "post-traumatic...
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At this moment, while we stand at the edge of a new year it can be tempting to make promises to...
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I don’t know about you, but I’m not a big fan of change. While I like new experienc...
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As we are preparing for Christmas day and the end of the year just around the corner, I wa...
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Gratitude is something we can overlook and yet it offers such powerful benefits to our mental h...
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As previously mentioned, it is important to recognise both the centrality and the vulnerability...
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While on the surface a stepfamily can seem quite similar to a traditional, intact family there ...
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In this post I'd like to discuss the idea of recovery and what it takes to get back on track. I...
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In this blog I’d like to focus on the issue of building trust and what this means fo...
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Recently, my eldest son observed me setting limits and boundaries with my middle son. My middle...
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This week, being mental health week, I thought it was a good time to stop and reflect on all th...
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Families, whether biological or chosen, are what give most people’s lives their shape. Mo...
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