Dr Christine Vickers
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, Relationship Therapist
Christine Brett Vickers
Lockwood, VIC 3551
In Person + Telehealth
Philosophy & Vision
I provide a quiet, neutral and safe setting enabling exploration of inner difficulties and conflicts that may be causing severe distress and frustration. Sometimes these have their origins in early life and relationships and continue to influence current choices and decisions. Learning about the truth of these can help free one of these old patterns, enable creativity, build resiliance, and movment into a healthier and happier life.
Background
As an accredited mental health social worker I have more than thirty years experience first as a social worker (in health and psychiatry) and subsequently, after completing training in 1991, as a counsellor and psychotherapist. From 1992 to 2005 I worked in a federally funded relationship counselling organisation as a clinician, supervisor and finally as an educator. I have maintained a private practice in individual, couple and group therapy. I also work with children.
Services
I have many years working with couples, individuals and families in the Child and Family Counselling sector as well as in health and child psychiatry. A large part of my experience was with couples and individuals entering into, or leaving a relationship or working to improve its quality. Symptoms of anxiety or depression often mask complex life histories which, when looked at can provide understanding of the way early life experiences find expression in the present - freeing one for change.
Quality Provision
I comply with the Code of Ethics of the Australian Association of Social Workers as well as the Victorian Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists. I am committed to life-long learning and seek out opportunities for professional development in my field as well as continuing weekly supervision with a senior clinician in my field.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- BA - 1977 - Australian National University
- BSW - 1979 - University of Melbourne
- PhD - 2008 - La Trobe University
- Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy - 1991 - Monash University/Dept of Health Victoria
Modalities
Dream Work - Emotionally Focused Therapy - Freudian - Marriage and Family - Object Relations - Psychoanalytic - Psychodynamic - Self Psychology
Therapy Approach
My training is founded on the idea that our thoughts and feelings are determined, in part by the unconscious. I use a combination of psychoanalytic theory as well as systems theory in my work.
Professional Associations
- Australian Association of Group Psychotherapists
- Australian Association of Relationship Counsellors
- Australian Association of Social Workers
- Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association of Australasia
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
A conversation with Christine Vickers
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I was curious to learn more about myself, and through this became interested in working in this field.
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The idea that behaviour and relationships are influenced by the unconscious has been an important one throughout my career. Memories, dreams and reflections that emerge in unguarded moments teach much about who we are, as well as the direction we travel. It is about learning to think; encountering and respecting the truth about oneself, following one's own path and creativity.
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I provide a safe, neutral space, at a regular time for the client to bring whatever is on his or her mind - whatever memories, dreams or reflections or problems may be. Together we try to understand what is going on. It is a collaborative approach. I work with the transference and countertransference... I also try to help people think about how patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour established early in life are finding expression in the here and now, and through this recognition, begin to think about how to address these and make changes.
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Clients often speak of their learning and sense of greater clarity as they tackle the day to day issues matters in their lives and relationships. Often Symptom relief is quick, but it can be the longer term working through - whether in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy or longer term psychotherapy that real change can occur.
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I think it has made me a more aware and thoughtful person and as a result free to pursue my own goals and purposes. I also think it has provided the resources and enabled the resiliance to deal with the obstacles and difficulties life throws up in realistic and often very clear ways.
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The people I meet, watching people grow. And when they 'make it'.
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Who does not?
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Ourselves and others.
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DW. Winnicott's 'Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment' - his thoughts on parents and infants have had an enduring influence on me.