Dr Leigh Donovan
Social Worker, Grief Counsellor
Collaboraide
Naremburn, Sydney NSW 2065
Online Therapy Australia-wide
Philosophy & Vision
Grief can be a misunderstood experience. You may have experienced the death of someone close, or be sitting in the confusion of a new health diagnosis. Life as you knew it has changed and adjusting may feel hard and lonely. Many grieving clients arrive feeling isolated or that their grief isn't normal. Sometimes clients feel they should be 'getting over it' by now. Grief is a natural and necessary response to loss. It has no timeframes and is unique to you. Grief counselling can be a safe place to share your grief and find renewed confidence in your new life story. For over twenty years I have worked alongside children, young people and adults diagnosed with life limiting and terminal health conditions, continuing this care with their loved ones into bereavement. I lead with love and compassion and create a trusted space for you to bring your whole self to our conversation.
Background
Soon after graduating from a Social Work degree in 2001 I entered the health sector, becoming a hospital Social Worker. I met adults who had suffered strokes, major heart attacks, new neurological diagnoses, cancer diagnoses and more. I then moved into paediatric oncology and from this point began my vocational work in paediatric palliative care, companioning families whose child was dying and bereaved families.
Through all of this, I learned about grief. Grief wove it's way through every new relationship and conversation. Yet was often misunderstood. There were few places for folks I met to have their grief witnessed, held and honoured.
My role in your life is to help you build a trusted and loving relationship with your grief
Services
Grief is a natural and necessary response to loss. Yet can be confusing and misunderstood, often making grief harder to bear. My approach is to companion you and your grief as together we build a trusted, loving relationship between you, your grief and the world around you. I bring the rich experiences of hundreds of clients into my practice and draw on their stories to support you to build confidence in your grief story. My hope for you is that you learn to live life fully, alongside your grief. That your grief, a representation of what you love, but have lost, becomes a trusted companion, rather than a weight to be carried.
Quality Provision
I am a Social Worker of over twenty years and have worked alongside hundreds of individuals and families experiencing loss, grief and bereavement. I am a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers and align myself with their Code of Ethics. I engage in ongoing professional development and consider myself a lifelong learner of what it means to be human, to experience loss, to carry the weight of grief and gently integrate grief within our own life story.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- BSocialWork - 2001 - University of Queensland
- PhD - 2016 - University of New South Wales
Therapy Approach
I align with the Companioning Philosophy of Dr Alan Wolfelt. This philosophy encourages companions of people who are grieving to sit alongside this experience without judgement, nor feeling the need to take away the pain, or filling up every moment with words. Companioning simply means to witness, to listen with the heart and to enter the soul of this work with compassionate curiosity.
Professional Associations
- Australian Association of Social Workers
Fees & Insurance
Rates for individual counselling - $220
Please note I am unable to accept Medicare Mental Health Care Plans.
Contact Leigh
Please contact me to book a 15 minute free initial consult