Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Professional Affiliates
References
Timeline
Generic

Kirsty Wetmore

Brisbane,Australia

Summary

Experienced Counsellor with 15 years of expertise in counselling and case management and certified Clinical Supervisor.


Specialised in youth and adult mental health, family therapy, grief and loss/bereavement, sudden death end of life care, and brief and long-term AOD intervention.


Skilled in utilising interpersonal and diagnostic techniques to promote access to adaptive social support, conduct risk and needs assessments, deliver counselling sessions, and facilitate group sessions for individuals and families.


Provision of clinical, evidence-based interventions to adults and young people while establishing strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders to enhance service quality.


Operating from an integrated framework with an emphasis on trauma-informed care and seeking an opportunity to contribute to an organization that aligns with values of providing high-quality counselling within a diverse, complex, and inclusive demographic.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience

Work History

Clinical Team Leader

Canteen
07.2021 - Current
  • Supervising and mentoring clinicians in QLD and Canberra in providing grief and loss counselling and trauma-informed care to young people (12-25) impacted by cancer
  • Providing grief and loss interventions and a trauma-informed approach to young people with complex psychosocial needs
  • Acting as an immediate risk escalation contact to advise a team of clinicians on risk and safety protocol and planning
  • Chairing weekly Psychosocial Review Meetings
  • Chairing and facilitating education and development for junior colleagues in weekly Clinical Team Meetings
  • Direct report for psychosocial clinicians across QLD and ACT
  • Delivering bi-annual and annual performance reviews with psychosocial clinicians
  • Risk escalation contact providing guidance and advice to clinicians around risk appropriate responses working with young people
  • Facilitating case reviews with each psychosocial clinician providing supervision and support around best practice to clinical and programs staff
  • Co-facilitation in therapeutic groups with young people around their cancer experience
  • Delivering talk therapy and creative grief and loss interventions for young people impacted by cancer
  • Ad-hoc support and guidance for psychosocial clinicians around nuanced risk and complex presentations
  • Participate and collaborate in monthly Clinical Lead Supervision
  • Commitment to personal and professional growth through monthly external supervision and monthly internal supervision
  • Committed development of my clinical knowledge and skills and maintaining up-to-date knowledge around National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce and Child Protection Legislation
  • Fostered staff development and competency through supervision, coaching, trainings and team meetings.

Family Counsellor

Lives Lived Well
09.2019 - 07.2021
  • Establishing and maintaining rapport with individuals and families who are experiencing AOD issues and complex co-morbid issues within the family
  • Providing clinical and evidence-based practice in counselling family members in navigating AOD use amongst family members
  • Responsible for a high-quality delivery of service to family members through individual counselling and psychoeducational family groups
  • Delivering a high-quality service to individuals and stakeholders while achieving KPI targets of 4-sessions per day using Motivational Interviewing, psychoeducation around the stages of change, CBT, and ACT
  • Development and facilitation of clinical and therapeutic, evidence-based groups on topics ranging from AOD intervention, relapse prevention, emotional well-being, physical health, social engagement, short and long-term effects of AOD on the brain, body, and behaviour, and the cycle of addiction
  • Development of risk assessments and safety planning with individuals and families
  • Developed and maintained strong engagement with stakeholders including the Department of Child Safety, QPS, Department of Youth Justice, Probation and Parole
  • Evidenced high-quality counselling within a person-centred and trauma-informed framework with individuals and families
  • Facilitating and delivering groups around conflict resolution skills and effective decision-making skills
  • Delivering psychoeducation to family groups around the stages of change, short and long-term effects of AOD within the individual and the family, cognitive-behavioural therapy, family systems, evidence-based communication styles, healthy boundaries, grief and loss, and self-care
  • Development of family systems driven group content
  • Delivered conflict resolution strategies and managing high risk individuals in crisis
  • Facilitated monthly case conferencing with the clinical team
  • Facilitated new enquiries and ensuring newly referred individuals are contacted same day as referral
  • Highly developed interpersonal communication skills with individuals and families from a diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds

Acting Team Leader

Lives Lived Well
08.2020 - 11.2020
  • Providing leadership and clinical supervision to a team of counsellor’s and group facilitators
  • Communicating effectively with the team to achieve a shared vision of excellence to clients and stakeholders while promoting ethical values and practices
  • Facilitated weekly team meetings and case conferences within the team
  • Co-facilitated recruitment interviews for new employees
  • Delivered individual supervision informed by reflective practice
  • Established and maintained stakeholder engagement by attending interagency meetings and promoting services to the community
  • Facilitated team supervision around ethical practice and ensure ethical guidelines and clinical practices are implemented
  • Delivered support around individual and cultural diversities
  • Established a safe and supportive workplace culture and providing the team with opportunities for professional development
  • Demonstrated leadership qualities and supervising a team of clinicians in clinical theory and practice

Student Counsellor

Prince of Peace Lutheran College
08.2017 - 09.2019
  • Providing individual counselling support to students aged 12-17 years
  • Supported the development of psychosocial skills to promote mental health and well-being amongst students
  • Facilitating evidence-based grief and loss interventions to support students navigate loss and complex grief
  • Reported to Deputy Principal with concerns around child’s welfare and safety in collaboration with child’s consent
  • Network within school environment with teaching staff and pastoral team
  • Worked with students within a trauma-informed framework and facilitating the use of evidence-based strategies following loss of a student
  • Provided information and referral to students where necessary to manage and promote ongoing development and support from external services
  • Employed creative interventions and strategies with students including sand play therapy, art therapy, and creative narrative approaches
  • Liased with parents regarding information and referral for external support for their child where appropriate and consent is established
  • Effective rapport building skills when demonstrating a strengths-based approach to students
  • Provided one-on-one counselling for students utilising a range of counselling theories and interventions

AOD Counsellor/Case Manager

The Salvation Army 'Moonyah'
11.2009 - 07.2017
  • Delivering a service of excellence to clients in residential AOD treatment
  • Operating from a strengths-based, solution-focused approach
  • Responsible for developing and maintaining rapport with individuals experiencing AOD and co-morbid issues, facilitating weekly and bi-weekly counselling/case management sessions to individuals throughout their program for 10+ months
  • Facilitating daily therapeutic groups and establishing and maintaining stakeholder engagement
  • Established and maintained a strong therapeutic relationship with participants of the residential program while facilitating their recovery using psychoeducation, 12-step approach, motivational interviewing, CBT, and DBT
  • Created and reviewed individualised treatment plans for program participants using clinical, evidence-based practice within a 12-step framework
  • Used a trauma-informed approach with individuals presenting with complex trauma needs
  • Conducted risk and needs assessments and facilitated external referrals where required
  • Maintained participant and staff safety during crisis interventions using a trauma-informed and WHS approach
  • Developed and reviewed safety plans in collaboration with program participant
  • Facilitation of daily therapeutic groups for up to 20 individuals on topics including 12-steps of recovery, anger management, smoking cessation, lifestyle skills, healthy relationships, assertive communication, and effective boundary setting
  • Facilitation of team meetings and minute writing/recording
  • Participated actively in individual and group supervision
  • Collaboration with relevant stakeholders including The Department of Child Safety, local MP office, Probation and Parole, Family Drug Support, QLD Health, and QPS
  • Operating from a person-centred and trauma-informed approach with each individual ensuring they receive support in a safe and optimal environment to facilitate change
  • Delivered and facilitated case conferencing within team meetings

Education

Accredited Clinical Supervisor -

CENTRE FOR EXISTENTIAL PRACTICE

Masters of Counselling - Advanced Entry

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QLD

Bachelor of Counselling -

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE COLLEGE
01.2019

Cert lll in Group Fitness -

METROPOLITAN SOUTH INSTITUTE OF TAFE
01.2016

Cert lV in Personal Training -

METROPOLITAN SOUTH INSTITUTE OF TAFE
01.2016

Diploma of Community Welfare Work -

METROPOLITAN SOUTH INSTITUTE OF TAFE
01.2009

Certificate in Psychology -

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY
01.2004

Professional Affiliates

  • Registered member of ACA (Level 2)
  • Lifeline Crisis Support Volunteer

References

  • Kerri Harris, State Manager – Canteen Australia, 0432 077 902, kerri.harris@canteen.org.au
  • Rebecca Adamson, Team Leader - Lives Lived Well (Mackay), 0438 119 081, rebecca.adamson@liveslivedwell.org.au

Timeline

Clinical Team Leader

Canteen
07.2021 - Current

Acting Team Leader

Lives Lived Well
08.2020 - 11.2020

Family Counsellor

Lives Lived Well
09.2019 - 07.2021

Student Counsellor

Prince of Peace Lutheran College
08.2017 - 09.2019

AOD Counsellor/Case Manager

The Salvation Army 'Moonyah'
11.2009 - 07.2017

Bachelor of Counselling -

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE COLLEGE

Cert lll in Group Fitness -

METROPOLITAN SOUTH INSTITUTE OF TAFE

Cert lV in Personal Training -

METROPOLITAN SOUTH INSTITUTE OF TAFE

Diploma of Community Welfare Work -

METROPOLITAN SOUTH INSTITUTE OF TAFE

Certificate in Psychology -

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

Accredited Clinical Supervisor -

CENTRE FOR EXISTENTIAL PRACTICE

Masters of Counselling - Advanced Entry

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QLD

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