About Janet Irwin

About Janet Irwin
Counsellor, Perth, WA

Background: Becoming a Counsellor

My First Career in Fashion Design

My first career was in fashion design. I started making clothes for friends, then got a hawker’s licence to sell from the footpath. Next I leased a shop and grew the business. Eventually I was I travelling 3 times a year, manufacturing my designs overseas and then importing and wholesaling them around New Zealand.

I loved working with local schools, sharing work experience opportunities with students, and helping local communities fundraise by offering fashion shows utilising locals as models, photographers, DJs and stagehands. It was exciting and a lot of fun.

I have always been interested, and at times in awe of an individual’s expression of who they are. Initially this was on the outside with clothing…

As I matured, I yearned for a quieter path where I could connect deeper with people in exploring their inner worlds.. This yearning became more apparent when I closed the business and took time out travelling and seasonal fruitpicking.

My Second Career as a Registered Nurse in Mental Health

I entered the Nursing profession and was lucky to have been one of the last nurses to work at Queen Mary Hospital in Hanmer, New Zealand. Initially, the hospital was built to help soldiers with PTSD recover after the war as there were natural hot springs onsite, and the setting was located in a very beautiful mountain village. Later this famous hospital became a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.

It was an extraordinary experience to work alongside clinicians recruited to train us from around the world. The environment was incredibly therapeutic, and it had a profound impact on my future nursing style.

I sought out various supervisors of high calibre while working as a nurse. They taught me a lot about being present and holding space in different ways with people in their healing.

I also involved myself in regular in-depth psychotherapy, which allowed me to grow and become more at ease with different parts of myself and how to tend kindly to them.

My Third Career as a Counsellor

After working as a nurse for over 2 decades, I decided my real passion was to be a counsellor. I engaged in many workshops over the years, including psychodrama, Hakomi, Resonant practitioner, NonViolent Communication, Narrative therapy, and more formally completed a Master’s degree in Counselling.

I love my work as a counsellor. I believe it is what I was meant to do. It’s deeply fulfilling to develop connections with people where they can get to know themselves in a whole new way, potentially transforming their life.

Professional Experience

For the past 11 years, I’ve been providing counselling in Perth to clients struggling with various issues, including depression, anxiety, addictions, domestic violence, sexual abuse and other types of trauma.

I also have 22 years of experience as a Registered Nurse working in a range of therapeutic contexts, including both private and government mental health facilities, non-profit based community organisations, women’s health services as well as addictions facilities and adolescent mental health services

Strengths

  • I’m gentle and value a safe and comfortable space with you.
  • I’m highly attuned and listen deeply.
  • I’m deeply grounded – I’m skilled at bringing people back to themselves when they’ve felt lost and awkward
  • I’m flexible – I’ll adapt to any changes in your goals or the direction that therapy may need to take
  • I’m curious in a flexible way, which can help deepen your awareness and understanding of what is going on.
  • I’m enthusiastic about our work and committed to assisting you to live more fully.

Education

  • M.A. Human Services Counselling
  • Certificate in Advanced Training in Professional Supervision
  • Post Graduate Certification Health Sciences (Mental Health Nursing), Christchurch School of Health Sciences
  • B.A Nursing, Nelson Malborough Institute of Technology, Nelson, New Zealand
  • Assessment of Addiction and Co-existing Disorders, University of Otago, New Zealand
  • Bachelor of Alcohol and Drug Studies, Central Institute of Technology, Wellington, New Zealand

Additional Training

    • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
    • Narrative therapy
    • EMDR
    • Relapse Prevention
    • Hakomi Psychotherapy
    • Mindfulness
    • Internal Family Systems
    • Motivational Interviewing

Click here to read more about the above methods I use in counselling and How I Work.

Personal Interests and Passions

I live with two whippets, and value a simple life. I love ice cream and coffee. I enjoy creative activities such as sewing, decorating and painting in acrylics.

I like spending quiet time in the garden with my friends the willy wagtails.

For relaxation indoors, I love watching drama particularly Scandinavian Noir.

If you resonate with me and think we might be a good fit to work together, contact me. I look forward to hearing from you!