Professional Profile

​I have 20 years of experience working in education and human services in the private sector as well as government and community organisations. I have held roles in education, advisory management, clinical supervision, national accredited training, therapeutic counselling and casework. My extensive experience in a variety of working contexts along with my passion for trauma informed, attachment focused practice and frameworks highlight my unique attributes as a community service professional that provides quality outcomes for clients, communities and organisations.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                            

Post Adoption Support Qld, The Benevolent Society
​Post Adoption Counsellor

• Intermediary Support
• Counselling Support
• Co-facilitate therapeutic groups
• Contribute to the development and successful delivery of annual events, quarterly newsletters

headspace in Schools                                                                                         
Clinical Consultant

• Under the direction of the State Manager support schools through implementation of the national mental health and wellbeing framework, Be You;
• Deliver an interactive framework of evidence-based information, professional advice and support to primary and secondary schools;
• Promote optimal social and emotional health and wellness in schools through continuous professional development of educators;
• Provide postvention support to schools following a suicide or attempted suicide, as well as supporting the school community in implementing preventative strategies;
• Support school communities to promote mental health, prevention and early intervention with the goal of improving outcomes for young people and their families;
• Contribute to the development of and successful delivery of timely and evidence based postvention support to school communities to assist them to plan, respond to and recover from suicide.

MONIQUE RUTHERFORD Counselling, Supervision & Training                                                                                                     
Individual, Child & Family Counsellor; National Accredited Training Program Facilitator

• Manage private practice with a caseload of clients, accounts and marketing
• Recognised and reputable trauma informed therapy and clinical supervision for women, children, adolescents and clinical professionals
• Personal and professional development workshops
• Specialising in attachment, mental health, trauma, children, parenting, family separation, LGBTIQ, adoption and relationship counselling
• Development, facilitation and evaluation of both tailored training programs as well as nationally accredited training programs to community service professionals in government, non- government organisations and private sector
• Specialised services to non-government sector in training, supervision and leadership

Interrelate                                                                                                                                                          
Multi Skilled Practitioner; Clinical Specialist for Royal Commission into Institutional Responses To Child Sexual Abuse; School Services Educator

• Peer Mentoring:  I provided mentoring for the Communities for Children Project Officer and other counselling staff in the implementation of the Circle of Security Parenting 8 week series of workshops as well as education for counselling staff about Applied Attachment Theory. I also provided clinical attachment focused training for an Aboriginal trainee counsellor whilst in my role as Multi-Skilled Practitioner.
• Individual & Couples counselling for men, women, children and adolescents:  Specialist counselling areas: relationship conflict, trauma, sexual abuse, mental health issues, drug & alcohol issues, domestic violence, child protection, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, post separation counselling, parenting, adoption and identity, gender diversity and LGBTIQ.
• Clinical Specialist for Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Childhood Sexual Abuse: providing trauma counselling and specialist support to survivors and individuals affected by the RC through Royal Commission Community Based Support Services.
• School Services Educator:  Delivery of healthy relationships education programs across schools in the local region.
• Group Facilitator:  Attained ‘Effective Group Leadership’ certification to deliver Interrelate groups to individuals, families and couples on a regular basis.
• Collaborative Case Management:  Seeking and offering integrated support to colleagues to provide quality outcomes for clients.

 
Lifeline Community Care                                                                                                       
Child & Family Therapist – Child Protection
The Child & Family Counselling Service was funded by the Department of Communities.
Child & Family Therapist:  case management, counselling, advocacy and case co-ordination.  In this role I provided:

• Early intervention therapeutic support to vulnerable families with multiple and complex issues
• Vulnerable families with knowledge and resources to protect their child through prevention focused therapeutic intervention
• Intensive family therapeutic support, including reunification and assistance to carers
• Therapeutic assistance to children and young people to understand and deal with their experiences; particularly in relation to sexual abuse

• Group work: I co-facilitated psycho education and therapeutic groups on domestic violence, trauma and healthy relationships for clients, for adolescents in schools.           

 
Multiple Positions, Education Qld                                                                                                      

• Classroom Teacher:  Essential ability to plan, deliver and evaluate education programs to young people according to policy within a challenging and changing environment (Aboriginal Community); communicate effectively with a diverse range of people.
• Behaviour Management Advisory Visiting Teacher:  Support students, families, teaching staff and Principals to engage students at risk of suspension or exclusion from the school system due to disengagement, complex family dynamics and challenging behaviours; writing policy; training teaching professionals; attending special needs meetings; home visits; engaging parents, key stakeholders and community organisations.   
• School Welfare Officer/Guidance Officer:  Counselling, assessment, parent and teacher liaison, small group psycho-educational workshops, high level communication skills, community engagement.                                                      

 
EDUCATION                                                                                                                                                                                              
 
Advanced Diploma in Expressive Therapies                                                                                                                       
Expressive Therapies Institute of Australia, Brisbane, Qld
Sandplay Therapy, Emotional Release, Holotropic Breathwork, Transpersonal Counselling
Developed by Dr. Mark Pearson and Dr. Helen Wilson       

Master of Education (School Guidance & Counselling)                                                                                               
Qld University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld
Distinction Average.  Subjects:  Understanding Educational Research, Educational Counselling, Teaching Students with Learning Difficulties, Advanced Educational Counselling, Educational Counselling Professional Prac, Psychoeducational Assessment, Career Counselling
 
Master of Education (Behaviour Management)                                                                                                           
Qld University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld
Distinction average. Subjects:  Behaviour Management for Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Issues in Classroom Management, Educational Intervention for Challenging Behaviour, Behaviour Management:  Programs & Planning
 
Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)  
James Cook University, Townsville, Qld
Distinction average. Education, Construction of Learning and Teaching, Curriculum & Pedagogy, Psychological Foundations, Individual and Social Psychology, Empirical Methods, Quantitative Analysis, Applied Psychological Research Methods, Design & Analysis for Experimental Psychology, Psychology Communication                                  

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING                                                                                                            

Professional Supervision Certificate of Attainment                                                                                                 
3-day ACA recognised training
 
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Training                                                                                               
Trauma Therapy Training developed by Dr. Peter Levine
Completed Advanced I, October 2019
3 years including supervised sessions, case consultations and personal sessions
Somatic Experiencing Australia, Brisbane, Qld
 
DARe: Dynamic Attachment and Repatterning Experience                                                             
Dr Diane Poole Heller - Attachment Therapy Training in Boulder, Colorado
Healing Early Attachment Wounds, Creating Healthy Adult Relationships,
Neurobiology of Loving Relationships, Victim-Perpetrator Dynamics & Disorganised Attachment
3 years including supervised sessions, case consultations and personal sessions
 
Certified Yoga Teacher Training                                                                                                                                                
Ishta Yoga with Rachel Zinman – 300 hours
 
Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples 
ACEFT: The Australian Centre for Emotionally Focussed Therapy, Brisbane, Qld                                                                       

• 4 Day Externship: Fundaments of Emotionally Focussed Therapy
• 8 Day Intensive Core Skills A & Core Skills B Training

 
Circle of Security International Training                                                                                         

• 4 Day COS Parenting Educator Training
• 4 Day Core Sensitivities Training

Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA) Training                                                                                                             

• 2 Day Advanced Training for Health Professionals, “Working Therapeutically with Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma”
• 2 Day Trauma Informed Practice Training

 
Systemic Family Constellation Training                                                                                                    

• First Year – 13 days, 3 modules, 78 hours:  Family of Origin, Present Family, Private Sessions
• Second Year – 13 days, 3 modules, 126 hours:  Deepening Family Constellations, Wellness Constellations, Business Constellations

Family Constellations, Hamilton, Brisbane, Qld.
 
Beyond Blame:  Utilizing an attachment and trauma model in working with children and mothers who have experienced violence in their home                                                                                                                                          
Mary-Jo McVeigh, Cara House
 
Effective Group Leadership Training        
Interrelate (5 day training and assessment)
 
Response Ability Pathways Training     
3 Day Workshop for working with Children & Youth At Risk
Allambi Youth Services
 
Mindful Awareness Parenting (MAP)              
2 Day Workshop
Dr Rebecca Coleman
 
Transpersonal Dialogue International                                
Level 1 Voice Dialogue Training
 
Developments in the Treatment of Trauma 
Dr Bessel van der Kolk
Byron Clinic
 
Certificate IV – Training & Assessment                                                                                                                        
Quest College, Maroochydore, Qld
 
Non-Violent Communication Training                                                                                                               
2 Day Workshop
 
Peer Skills Facilitator Training                                                                                                                                                   
Kids Help Line
 
Seasons For Growth                                                                                                                                                                      
Companion Training Workshop
 
Crisis Telephone Counselling                                                                                                                                                      
Lifeline, Brisbane
 
 
PRESENTATIONS & TRAININGS DELIVERED

• 2018 Women’s Festival – Standing Your Sacred Ground; Women in Relationships

• 2018 Byron Bay Complex Trauma Network Meeting – 2 hour presentation
• 2017 Byron Shire Mental Health Professionals Network Meeting – 2 hour presentation
• 2017 International Women’s Day Panellist
• 2017 Attachment Focused Sandplay Therapy & Symbol Work Accredited Training, Alice Springs
• 2016 Switch on Security – Healing Attachment Wounds Accredited Training, Byron Bay
• 2016 Bay FM Radio Interview
• 2016 Hold Me Tight Couples Weekend Workshop – Interrelate
• 2016 Circle of Security Parenting Workshop Series – Interrelate
• 2016 Parents not Partners Workshop Series – Interrelate
• 2008 – 2016 Expressive Therapies Institute of Australia (ETIA) Senior Trainer of National Accreditation Certificate Training
• 2008 Group Dynamics Lecturer, Advanced Diploma of Counselling, Quest College
• Parenting from the Inside Out – Lifeline Clinical Staff, Caboolture
• Discipline from the Inside Out – Noosa Pengari Steiner School
• Supporting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – Sexual Assault Services, NCAHS
• Disclosure of Sexual Assault and Non-Believing Parents, Sexual Assault Service, NCAHS
• Supporting Client’s to Release Stress – Mackay & Hervey Bay ISDN
• Creative ways to explore Self Care – ISDN
• The Body as a Doorway to Healing, ISDN
• Creative ways to introduce relaxation to traumatised young clients, ISDN
• Supporting Challenging Behaviour, Education Qld Guidance Officers
• Working Creatively with Trauma, CYMHS, Maroochydore
• Promoting Resilience in Young People, ISDN
• Client-Centred Therapeutic Workspaces, Logan Family Relationships Centre
• Working Creatively with Child Survivors of Sexual Abuse & their Parents, Toowoomba ISDN
• Creative Counselling Methods Showcase, Brisbane ISDN

 
MEMBERSHIPS

Australian Counselling Association          
Professional Member – Level 3
Registration number – 5392
Member since 4/1/2006
Professional Indemnity & Business Public Liability Insurance: Focus Insurance
 
Mental Health Professionals Network, Byron Bay, 2013 – 2018 - Coordinator Role - 2018
Byron Complex Trauma Network, Byron Bay, 2013 – 2018              

YEAR

March 2019 - Present
Milton, Brisbane 






​July 2018 – March 2019
​Brisbane














Jan 2006 – Present
Qld, NSW & Northern Territory












Mar 2013 – June 2018
Lismore & Byron Bay





















​  July 2006 –  June 2008
Caboolture, Qld













Jan 1998 – Dec 2006
Central and South-East Queensland












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1997






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2017 - 2020





​​2015 - 2019





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