Simone Dewar

Counselling & Healing Practices From A Contemplative & Somatic Approach

Professional Development

I undertake ongoing Professional Development (PD) to grow and refine my approach to walking alongside people.

From July 2025 – March 2027, I am undertaking the ‘Professional Training Course’ with the Australasian Association of Buddhist Counsellors and Psychotherapists. This is a comprehensive course that is extending my knowledge and skills in relation to contemplative approaches to counselling. My appreciation to engage with this course.

The broad themes of my ongoing PD are:

(see bolded key terms in a few of the PD training names to show their linkages with other broad themes of my completed PD).

In the tables below, I have included PD completed since graduating from my Bachelor of Social Work in 2008.

However, I have not included details for:

  • books, academic journals, websites, & pod-casts I engage with across these broad themes (there would be too many to list!)
  • brief one hour webinars related to my accreditation as a Mental Health Social Worker, and the governance of the Australian Association of Social Workers
  • formal tertiary qualifications
  • courses and retreats undertaken for my own personal healing and growth

My appreciation to the many facilitators and colleagues from whom I have learnt in each of these PD trainings.

Supervision & Reflective Practice

Year of trainingName of trainingName of training organisationHours of training
2023Advanced Supervision TrainingAustralian Association of Social Workers (AASW20 hours + On-line

Grieving, Bereavement, and Death & Dying

Year of trainingName of trainingName of training organisationHours of training
2025Grief Across the LifespanDr Greg Roberts, Centre for Existential Practice12 hours On-line
2023Voluntary Assisted Dying in QueenslandQueensland Health1 hour On-line
2022Redesigning Death Care ConferenceAustralian Death Studies Conference1 day On-line
2022Stepping into the Heart of GriefDr Greg Roberts, Centre for Existential Practice12 hours On-line
2021Voluntary Assisted Dying & the Emerging Social Work rolePalliative Care Social Work Association1 day On-line
2021Voluntary Assisted Dying & GriefPalliative Care Social Work Association1 hour On-line
2019Deathwalker TrainingCentre for Natural Deathcare2 days In-person
2019Multiple Losses; using the ‘Four Tasks of Mourning’ Dr William WordenAustralian Centre for Grief and Bereavement1.5 On-line
2018Spiritual Care with the DyingKaruna Hospice6 days Residential In-person

Contemplative approaches to counselling

Year of trainingName of trainingName of training organisationHours of training
2025The Art of Deep ListeningAustralian Association of Buddhist Counsellors and Psychotherapists (AABCAP)1.5 hours On-line
2024The Deliberate PractitionerAABCAP1.5 hours On-line
2023The Primacy of Right Hemisphere Functioning in Buddhism and PsychotherapyAABCAP2 hours On-line
2023Clinical Intervention and Reflective BelievingAABCAP3 hours On-line
2023Mindfulness through the Therapeutic Lens; Hakomi & MiCBTAABCAP2.5 hours On-line

Trauma therapy1 and
Somatic approaches

1: From a relational, neuro-biological, and social justice perspective

Year of trainingName of trainingName of training organisationHours of training
2023Trauma TherapyBonnie Badenoch, hosted by the Brisbane Trauma-Informed Practitioners Group3 hours On-line
2022Somatic ExperiencingDr Peter Levine, hosted by Delphie Training6 hours On-line
2021Deep Listening in Loving PrescenceHakomi2 days In-person
2020Unplanned Pregnancy Best Practice CounsellingChildren By Choice1 day In-person
2017 – 2018Working with the Neurobiological Legal of TraumaDr Janina Fisher18 hours + On line
2016Healing Trauma Through Yoga; Trauma-Centre Trauma Sensitive YogaDavid Emerson, presented by Mettaversity5 hours + On-line
2015Shame & Self-LoathingDr Janina Fisher, hosted by the Delphi Centre2 days In-person
2012The Trauma of Psychological Manipulation (conference)Cult Information and Family Support Association2 days On-line
2009Radiant Light Yoga Teacher TrainingRadiant Light Yoga350 hours (across one year) In-person
2008Unravelling the Ally Within – Body Image and Eating IssuesIsis Centre for Women’s Action on Eating Issues (now known as Eating Disorders Queensland)1 day In-person
2007Feminist Telephone Support WorkBrisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre2 days In-person
To honour my first significant PD, I included this two day training completed in 2007 while I was on my second 500 hour Social Work practicum

Counselling theories and approaches, and Working with specific groups in our community

Year of trainingName of trainingName of training organisationHours of training
 
Narrative Therapy
2011Responding to the Consequences of Trauma and Viewing Distress from Another AngleNarrative Therapy Training Collaborative2 days In person
2011Narrative Responses to TraumaLighthouse Resources2 days In-person
2010Explorations of Narrative PracticeKenwood Therapy Centre2 days In person
2009Introduction to Narrative PracticeLighthouse Resources3 days In person
 
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) & Motivational Interviewing (MI)
2025Trauma Informed Motivational InterviewingPESI (online platform for PD)3 hours on-line
2023Mindfulness-Informed CBTDr Bruno Cayoun, hosted by Australian Association of Social Workers2.25 hours On-line
2020e-CBTAustralian Psychological Society8 hours On-line
2014:Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: FundamentalsAustralian Psychological Society10 hours + On-line
2013Trauma Focused CBT for Children and Young PeopleAustralian Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health2 days In-person
 
Working with specific groups in our community
2025See, Hear, Believe; Responding to Domestic and Family Violence in LGBTIQA+ Communities (Trauma)LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation1 hour On-line
2021Harnessing the RainbowMax Mackenzie, hosted by Australian Association of Social Workers1 On-line
2013Expressive Therapies with Children and Young PeopleBirdwing Therapies1 day In-person
2013Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)LivingWorks2 days In-person