Hi there, my name is Anthony Colantuono, I'm a Counsellor base in Caringbah.  In my practice I provide recovery based psychological counselling for adults, children and adolescents. 

If you are considering Counselling, I am pleased you have found my website.  I have intentionally included information on here about the importance of linking in with an accredited practitioner.  I have worked in this industry for many years and I have seen many changes to provision of mental health services. Whether you decide to link in with me or another provider, please ensure the therapist is linked to an appropriate association.  I'm an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and proud member of The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).  

Therapy sessions with me are confidential, non-judgmental, kind and empathic.  I strictly adhere to the AASW code of ethics.  I believe a good therapist should be authentic and genuine whilst focusing on building resilience through honest reflective feedback.  I draw heavily on recovery focussed modalities in my approach, my goal is to facilitate recovery and moving forward with life, not to keep you in therapy forever. 

Working with the mind's plasticity takes due care and skill.  The therapeutic modalities I use are medicare approved because they are evidence based.  Evidence based means researched through decades of study that have empiricised their effectiveness.  Additionally, I have extensive clinical experience in working with trauma and unfortunately re-traumatisation due to historical non-trauma informed care by other providers before coming to see me. 

I completed my Bachelor of Social Work with honors at The University of Sydney in 2006.  I have almost 20 years of industry experience with additional credentialing in focused psychological strategies.  I utilise vast evidence-based principles when implementing focussed psychological strategies.  Examples are, Narrative Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).  I am of the opinion that a good counselor should be able to practically implement an integrative approach with more than one therapeutic modalitie.   However, with EMDR, it is vital I strictly adhere to the procedural fidelity of the model.  Anecdotally, I have found EMDR to be highly effective when administered well. 

As a Social Worker, I am familiar with rebates and subsidies for accessible and affordable mental health care.  I firmly believe that mental health should be accessible on a needs basis, just as any other form of health care we access through Medicare.  As a Social Worker, I  will guide my clients through the process with navigating medicare or ancillary cover.  It often starts with a visit to your GP.

Additionally, I will personally see you and not allocate you to an intern or Registrar.  I work as a sole trader and take pride in my interpersonal service delivery in my private practice.  I appreciate that seeking a Counsellor may not have been an easy journey, but why wait? feel free to reach out for a 15 complimentary consultation, make a decision from there if you think I am the right therapist for you. 

I'm a registered Medicare provider through the Better Access Initiative (MHTP) and Psychological Support Services provider (PSS), this is through Central Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN).  Additionally, I am an approved counsellor for Victim Services NSW.  Heath funds such as HCF, Bupa, Teacher's Health, Medibank and Doctors Health with appropriate ancillary cover may offer rebates (please check with coverage your insurer). 

I work with adults of all ages, child youth and family.

I work with mild to moderate mental health issues, acute, severe and complex disorder's may be best managed under a multidisciplinary team provided by a public outpatient clinic or inpatient service.

When providing mental health care to children, youth and families it is important that I use a systemic approach to my interventions.  This will involve working closely with parents or carers, at times independently from the young person.   I may use play therapy approaches when working with children directly, or youth friendly approaches for adolescent family based referrals.   I  will assess the best approach on a case by case basis.

I am pleased to provide a service to patient's preferring to speak with a male counsellor for sensitive reasons.   Men (or women) who specifically are seeking a male therapist for traumatic or sensitive reasons, please do not hesitate to reach out.  

Examples of life events I have worked with:

• Mental Health issues 

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Suicidal ideation

• Situational crisis

• Adjustment disorder

• Grief and loss

• Life Transitions, such as adjusting to unplanned changes in life, retirement, divorce, separation

• Interpersonal disputes

• Emotional regulation/anger management

• Bereavement care in community and hospital setting 

• Supporting those bereaved by suicide, homicide or shock deaths such as tragic accidents

• Mens Health issues

• Workplace stressors 

• Critical incident de-briefing

• Adversity in family of origin

• Domestic violence and family violence

• Relationship issues (intimate, family and workplace)

• Survivors of sexual assault (male and female in childhood and adulthood)

• Sexuality issues

• LGBTQIA friendly based care in all settings

• Substance use/alcohol and other drugs support to individuals and loved ones of those effected by addiction

• Family and parenting (attachment)

• Co-parenting/parallel parenting 

• Carer support

• Adjustment to illness

• Survivors of torture and trauma

• Cross cultural care

Additionally, I speak Italian and a Southern Dialect from Reggio Calabria.

AASW Registration Number:  658016

https://www.aasw.asn.au/ 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1363275