My Story

My own experience of living with a deep sense of disconnection from myself and others left me feeling that I was a failure as a human being. I found it hard to seek help, and I knew my friends and family did not have the skills or knowledge to help me. So, I found the support I needed from a range of counsellors and therapists who helped me develop my own resources to find my way out of the darkness and into the light.  

In doing so I developed a passion for helping others, who were also struggling.  For many years I worked in organisations providing emotional and practical support to a wide range of people: women facing poverty, homelessness and health issues; people with chronic health conditions and disabilities; and people with terminal illnesses and their carers. I set up and ran helplines, telephone counselling and practical support services and at the same time I advocated for better healthcare and social support for these groups of people.

Since 2000, I have worked in private practice as a coach, counsellor and therapist with individuals and organisations including LifeCircle, Cancer Council NSW, CaringKids, FAMS, NSW Council of Social Services and Community Restorative Centre.

I have a Masters degree in Social and Public Policy from the University of Brighton; a Certificate in Coaching Practice from the University of Sydney; a Graduate Diploma of Counselling from Jansen Newman Institute; and Advanced Clinical Training in Contemporary Gestalt Therapy from The Relational Institute of Australia. I am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner having completed the three year training program in Somatic Experiencing with additional training in Somatic Resilience and Regulation. I have attained competencies in grief and loss counselling from Grief Australia, and suicide prevention from Mission Australia. I volunteer with Path Retreats every year supporting the therapeutic process and the participants of the seven day Path of Love retreat.

I am a member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), Gestalt Australia & New Zealand (GANZ), Cancer Counselling Professionals Inc and receive regular clinical supervision.

I was born in Canada and lived in Toronto until I was eight years old when my family moved to New York. It was a turbulent time of social change, civil rights activism and the growth of feminism. I grew up very aware of the inequalities that surrounded me. Returning to Toronto when I was 23 years old I began my career in the non-profit sector. In 1986 I moved to England and in 2001 I emigrated to Australia.

Home Counselling & Therapy My Story Contact

Mobile: +61 422 221 199
Email: Jan.hatch@me.com