Coach Deb - Education and Experience Bio

I genuinely value providing the best care to my clients, and staying informed about the latest global studies and industry trends is key. The wonderful part is that I can do this so much more efficiently and primarily online through training and education, especially with the help of modern technology. I have completed numerous specialised training programs focusing on effective coaching techniques, emotional intelligence, and resilience building. The combination of academic knowledge and substantial lived experience enables me to confidently support clients’ personal growth and emotional development.

Integrative Health Practitioner Institute

As a certified Health Coach, I assist individuals in making lifestyle changes to improve their health through diet, exercise, and positive psychology. My training encompasses a range of scientific concepts, such as the essential elements of functional medicine and neuroscience, enabling me to adopt a person-centred coaching style. This approach facilitates self-discovery, helping clients clarify their values, gain insights, and pinpoint practical solutions. I empower clients to turn their intentions into actionable steps, fostering self-awareness and self-determination as they work towards achievable well-being goals.

Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors

My priority with my various studies is the Diploma of Counselling with AIPC. My advanced majors include counselling clients with addictions, child development and effective parenting, family therapy, abuse counselling and working with children and adolescents. AIPC is a great place to enjoy a comprehensive online experience, and I recommend it to anyone who needs to study in their own space and at their own pace. I intend to follow on and complete a Bachelor of Counselling. Visit the AIPC website for more details on the courses they offer.

ACA Student Membership
Awarded:Apr 8, 2021
Awarded To: Deborah Dewar
VERIFY

Advanced Study Major - Counselling Clients with Addictions
Awarded: 2 Dec 2022
Awarded To: Deborah Dewar
VERIFY

Advanced Study Major - Abuse Counselling
Awarded: 24 May 2023
Awarded To: Deborah Dewar
VERIFY

Mental Health Academy

Another of my fundamental study resources for mental health matters is the Mental Health Academy. It offers its members a vast and comprehensive selection of informative and career-building courses, and I highly recommend it to all health professionals. I have completed over 400 hours of study time with the Academy, a steadfast staple in my Sober routine and ongoing professional development.

In the past decade, we have experienced three catastrophic natural disasters within my LGA and those surrounding it. Devastating bushfires ravaged most of the landscape for the best part of a year during 2019 and early 2020, only to end the drought in 2021 and ride on into 2022 with the worst recorded flooding the eastern seaboard of Australia has ever seen. Then again in March 2025, with the Tropical Cyclone Alfred event. Trauma-informed care is needed more than ever before, so completing the Disaster Mental Health Counseling credential course has been necessary to ensure I serve my community as best as possible for the decade or two of recovery we are now facing. Given our global troubles, the Working with Trauma credential course is highly recommended for all mental health professionals.

Working with Behavioural Addictions and Working with Substance Addictions are both contemporary and essential courses that address the need for psychoeducation and compassion for individuals struggling with an addiction, while also advocating for social reform and community involvement in altering the stigma attached to addiction. Science & Practice of Wellbeing Credential course captivated my mind and offered a wealth of resources and information. It taught me the history and current evidence supporting positive psychology in modern mental health treatments. I have incorporated much of what I learned in this course into my everyday recovery plan, adding another layer of well-being knowledge to my sobriety toolbox. The Applied Positive Psychology Course explored positive psychology's history and contemporary application. My favourite course is Evidence-Based Parenting: Raising Children to Thrive with Dr. Justin Coulson and I highly recommend it to anyone for any parenting reason. The Clinical Applications of Neuroscience serves as a crucial foundational course for those who recognise the importance of this for a holistic, broad-spectrum, and integrated approach to any therapeutic alliance.