my name is Julie Telfer
hello...
It's lovely to meet you. I'm a counsellor living on Whadjuk Noongar land, south of Perth, Western Australia.
I hold a Master of Counselling and an honours degree in Psychology from Edith Cowan University, and have been professionally supporting people to flourish on their life journey for nearly 20 years.​
I am passionate about supporting individuals facing challenging experiences, undergoing change, or embracing the practice of caring for themselves and others in all circumstances through collaborative, trauma-informed therapy.
I enjoy working with teens and adults of all ages, and aim to create a safe, collaborative counselling space that respects each individual's needs, story, and strengths.​
Being an ADHDer, a mother raising a neurodivergent family, and a bisexual woman enables me to bring lived experience to our therapy sessions. Additional grounding in academic knowledge and professional experience, and accreditation by the Australian Counselling Association equips me to practice therapy from a neuroaffirming, trauma-informed and person-centred perspective.
​I am committed to walking alongside you in collaboration with warmth, compassion, and care and will partner with you to utilise the most appropriate approaches to therapy for your unique needs and strengths.
a little more about my counselling approach
Perhaps you are a carer, a parent, or someone who works in a caring role (i.e. teacher, counsellor, psychologist, emergency services worker, health professional). Or, maybe you've just discovered you are neurodivergent or have long known you are Autistic or an ADHDer. Or maybe you are facing a time of change, are feeling overwhelmed or are experiencing burnout. Or, perhaps you just want to know and care for yourself better. ​
I firmly believe that every person can benefit from counselling. The opportunity to reflect on life, embrace ones self, to learn and grow in a safe and collaborative therapy space is always worthwhile. Tending Embers Therapy is built on the idea that every individual counts, that all people need support from other people sometimes, and that therapy is hard, worthwhile work that needs to be personalised to each individual's experiences, strengths, and goals.
As an accredited counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association, and a graduate of a Master of Counselling and a Bachelor of Psychology with honours I am able to usilise a range of tools and techniques to support you. It is important that, together, we identify the best approach for you to ensure you are safe and supported during therapy and that you are able to build on your strengths, overcome challenges, and reach your therapy goals.
​I have experience in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Behavioural approaches, Narrative therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) amongst other modalities.
find me
Online Counselling Sessions
I am currently able to offer online counselling sessions across a range of days and times through 'The Sleep Psychologist'.
Please click below to access the website and get in touch.
Contact Julie
If you'd like to discuss your needs before booking an appointment please reach out and get in touch for a chat.
frequently asked questions
Where is Julie working?
Currently, Julie is subcontracting with The Sleep Psychologist (online only sessions). If you would like to know more please get in touch with Julie directly at tendingemberstherapy@gmail.com or see information about The Sleep Psychologist, and a link to their website in the 'find me' section of this website.
Who can Julie support?
Julie is able to work with individual's of all ages but primarily works with teens and adults. She works with people of all genders, sexualities, cultural backgrounds, and religious affiliations.
What can Julie help with?
Julie can help people with lots of different situations and experiences. If you are experiencing anxiety, stress, depression, burnout, overwhelm, or general exhaustion and frustration Julie is able to provide safe supportive therapy for you. If you are facing a challenging situation, experiencing distress, or are in need of assistance in figuring out supports, Julie can walk with you through this journey. If you are Autistic, an ADHDer, a parent, a carer, member of the LGBTQIA+ community, feeling vulnerable, trying to care for yourself, or for someone else, or need someone safe to talk to, Julie can help.
How much does it cost to see Julie?
Julie undertakes therapy online as a subcontractor and with clients who are supported by a number of funding sources and payment options. These are sometimes billed differently, based on the amount of funding available through these sources, and on the required reporting each source needs. While Julie is, as a counsellor, unable to work under a mental health care plan, she will do her best to ensure therapy remains cost effective for you and your circumstances. Get in touch to find out more (tendingemberstherapy@gmail.com)
What qualifications and accreditations does Julie have?
Julie started her career working as a youth worker when she was in her early 20's. At this time she completed a Diploma of Youth Work at TAFE SA (South Australia). After a while, and while she was being a mum, Julie decided she needed to know more to be able to help better and so she commenced a Bachelor of Psychology with a minor in child and family studies with Edith Cowan University. At the completion of this Julie enrolled in and completed her Psychology Honours degree and, through sheer will power, wit, and determination, achieved first class honours. She then decided to complete the Master of Counselling she'd started in her spare time and has recently graduated from this program. She is an accredited level 2 counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association.
What experience does Julie have?
As mentioned above, Julie started her career caring for others by being a Youth Worker. She worked with young people both in school environments and in one-one-one care for children in government supported placements. When she had her first child she decided she'd do some more study to better equip herself to care for those she works with. Once she finished her degree in Psychology she started working at a school in Western Australia (where she'd moved with her family) supporting primary school students, staff, and their families. She worked there for two years, and then found a role as Program Manager/Counsellor/Educatorat the Peel Health Hub working for GP down south (now Oseca). She's still working in this not for profit organisation at the Peel Health Hub, now as the Youth Program Manager, supporting both the Youth Growth Program and the Clinical Care Coordination team for the hub. In this role she supports a staff team of 5 clinicians and works clinically with individuals and their families from 12 years old through adulthood. Julie designed and delivered the Youth Growth program, which works collaboratively with students, staff, parents, and school community members to seek out and fill gaps in mental health care for young people in high schools across the Peel Region. While she initially delivered the program herself, she now supervises the educators who implements this program. Additionally, as a part of her Counselling Masters placement Julie worked with adults of all ages, providing counselling support for neurodivergent individuals, carers, and those struggling with sleep issues under the supervision of Dr Michelle Olaithe (RippleAbility | The Sleep Psychologist). Julie's passion lies in caring for people who care for others (or themselves).
share the love
Julie's journey, like your own, has been one marked with friends and colleagues who have lifted her up and encouraged her along the way. This space is one within which Julie aims to share about new things she's learnt, people she's grateful for, and supports you might benefit from. It's worth noting that everyone benefits from different things, and that no support person is perfect for everyone.
If you are in need of support in some way, but you can't find anything here, get in touch, perhaps Julie can help you in your journey through a counselling session.
Dr Michelle Olaithe - The Sleep Psychologist
I have had the absolute privilege of working with Michelle through my Masters Placement and have appreciated her support, encouragement, advice, and the way she lifts up women around her and supports them. Michelle specialises in a range of supports for many, many presentations and works as a Clinical Psychologist (she's got a PhD in Psychology too... so impressive). She's connected to the community and seeks to support the mental health and wellbeing of individual's, couples, families, and the community at large. She's always brewing an incredible plan to conquer the world's problems, and it's a blessing to us all, and especially to the Mandurah Community, that she is here. You can find a bit more about her and her team at her website (linked through logo).
Ripple Ability
Ripple Ability are an incredible organisation based in Mandurah Western Australia. These are the wonderful people who supported me through my placement for my Counselling Masters. Additionally, these are also the wonderful people who have supported my family through the ups and downs of diagnosis and NDIS navigation for both of our children. RippleAbility was established to empower families to access, understand and optimise systems that support them in their disability journey. The organisation is made up entirely of staff who have lived experience of disability, and as such they understand the challenges this journey can come with. If you are a parent of a young person and you need support to deal with the process of disability diagnosis, accessing the NDIS, or for your own mental health and wellbeing, check out their website (linked in the logo).
