I've been a counsellor for over a decade. Here's a bit about me as a person, and the background to my work.
I come from a small town in the Mallee from a farmer and tradesman family, and was originally a high-school drop-out. While working in a factory I discovered philosophy and developed a passion for that which led me to The University of Melbourne, where I studied and eventually taught it.
My interested in philosophy was not academic, however, and I focused on the ancient philosophers - Aristotle, the Stoics - who cared less about theory and more about the practice of facing suffering well, being a good man, and making life good. For that reason I wanted a more hands-on approach, plus I wanted more psychological insight, so I decided to study counselling. These days I'm a Master's qualified counsellor and am registered at the highest level with the Australian Counselling Association.
I've spent years counselling within organisations, talking men back from bridges, helping others through painful separations, doing crisis work with combat veterans and Australian Defense Force members. I now work in private practice, helping men with relationships and dating, work and career, and with self-worth, purpose, direction, confidence, and happiness.
I'm a counsellor, not a psychologist. A psychologist is trained to asses and treat mental illness. A counsellor is trained to help with life issues: relationships, career, getting clarity, making decisions, making things better. I offer my services as coaching, and this means that I combine the insight of counselling - helping you work through shame, fear, etc. - within a coaching format where I am quite proactive to help you take action and achieve outcomes. I find that this blend this works best with what most men actually want and need.
A men's counsellor is a counsellor who understands and values masculinity. Our current culture often shames men and pathologises masculinity, which is one reason why many men instinctively avoid counselling (another is that psychology tends to treat female ways of being as the paradigm for mental health: i.e. men need to become more talkative and emotive). Men's counselling is different. I understand and value male strengths. I will challenge you to respect yourself more, and to use your natural strengths to become more skillful and successful in life. And despite being a trained therapist and previously an academic, as a working class male I'll also talk straight with you.
In 2018 I bought a home in central Victoria and left the city. I still work face-to-face a couple of days each week in Carlton, while focusing on online counselling and coaching using video or phone.
– Matthew Bishop (MAppSocSci(Couns); BA (Hon); Dip. Prof. Couns.).
I come from a small town in the Mallee from a farmer and tradesman family, and was originally a high-school drop-out. While working in a factory I discovered philosophy and developed a passion for that which led me to The University of Melbourne, where I studied and eventually taught it.
My interested in philosophy was not academic, however, and I focused on the ancient philosophers - Aristotle, the Stoics - who cared less about theory and more about the practice of facing suffering well, being a good man, and making life good. For that reason I wanted a more hands-on approach, plus I wanted more psychological insight, so I decided to study counselling. These days I'm a Master's qualified counsellor and am registered at the highest level with the Australian Counselling Association.
I've spent years counselling within organisations, talking men back from bridges, helping others through painful separations, doing crisis work with combat veterans and Australian Defense Force members. I now work in private practice, helping men with relationships and dating, work and career, and with self-worth, purpose, direction, confidence, and happiness.
I'm a counsellor, not a psychologist. A psychologist is trained to asses and treat mental illness. A counsellor is trained to help with life issues: relationships, career, getting clarity, making decisions, making things better. I offer my services as coaching, and this means that I combine the insight of counselling - helping you work through shame, fear, etc. - within a coaching format where I am quite proactive to help you take action and achieve outcomes. I find that this blend this works best with what most men actually want and need.
A men's counsellor is a counsellor who understands and values masculinity. Our current culture often shames men and pathologises masculinity, which is one reason why many men instinctively avoid counselling (another is that psychology tends to treat female ways of being as the paradigm for mental health: i.e. men need to become more talkative and emotive). Men's counselling is different. I understand and value male strengths. I will challenge you to respect yourself more, and to use your natural strengths to become more skillful and successful in life. And despite being a trained therapist and previously an academic, as a working class male I'll also talk straight with you.
In 2018 I bought a home in central Victoria and left the city. I still work face-to-face a couple of days each week in Carlton, while focusing on online counselling and coaching using video or phone.
– Matthew Bishop (MAppSocSci(Couns); BA (Hon); Dip. Prof. Couns.).
