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. But 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. I read ancient philosophy - Aristotle, the Stoics - because my concern was for facing suffering well, being a genuinely good man, and making life good. For that reason I wanted a more hands-on approach, plus I wanted more psychological insight, and 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 since spent years with counselling organisations, talking men back from bridges, helping others with both painful separations and creating a new life, working with veterans and defense force members, and now in private practice helping men with dating and relationships, with developing the personal qualities to succeed in career and business, and with increasing their purpose, direction, and happiness.
I offer both counselling and coaching blended, under the framework of coaching. This means I'm different to a psychologist, who is trained to asses and treat mental illness. A counsellor and coach is trained to help with life issues: relationships, career, and creating a good life. Mainstream therapy tends to misunderstand men, suggesting that there's something wrong with us, that to be healthy we need to become more feminine (more emotional, more talkative). This is why many men instinctively avoid counselling. Men's counselling is different: I understand and value male strengths, and know that we are good enough as we are. As a men's counsellor I will respect you as an equal, while guiding and challenging you to become more skillful and successful with life.
In 2018 I bought a home in central Victoria and left Melbourne. But I still work face-to-face each week in Carlton, while focusing on online counselling and coaching services 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. But 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. I read ancient philosophy - Aristotle, the Stoics - because my concern was for facing suffering well, being a genuinely good man, and making life good. For that reason I wanted a more hands-on approach, plus I wanted more psychological insight, and 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 since spent years with counselling organisations, talking men back from bridges, helping others with both painful separations and creating a new life, working with veterans and defense force members, and now in private practice helping men with dating and relationships, with developing the personal qualities to succeed in career and business, and with increasing their purpose, direction, and happiness.
I offer both counselling and coaching blended, under the framework of coaching. This means I'm different to a psychologist, who is trained to asses and treat mental illness. A counsellor and coach is trained to help with life issues: relationships, career, and creating a good life. Mainstream therapy tends to misunderstand men, suggesting that there's something wrong with us, that to be healthy we need to become more feminine (more emotional, more talkative). This is why many men instinctively avoid counselling. Men's counselling is different: I understand and value male strengths, and know that we are good enough as we are. As a men's counsellor I will respect you as an equal, while guiding and challenging you to become more skillful and successful with life.
In 2018 I bought a home in central Victoria and left Melbourne. But I still work face-to-face each week in Carlton, while focusing on online counselling and coaching services using video or phone.
– Matthew Bishop (MAppSocSci(Couns); BA (Hon); Dip. Prof. Couns.).
