Mateja Semenko

Mateja Simenko is a qualified, PACFA accredited counsellor with extensive background in art and education. Having worked therapeutically with a broad spectrum of culturally, linguistically and neuro-developmentally diverse populations, she enjoys engaging with people of all ages and life stages and has specific interest and experience in working with new parents and families in the antenatal period. Coming from a migrant background, Mateja is passionate about social equality, inclusion and supporting clients to reconnect with their own goals and strengths to achieve them. As a parent herself, she supports parents to connect with and understand their child’s emotions, developing emotional intelligence to promote secure bonds and wellbeing of the whole family. Using a person-centred approach, she has been commended for her ability to guide clients gently and effectively in recognising difficult emotions, supporting them to challenge reactive patterns of thinking and behaviour and empowering them to choose more relevant and beneficial responses.

 

Holding a Postgraduate Counselling Diploma, a Masters Degree in Fine Art and a Certificate IV in Training and Assesment, Mateja is passionate about about the healing and growth promoting power of human relationships. In private life she thrives in nature, loves swimming and has her own long-standing yoga and mindfulness practice, making her a mature and well-rounded practitioner, engaging therapeutically through respectful and collaborative communication.