Like many people I have enjoyed a variety of careers, though all focused on exploring and sharing new ideas and experiences.

I started out in educational book publishing, in marketing then as a publisher. I next moved to the Victorian Arts Centre as editor of their magazine promoting all the exciting activities at the performing arts centre. After a move to Sydney I continued in the media and the arts, with a stint at the Australian Film Institute promoting Australian independent cinema. Then I organised conferences and seminars for people working in museums and galleries and had my own arts consultancy for over 10 years, researching, organising public events, exhibition tours and producing publications for organisations as diverse as the NSW Ministry for the Arts, the Australian Museum, Sydney Living Museums/Historic Houses Trust. During this time I completed a diploma of sculpture at the National Arts School.

Then something clicked, and I undertook a Graduate Diploma in Counselling at the Australian College of Applied Psychology. Working with a community counselling service and as a co-facilitator at an anxiety and depression group opened my eyes to the benefits of counselling in creating real change in people’s lives. This, combined with undergoing my own therapy showed me that this was the path I wanted to take. I then went on to do my Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, undertaking in-depth research into the association between anxiety and writer’s block.

In my private practice I now combine my interest in helping those with anxiety and depression with assisting creative people to perform at their best.

Master of Counselling & Psychotherapy – Australian College of Applied Psychology
Graduate Diploma of Counselling – Australian College of Applied Psychology
Masters of Art Administration – College of Fine Arts, University of NSW
Bachelor of Arts – Monash University (Sociology / Anthropology)
Shared Reading Facilitation – Shared Reading NSW
Certificate of Sculpture – National Art School, ESTC

Registered member, Australian Counselling Association

Publications
Writer’s block and its association with anxiety
https://www.academia.edu/25786833/Writers_block_and_its_association_with_anxiety  Principal author, Many Voices, Making Choices: Museum Audiences with Disabilities, Australian Museum/National Museum of Australia publication (2005)
http://australianmuseum.net.au/publication/Many-Voices-Making-Choices-Museum-Audiences-with-Disabilities
Co-author, Energised, Engaged, Everywhere: Older Australians and Museums, Australian Museum/National Museum of Australia publication (2002)
http://australianmuseum.net.au/publication/Energised-engaged-everywhere-Older-Australians-and-Museums
Editor, Museum Methods: a practical manual for small museums and galleries (2002)
Co-author, The Sydney Museums Guide, Kingsclear Books (1992)
Co-author, Modern Australian Furniture, Craftsman House (1989)
Editor, Craft Australia Yearbook, Crafts Council of Australia (1986)

Contact me for a free 10-minute phone consultation to address any questions you may have and to discuss how counselling may benefit you.
petalandman@hotmail.com
0415 264 961