Why Koala Counselling?
The name ‘Koala Counselling’ was influenced by a video clip of a small, bewildered koala bear rescued from the 2020 Australian wildfires destruction. The little animal’s desperate need for help – holding out its injured paws for a drink of water – combined with the kind and compassionate aid of emergency staff, led me to wonder: are we as human beings not in a dissimilar situation?
I believe that most of us are. Struggling with so many day-to-day life difficulties, often feeling bewildered and trying to make sense of a profoundly changing world, doing the best we can to cope and survive.
Chris Williams – Founder of Koala Counselling
Specialists in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Our ACT specialists will help you construct more helpful thinking and behaviour patterns through one-to-one counselling.
Science based, evidence proven psychology based counselling
ACT is a science-based, evidence-proven psychology with research showing highly effective outcomes.
Professional and confidential support and training
Our professional counsellors and therapists work together with clients to build a trusting and supportive relationship.
So, what is ACT all about?
ACT was developed by US psychologist Professor Steven C Hayes and his team. This work was furthered by the Australian-based therapist, counsellor and author, Dr Russ Harris who has made a tremendous contribution in raising awareness of ACT.
I am indebted to Dr Harris’s wide selection of written work that introduced me to ACT, and helped me understand and apply the very significant benefits of what I truly believe is a quite simply exceptional psychology and counselling approach.
I would also like to include a note of gratitude to Ingrid Wallace, an extremely knowledgeable ACT therapist, for her contribution to ACT through her teaching work. Ingrid originally taught ACT in Canberra, Australia, and until recently delivered ACT courses at Cardiff University in Wales.
Koala Counselling Founder, Chris Williams
Chris Williams, Founder and CEO of Koala Counselling
Having worked in business management and learning & development for over 30 years, I have always been interested by the different ways in which people face and overcome life’s adversities. The reason for my interest, at least in part, was that I really didn’t cope very well and unfortunately suffered as a result, in ways that I now see were mostly unnecessary.
Although CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) helped me considerably, particularly when life’s adversities struck, I felt it had limitations. Then, five years ago I came across ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). I was astonished that such an incredibly helpful, effective and complete psychological approach could have gone relatively unnoticed for so long.
I have since discovered that ACT is in fact a proven and highly respected psychology and therapy, and actually developed from CBT. Having now studied ACT through wide range of lectures, seminars, workshops, courses, and most recently as formal training with Cardiff University, I am more convinced than ever that ACT can play a significant part in alleviating much of modern-day human suffering. I am hoping that by setting up Koala Counselling, we will be able to play a small but important role in making a positive difference in people’s lives.
PUBLIC SPEAKING, RADIO AND TV
Chris frequently speaks at live events and delivers presentations on EI (Emotional Intelligence), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and Mindfulness related subjects. He also participates in radio talk programmes and appears on webinars and local TV. Chris is always very happy to receive requests, please get in touch using the contact form.
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will rule your life and you will call it fate”
Carl Jung
Ways in which we can help you
Koala Counselling Professionals
Qualified, experienced professional counsellers, who offer a range of one-to-one treatment programmes
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Evidence-proven psychology and therapy that will help you to make positive changes.
Act Training and Group Workshops
We run ACT based training workshops for clients in both the public and private sectors.