About Ampersand Australia
Ampersand Australia provides a clear pathway to a nationally recognised qualification and a rewarding career, without the need for prolonged University study.
Ampersand Australia is a leading education provider for Solution Oriented therapy in Australia and internationally. Courses offer practical, hands-on training and are supervised by experienced, qualified practitioners that will help you fast track your career or further your interest in counselling and hypnotherapy.
Established in 1995, Ampersand Australia offers its core programs in Bendigo, Ballarat and Shepparton, as well as tailored programs designed specifically for the needs of organizations, agencies and groups both nationally and internationally.
Ampersand Australia's Diploma programs comply with the standards established by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), and provide a pathway for national recognition for its students through the Association of Solution Oriented Counsellors and Hypnotherapists of Australia (ASOCHA).
All courses provide a strong experiential emphasis and embrace a wide variety of learning modes including: didactic presentations; live and video demonstrations; small group practice; written assignments; independent study groups; and clinical experience and supervision.
Following two years of part time training, some clinical experience and supervision with Ampersand Australia, students can apply for full membership of ASOCHA and will have met the minimum national standard of qualifications set by PACFA.
Ampersand can further provide for students to continue their training, supervision and experience, and so qualify to be listed on the PACFA National Register of Counsellors, as many of our graduates have done. |
Who are we?
 David Johnson
Co-Director; Director of Training
MAPS; MASOCHA (Life); MSCAPE.
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David is a former Lecturer/Tutor in Psychology at both Monash and Ballarat Universities .
He is a Founding Director of Davellen Consulting P/L (1987) and has been Director of Marketing, Training & Development and a Principal Psychologist of the Practice, which has operated from the specialist consulting suites at the St. John of God Hospital Bendigo for the past 9 years.
Beyond his university training as a Psychologist, David has gained specialist qualifications in Solution Oriented counselling (Diploma), Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (Diploma), Ontological Coaching (one year program in USA), as an EMDR practitioner (Basic and Advanced), and has trained with and worked along side many of the leading professionals in his field, including Michael Yapko, Bill O'Hanlon, Steve de Shazer, Steve Gilligan, Jeff Zieg, Steve Lankton, Chloe Madanes, Jay Haley, Humberto Maturana and Francine Shapiro.
David's focus as a therapist has been primarily informed by the more contemporary approaches to counselling, embracing the solution oriented, Ericksonian, cognitive behavioral, existential and mindfulness ideologies and strategies. Whilst David's work in private practice has needed to encompass the general range of presenting conditions and issues, he has tended to specialize in such areas as: post trauma; hypnotherapy; the anxieties including panic; OCD and phobias; mediation; anger management; couples counselling; addictions; and the supervision of Probationary psychologists and counsellors.
Through his Co-Directorship of Ampersand Australia P/L (a teaching Institute for Health Professionals) David has been designing and teaching courses for health professionals in Solution Oriented Counselling and Hypnotherapy since 1989. As Co-Director of the Milton H Erickson Institute of Victoria, David teaches Introductory and Advanced Diplomas in Counselling Psychology, and Solution Oriented Hypnosis. In recent years, David has taught and demonstrated his work variously on a National level and has presented on several specialist panels at an International Conference on Ericksonian Psychotherapy in Phoenix , Arizona in 1999. He was a selected presenter at the 8th International Congress on Ericksonian Approaches to Hypnosis and Psychotherapy in Phoenix USA in December 2001. David has designed and run a series of Workshops in Oxford and Glastonbury UK for health professionals in 2001, 2002, 2003,2004 and will be returning in February 2006 to teach further advanced programs.
In 1996, David was an invited participant in the movement to establish a national body responsible for the standards of counsellor training and qualification, and has played an ongoing role in the establishment and development of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). He also founded the Association of Solution Oriented Counsellors and Hypnotherapists of Australia (ASOCHA) in 2000, a national professional body which currently has some 80 - 90 members and exists as a member organization of PACFA.
David was elected the Inaugural President of the Association of Solution Oriented Counsellors and Hypnotherapists of Australia (ASOCHA) 2001, 2002, and continues to serve on the ASOCHA National Executive. David was elected a Life Member of ASOCHA at its Annual National Conference in October 2004.
David is also an active full member of the Society of Counselling and Psychotherapy Educators of Australia (SCAPE). |
 Ellen Johnson Brown
Co-Director
MAPS; MASOCHA(Life); MISNR; AMACNEM.
Ellen is a former lecturer in psychology at LaTrobe University Bendigo. She has been Director of Clinical Services and Principal Psychologist at Davellen Consulting Pty. Ltd., since 1987.
She is a co-director of Ampersand Australia and provided a strong original contribution to course development and teaching in the Diploma and short course programs.
Ellen has concentrated her efforts to research and develop clinical applications in recent years. She is a founding member of the Australian Chapter of The International Society of Neuronal Regulation, bringing state of the art treatment to promote self-regulation, optimal performance, behavior change and health and well-being. Ellen is also an Associate Member of the Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, having post graduate training in nutrition and pediatric nutrition for optimal mental health, brain function and stress management. She was elected a life member of ASOCHA (Association of Solution Oriented Counsellors and Hypnotherapists of Australia) in 2004.
Contributions to future master classes with Ampersand Australia will include; "Working with Children" (especially behaviour change and self-esteem; "Eating Disorders" (including optimal nutrition for weight control); and "Self-regulation" (including simple and effective bio-feedback in professional counselling practice, to address common problems like headaches, sleep disturbances, panic attacks etc.). |
 John Cooper
Facilitator DAEC and DCP (Bendigo)
BA; Grad Dip Psych; Assoc.MAPS; MASOCHA.
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John works as a Psychologist with Davellen Consulting where he consults with both private and referred clients. He sees a range of presenting issues including troubled relationships, troubled children and teens, trauma, grief, depression, chemical dependence, and anxiety. He also facilitates conflict resolution sessions.
John is an accredited presenter of the acclaimed and powerful Scott Sell's 'Parenting with Love and Limits' program, a 6 to 8 session program aimed at helping parents and their troubled teen to re-establish limits (boundaries) and love. During 2005 John will be leading several of these programs in Bendigo . John has also facilitated psychotherapy groups at the Bendigo Drug and Alcohol Treatment Prison, in which he incorporated a Solution Orientated Approach.
Having Majored in Psychology at LaTrobe University Bendigo and then completing a Graduate Diploma in Psychology at RMIT University Bundoora in the late 90's, John commenced studies with Ampersand Australia in with the view to broadening his therapeutic approach. John completed Discovering the Art of Effective Counselling, and the Diploma of Counselling Psychology in 2000, and the Advanced Diploma of Counselling Psychology in 2001. John has been presenting Discovering the Art of Effective Counselling since 2003, and presented the Diploma of Counselling Psychology in Shepparton during 2005, where he has received outstanding feedback from the course participants. He has also the enrolled in the Diploma of Solution Orientated Hypnosis for 2006, with a view to expanding his offer to clients.
John served his fourth term as Secretary of the Association of Solution Orientated Counsellors and Hypnotherapists of Australia (ASOCHA - an organisation established to serve the ongoing needs and development of Solution Oriented therapists ) in 2004. He convened the 2004 and 2005 National ASOCHA Conference held at Melbourne University and will undertake this role again in 2006.
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 Jenny Skewes
Facilitator DAEC and DCP (Ballarat)
BN; Grad.Dip.CHN; Dip.SOHyp; Adv.Dip.SOCouns; MASOCHA.
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Jenny Skewes has over thirty years experience working in the field of mental health. Jenny holds registrations in both Psychiatric and General Nursing. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Nursing; Graduate Diploma of Community Health Nursing; Diploma of Solution Oriented Hypnosis; Advanced Diploma of Counselling Psychology; and Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.
Jenny is a past President (2003, 2004) of the Association of Solution Oriented Counsellors and Hypnotherapists of Australia ( ASOCHA), which is a constituent organisation of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). She also represents ASOCHA at regular PACFA meetings.
Jenny completed a further year of study with Ampersand Australia in 2001 which licensed her to teach the Discovering the Art of Effective Counselling program. Jenny successfully trained as a Diploma course facilitator with Ampersand Australia in 2004 and began running the Diploma of Counselling Psychology in Ballarat in 2005. Jenny is also a Vicserv Sessional Trainer for staff working in psychosocial rehabilitation.
In addition to her teaching commitments, Jenny established the Skewes Therapy Consultancy in 2001, a full time private practice in Ballarat. In her work with clients, Jenny works with the individual and what they bring to therapy, assisting the person to recognise their strengths and skills and how to apply these to reach their goals.
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