Why I Let Go of My Counsellor Registration

I’ve made the decision to step away from my official registration as a “Counsellor,” and I wanted to share a little bit about this decision and what it means for my offerings moving forward. There are many reasons why I came to this choice, but the two main ones are flexibility and accessibility. It feels deeply aligned with how I want to offer grief support moving forward.

In my work and life, I meet people in many different contexts; whether I’m supporting them through some aspect of their end-of-life journey or simply being introduced as an acquaintance. I’ve often been asked to provide grief support to people I already know, and because my grief support has, up until this point, been offered within my role as a counsellor, this has often presented a challenge. Within the counselling registration framework in Australia, counsellors are generally not permitted to offer counselling to someone they already know. There are some exceptions to this rule, but in general, a counsellor isn’t allowed to maintain what is considered a “dual relationship”, for example, being someone’s counsellor and also being a friend.

I completely understand why this rule exists, and it makes sense in the majority of contexts. It is important for clear boundaries to be maintained in most circumstances, especially when working with people experiencing mental health conditions or needing support with marriage difficulties, family conflict, trauma recovery, and similar situations.

However, grief is different. Grief is a normal human experience, but one that is often very difficult to go through and deserves support. Grief support doesn’t always fit neatly into the more formal setting of a one-on-one counselling model. The counselling framework of goals, modalities, treatment plans and other requirements that are placed upon us in the role of registered counsellor don't always align with the type of grief support people need. For me, the restrictions around who I could support and how to engage in that support began to feel limiting.

I want my grief support to be able to flow organically, whether that’s in a one-on-one conversation, a group environment, or when I’m sitting with a family following the loss of their loved one. Releasing my counselling registration allows me to step into a new paradigm of support options, one that feels more flexible and aligned with how I wish to support people through their grief.

Another important reason for this change is accessibility. By stepping away from my registration (and the expenses of maintaining it), I’ve been able to reduce my session fee. I’m now able to offer my grief support sessions at the same rate as my end-of-life doula sessions, which feels clearer, more accessible, and more flexible.

Although I’ve let go of the official title of “Counsellor,” I will continue to bring my counselling skills and experience into my role as a Death and Grief Doula. The role of a doula involves being of service, and the heart of my work hasn’t changed. The space I hold for you is filled with compassion, authentic empathy, deep listening, and non-judgmental presence.

So, I’m here for you at whichever stage of your end-of-life journey or grief experience you are at. If you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal or life-limiting illness, or you are caring for someone who is unwell, I’m here. If you are preparing your advance care documents or sitting with someone who is actively dying, please reach out. If you are grieving a loved one who died yesterday or decades ago, let’s talk.

I’ve updated my website to reflect the change in my title to Death and Grief Doula. I’m still offering in-person sessions on the Sunshine Coast and online sessions for people across Australia.

I look forward to being of service in a more flexible, accessible, and aligned way moving forward. Michelle xx