Paul Hammat OAM

People come to me when something important isn't working — and when they're ready to actually do something about it.

That might be a long-standing pattern they can't shift. A relationship under serious strain. A workplace injury that's taken more than a physical toll. A career that no longer fits who they are. A grief that won't move. Or simply a growing sense that life is out of alignment with who they know themselves to be.

I've been working in this field for over 18 years. In that time, I've worked with individuals at every stage of adult life, with couples navigating some of the most difficult seasons a relationship can face, with professionals seeking the kind of supervision that actually sharpens their practice, and with organisations that want more than a mental health policy — they want a culture that supports real wellbeing.

My approach is direct, honest, and grounded. I bring genuine warmth to the work, and I also bring a willingness to name what's happening in the room when it needs to be said — including things that might be uncomfortable to hear. Good therapy is not about feeling good in every session. It's about moving toward something real.

Background

• ✦ Order of Australia Medal (OAM)Awarded in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to counselling and community wellbeing.
• ✦ PACFA Registered Clinical CounsellorRegistered with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) at Clinical level — the highest tier of registration available under the federation's framework. Clinical registration requires advanced training, significant supervised practice hours, and ongoing professional development.
• ✦ PACFA Certified SupervisorAccredited to provide professional clinical supervision to counsellors and other helping professionals. Supervision certification requires specialist training beyond clinical registration and demonstrates competence in supporting practitioners through the reflective, ethical, and developmental dimensions of their work.
• ✦ Mental Health First Aid Australia — Licensed InstructorAccredited to deliver the nationally recognised MHFA training program to workplaces and organisations across Australia.
• ✦ Master of Social Science (Counselling)University of South Australia — postgraduate clinical training providing the academic and practical foundation for evidence-informed therapeutic practice.

Additional training and professional development across trauma-informed practice, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, existential approaches, and workplace wellbeing.

How I Work

I don't use a single method applied uniformly. My work is integrative — drawing on the approach that is most relevant to you, your situation, and what you're trying to achieve.

What is consistent across all my work:

• I take your situation seriously. I come prepared and fully present to every session. Your time and your trust matter.
• I work collaboratively. You are not a passive recipient of a treatment. You are an active participant in your own growth. I'll work with you, not at you.
• I am direct. I will offer honest observations, including ones that might challenge your current thinking. Therapy that only validates isn't therapy — it's expensive agreement.
• I hold you to the work. Change happens in your life, not just in the session. I'll support you to carry the work between appointments.
• I maintain clear ethical and professional standards. Confidentiality, professional boundaries, and rigorous self-reflection through my own supervision are non-negotiable parts of my practice.

Areas of Practice

Professional Memberships & Affiliations

• PACFA — Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified Supervisor)
• Mental Health First Aid Australia (Licensed Instructor)
• WorkSafe Victoria (Registered Counselling Provider)

Location & Availability

In person: Keilor, Melbourne

Online: Telehealth sessions available across Australia

A free 15-minute consultation is available to explore whether my approach is the right fit for what you're facing.

A Note on This Work

I've been doing this long enough to know that good therapy is rarely comfortable, always demanding, and completely worth it when the conditions are right — a practitioner you can trust, a relationship built on honesty, and a genuine commitment from both sides to do the work.

If you're ready for that, I'd like to hear from you.