I lived with abuse from a very young age and decided in my early-50s to seek real healing for the broken and lost parts of me. It was a long and painful journey, took many years and cost a lot of money, but there are no regrets.
I was fortunate to find a Godly, gracious and good therapist, who always kept God in the centre of the picture.
My name is Barb Wilkinson, and I’m a long-time member of CCAA. At 81, I still enjoy counselling clients several days a week in my home office, in Sydney’s north-west. I live with Vern, my husband of 56 years, and our small white poodle Molly.
During my 40s-50s I was a receptionist in a medical practice and undertook various courses: hospital chaplaincy, couples’ counselling and individual counselling. From 1997, I worked in administration at Wesley Institute.
I eventually enrolled in the counselling program, and several years later joined the staff in the School of Counselling. In 2003, aged 60, I graduated with an MA in counselling.
I believe counselling is something of an art and it’s an ongoing privilege to work in this space. Without fail, God works with me. It’s sometimes hard, but never a lonely task. I come away from work days grateful for my own journey and aware I don’t have all the answers.
Our lived experience is incredibly rich material for counsellors. I’m grateful I undertook personal therapy before supporting others on their individual pathway towards healing. After 23 years working as a therapist and clinical supervisor I’m able to draw on myriad stories in some way, walking with clients who all have a different story to tell.
I’ve come to believe God calls people who have, or will develop, the capacity to walk alongside another on their lonely, unknown road. Walking alongside with care, grace and without judgement.
Beginning early-2000s, I travelled many times to Uganda with Graham Barker (Wesley’s Head of School), Paula Davis, Julie Marshall, Val Steele, Barb Camp and others. The country was beginning to recover from years of terror-driven warfare.
We counselled community workers, pastors, teachers and nurses, many of them relating horrific stories of abuse and murder. But we also heard remarkable stories of God’s grace and intervention. Uganda was a life-changing experience for us all.
CCAA has supported me professionally for some 20 years. The association would not have survived without the initial and consistent presence of Graham Barker, with stalwart support from Cliff Powell and others. Moreover, for some years now, CCAA has remained relevant and innovative thanks to the tireless work of Vicky Hamey and others on the CCAA team.
Vern and I spend many hours happily reading and listening together. Mahler and Father Bach are our current top of the pops! We also play a lot of music together – him on trumpet, me on piano. I’m an ardent knitter and am always looking for “extra” time to pick up my watercolour brushes.
There’s a lot to fit into a day!