Meg Collisson
Lived
Experience
Social
Work
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Lived Experience Social Work ✶
My approach draws on:
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Lived experience expertise
My work both draws on my own lived experience but also on the advocacy and resistance by those within the lived experience movement. My practice acknowledges that people deemed Mad experience ongoing oppression and marginalisation from systems claiming to ‘care’ for us. We experience an ongoing silencing that means our voices are not heard in our own care, and ‘treatment’ is done to us rather than with us.
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Radical social work values
While I love some parts of social work, I recognise that it is built on white supremacy and the ‘saviour complex’ and that it automatically creates a power imbalance between you and I. While I cannot change any of these things, I can practice in ways that attempt to put power back in your hands, by providing support in a way that you want it and in a way that recognises your right to autonomy. I recognise ongoing systemic marginalisation and oppression and aim to push back on systems wherever I can.
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Systems and complexity theory
As someone that was often referred to as a ‘complex client’, I hate the term. I’ve seen it so many times in my career and it makes me want to scream. Complexity does not lie in individual people, we are all human in our own way. Complexity lies in the systems in which we live, work and relate to others. With experience in navigating systems, I aim to support you to make these systems work for you and whatever your circumstances are.
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A range of therapeutic modalities
There’s no one-size fits all therapeutic modality. We’re all unique humans with varying things going on for us. I draw on a range of therapeutic modalities and aim to explore with you what might work for you. I will never push a particular therapy type on you, or put you in a box; you know what works for you better than anybody else. The aim is to take bits and pieces from approaches that align with you and leave behind the parts that you don’t vibe with.
Services
Support for adults experiencing a range of difficulties including navigating suicidal thoughts. Based in Naarm (Melbourne). Telehealth available across ‘Australia’. No referral needed.
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Individual counselling adapted to your wants, needs and neurotype. Meg draws on a range of therapeutic modalities along with lived experience knowledge to walk alongside you on your journey and find what’s right for you and your situation.
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Tailored support with navigating systems designed to meet your individual needs.
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A reflective space for you to explore what your values are - both professional and personal - and how to incorporate those into your social work practice.
*Sliding scale available.
Trauma is systemic and often carried out on an interpersonal level.
I believe that…
Joy is resistance, but it cannot be our only form of resistance.
You know yourself better than anybody else. Nobody has spent a day in your bodymind.
Social media gives terrible advice more often than not.
Harm reduction saves lives.
We heal in relationships with others
Therapy modalities are just tools. Take want you want and leave the rest.
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