Welcome to another edition of Counselling Australia!

As we move into the final quarter of 2025, and towards another new year, this issue of the magazine showcases some of the diverse experiences found within counselling practice, particularly those that span the personal-professional divide.

Firstly, two of our contributors explore the complexity of living with neurodiversity, with Kerynn Fotiou’s first-person piece on raising children on the autism spectrum as a parent and counsellor, to Stefanie Hagger’s reflection on the textbook diagnosis of ADHD compared to the everyday experiences of clients.

We are also excited to introduce two features on counselling clients with multicultural and diverse religious experiences. Prabha Srinivasan explores incorporating religious beliefs held by a client (but not shared by the practitioner) into therapeutic practice, and writes: “How we integrate clients’ understanding of faith within session has deep connections to client outcomes”. Next, Junhaoran (Oliver) Li writes about dealing with cultural age gap dynamics in older Chinese clients, and explores how concepts within Chinese culture can aid in building trust, professionalism and a thriving therapeutic dynamic.

In addition, this edition features worthwhile research on problem gambling behaviours and appropriate therapeutic modalities by Evdokimos (Tucker) Christou, as well as insights into the neuroscience of dopamine-chasing sexual behaviours by Beverly Dales.

Readers interested in a life’s work in mental health will find a Q&A with the ACA’s Lifetime Achievement award winner, Dr Peter Richard-Herbert, on over 40 years of clinical learning in psychotherapy, counselling and working across the private and corporate sectors of practice. Dr Richard-Herbert’s reflections on thousands of hours with clients, and the changing nature of the counselling profession, are worthwhile reading for any practitioner.

Finally, the date for the next ACA Symposium and Counselling Excellence Awards has been set for 28 May 2026. We hope to see you all gathered in Melbourne for this incredibly special event.

Counselling Australia’s next edition will be published in February 2026 – until then, we wish all our members a safe and happy Christmas and holiday period.

The ACA Team