Chris (Aka "Savvy") is the founder, and principal Counsellor at Savvy Counselling & Consulting. He has his own lived expereince of poor mental health, and went through a process called "Post Traumatic Growth" as part of his recovery. This is when someone goes through a tough time, but does not want to waste the experience, and instead learns from it, and uses that expereince and real life knowledge to help others on their own journey.
Chris "Savvy" - Founder of Savvy
Counselling and Consulting
Citizen of the Year award recipiant 2020.
Savvy combines his lived experience knowledge with his Counselling training, and evidence based modalities to provide a unique understanding and service that could help you manage your mental health.
Savvy has been working in community mental health since 2018, and became a qualified Counsellor in 2022, with a mission to understand the theory side of psychology to compliment his practical skills. He was named Citizen of the Year in 2020 for his community work in suicide prevention, and has helped protect the lives of many hills residents from suicide. Savvy is also a leader in the Peer Support space and understands the importance of lived experience within the helping services, and the powerful perspective it brings.
In a very short amount of time, Savvy's Counselling experience has spanned from the Adelaide hills, to the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and even to Christmas Island. Being a passionate Suicide Prevention advocate, Savvy was an RUOK Ambassador for 5 wonderful years, talking to hundreds of Australians, and educating them about the power of a conversation, and how it could save a life.
Savvy has expereince of working with people of all ages, and from various different cultural backgrounds, but he really enjoys working with adolescents and young people.
"There is currently a shortage of male Counsellors and Mentors to guide our youth and young adults, so hopefully I can assist them in making a positive start at a vital time in their developing life". - Savvy
Savvy's lived expereince of poor mental health was brought on by a previous workplace that had a toxic culture. Having experienced this, and now armed with the knowledge to impliment real positive change within an organisation, Savvy offers wellbeing consulting and collective coaching to improve the psychological health & safety within your work place.
Savvy holds: Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC)
- A Diploma in Counselling
- A Major in Grief and Loss Counselling
- A Major in Family Therapy
-A Mayor in Mindfulness based Therapies
Other:
- Cert 4 in Lived Expereince Peer Support (Consumer & Carer)
- A Diploma of Public Services
- WWC check,
- Police check
- Working with Vulnerable persons
check
- Qualified First Aider.
- Psychological First Aid
- Safe Enviroments, Working with children through their eyes training.
- Lived experience of Poor Mental Health
Community Feedback
"Chris does an incredible service for our community. We are lucky to have him".
" Your Passion for helping others is evident in everything you do. Your steadfast committment is admirable".
"Your caring, constructive and gentle guidence with follow up is a testament to your abilities and character. Thank you."
" It's so good to talk to a guy about my issues and I was heard and not judged".