Meet Drs Bowers and Kennedy
Go to NDIS Services Contact Page
We provide Telehealth online direct to your home – NDIS funded services. Yes we are fully NDIS Registered and Certified. We use the behaviour support, therapy assessment, and counselling funding line items.
We often work with complex cases that combine multiple disabilities with mental health and medically determined conditions. We are also registered in early childhood intervention where we help parents with younger ones from our many years of experience as specialist therapists, educators, and coaches.
We help many single mothers. We work with family and staff capacity and training. We create tailored case-based online modules to assist specific cases where funding permits. Our work includes behaviour support planning and autism support.
We also work with gaming therapy and autism social skills development. Innovative gaming therapy provides a medium and environment where a person with autism and social and/or sensory sensitivities can engage more freely and build rapport with the therapist over time. This positive person centred experience can provide a bridge to build skills and capacities that can be translated to other areas of daily life and relationships.
Contact Us
We consult online telehealth across Australia.
We are a small and beautiful service.
We provide you with direct access to two highly qualified senior therapists.
Contact Us
We consult Tues-Thurs 10-4
We intentionally keep no admin staff on phones for higher quality contact with our clients.
If we can answer you get Dr Bowers or Dr Kennedy directly.
But please leave a message.
YouTube Channel @AwakenAbility
We launched an audio podcast in 2023. A year later, we moved to video on YouTube @AwakenAbility Channel. We’ve committed for one year to publishing weekly to share our wisdom and teachings with others. We’ll gauge the response and utility of the efforts. Please come and join our YouTube Community and subscribe, like, and hit the bell for notifications.
Donation
Dr Bowers and Dr Kennedy very often work volunteer to tirelessly support clients and public education. To support us shout a coffee or donation (not tax deductible). Thanks!
A$20.00
Introducing our Sister Website AwakenAbility.com
Programs, Courses & Training Website
+ Boutique Private Coaching & Therapy Consultations
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AwakenAbilityPodcast S2 E3 Embracing Light in Shadows
Welcome to E3 of season two in 2024. Just to up the crazy bits we’ve moved to YouTube @AwakenAbility Channel. We ask you to please join our YT Channel as we need a subscriber community to keep this project going. We no longer supply a transcript on these pages as you can get the Closed…
AwakenAbilityPodcast S2 E2 Ten Signs of Communication Breakdown
Welcome to E2 of season two in 2024. Just to up the funny we’ve moved to YouTube @AwakenAbility Channel. We ask you to join our YT Channel as we need a subscriber community to keep this project going. We no longer supply a transcript on these pages as you can get the Closed Caption from…
AwakenAbilityPodcast S2 E1: Unlocking Your Motivation
Welcome to our new podcast audio season two in 2024. We’ve mapped this season to eight episodes released fortnightly. We hope you enjoy this new audio and visual adventure. Just to confuse everything, during 2024, we have moved to YouTube @AwakenAbility Channel. Hence, the pod is now a vodcast! And the episodes for the audio…
Cookies for Grief, Loss, Trauma, Pain: 10 Therapy Benefits: Loving Memories Sister’s Night Cooking
In this heartfelt video, join Dr. Jo as he reminisces about his late sister and the therapeutic cookies she used to bake. Each bite brings back powerful memories, and Dr. Jo reflects on the ten benefits of these special treats. From the comforting aroma to the nostalgic flavours, these cookies hold a special place in…
Animal Assisted Therapy National Conference Presentation
Earlier today, Dr Joseph had the pleasure to present to the Animal Assisted Therapy Ltd National Conference. This post will include the brief 15 minute video presentation, and the long-form talk of just over 90 minutes for those interested to know more. The paper written for the event has been turned into an ISBN book…
Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E10 Relaxation and Sleep Induction
Welcome to our last episode in season one. We’ve mapped the season to ten episodes released fortnightly. We hope you enjoy this new audio adventure. We have no set plans for season two and we are unsure if we will continue the project – this depends on feedback which appears to be minimal given the…
Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E9 Christmas Celebrations 2023
Welcome to our Christmas Day episode in season one. The music for the Huron Carole is found at the end of the page. We’ve mapped the season to ten episodes released fortnightly. We hope you enjoy this new audio adventure. Below see the full transcript of this episode. To listen to the episode click on…
Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E8 Hypnosis for Surgery and Healing
Welcome to our eighth episode in season one. We’ve mapped the season to ten episodes released fortnightly. We hope you enjoy this new audio adventure. Below see the full transcript of this episode. To listen to the episode click on the audio file below. Also available on, Spotify and Apple. To subscribe to our blog and podcast and…
Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E7.2 Ten Western Meditation Methods, An Introduction
Welcome to our 7.2 episode in season one. We’ve mapped the season to ten episodes released fortnightly. We hope you enjoy this new audio adventure. Below see the full transcript of this episode. To listen to the episode click on the audio file below. Also available on, Spotify and Apple. We have made this special edition as a…
Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E7 Animal Assisted Therapy
Welcome to our seventh episode in season one. We’ve mapped the season to ten episodes released fortnightly. We hope you enjoy this new audio adventure. Below see the full transcript of this episode. To listen to the episode click on the audio file below. Also available on, Spotify and Apple. To subscribe to our blog and podcast and…
Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E6 Q&A Clay Art Therapy and Spirituality
A Q & A with author Dr Joseph R Bowers on his new book Clay Art Therapy and Spirituality
Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E5 Earthing Grounding Being
Integral behaviour support is a person centred and holistic method at the levels of clinical assessment and daily implementation. Here is Part 2 of the Production.
Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E4 Integral Behaviour Support Part 2
Integral behaviour support is a person centred and holistic method at the levels of clinical assessment and daily implementation. Here is Part 2 of the Production.
Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E3 Integral Behaviour Support Part 1
Integral behaviour support is a person centred and holistic method at the levels of clinical assessment and daily implementation. Getting things right is important to making a difference.
Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E2 Empathy’s Profound Mystery
Empathy: Capacity to see and feel beyond surfaces. To awaken life’s most profound mysteries. Join Drs Bowers & Kennedy exploring a world needing a dose of empathy.
Autism Ethics: Mandatory Reading for Parents
Autism can be a controversial area for many reasons. Societal attitudes and beliefs around Autism are still extremely fractured. All in one day, we can encounter people who believe that Autism is a pathology, a scary and/or negative diagnosis, a behavioural problem, and a serious developmental problem to be fixed or that cannot be fixed.…
Ability Awakens Podcast: S1 E1: Belief in Everything
Welcome to our new podcast series for 2023. A full transcript of the show appears below. We have yet to distribute the show to other platforms, so its debut is right here for our dedicated visitors. Listen to the Podcast below. Also available on, Spotify and Apple. Ability Awakens Podcast S1 E1 Belief in Everything Transcript: Ability…
ABC National Radio Show, Soul Search
Dr Joseph Randolph Bowers was interviewed this week by Dr Meredith Lake of Soul Search, an eclectic and innovative show on ABC Radio National that airs on Sundays. To listen to the episode go to this link. Solitude and the Ache for Humans – ABC Radio National. Dr Meredith mistakenly cited an out of print…
Clay Art Therapy and Spirituality
We are overjoyed to share our new book. It is currently available on LULU, just click the link or the image below. You can read the book description below with the image. A personal word on the project. During Covid-19, we engaged a postdoctoral study on clay art therapy and how people make their sense…
NDIS Specialist Behaviour, Spirituality, and Mental Health Assessments
How do we describe and assess functional behavioural capacity, mental health, and spirituality?
No Waiting List for Specialist Behaviour Support via Telehealth
Our current capacity is open to new referrals. This situation can change quickly, and first come first serve. We are two PhD qualified Counselling Psychotherapists who are Registered and Certified Behaviour Specialists with the NDIS Commission. Our practice is via Telehealth direct from your hands and your home to our office in the mountains of…
Specialist Behaviour Support Reviews Can Increase NDIS Funding
Behaviour Support Specialist reviews can effectively address funding issues and in many cases increase funded allocations across a wide range of areas.
Autism Therapy Puppies
Animal Assisted Therapy is now a quite well documented approach in the therapy literature. Animals that engage in therapy include a wide range of creatures from horses to cows to sheep to dogs and cats, fish, dolphins, elephants, and birds. As NDIS therapists we work with dogs, and in our case the dogs we work…
Grief Loss Disability and Behaviour Support: Our Commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II
It is with great personal sadness that we acknowledge publicly the passing of our collective archetypal grandmother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As we reflect on her passing, and we are among those many who have never met her personally, we are at this time deeply aware of how much her death raises grief and…
Cholesterol, Disability, NDIS Behaviour Support and Counselling Clinical Reviews
While the NDIS does not pay for mainstream health and medical reviews, from our holistic perspective as senior specialists in behaviour support and counselling therapies, we take the larger-view on how health issues overlap and create, make worse, or improve disability related issues. In the disability realm, when you are living with chronic life-long conditions…
Long Covid Lifestyle Health Reviews and NDIS
In our role as specialists in assessments, behaviour support, and counselling therapies, we have had clients come forward with “Long Covid” (LC) symptoms that has inspired us to develop a clinical review to help people with the range of symptoms and issues that LC sustains. Research and clinical practice shows that about twenty common symptoms…
Autism and Telehealth Behaviour Support and Counselling
Impressive Positive Outcomes with Telehealth Recent studies are showing that Autism and Telehealth make useful partners. Chen et al (2022) systematically reviewed 112 studies from databases of PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library, that were published in English between the dates of January 2010 to April 1st, 2022. Their study incorporates the largest body…
Australia’s Not-So Hidden Health Crisis
The Australian Counselling Association released a recent report outlining the mental and allied health crisis. The report is short, clear, direct, and worth reading. Every Australian deserves access to mental health care – but sadly, that’s not the reality for everyone. It’s a simple fact that Australians who live in rural and remote areas have…
Endocannabinoid System, Autism, and Disabilities
Radically important information for people with disabilities and mental health issues, with huge implications for holistic health and wellness. What is the Endocannabinoid (EC) System? And what implications does its discovery and utility have for people with many different types of disabilities in Australia? Is this system potentially important in one way or other to…
Medicinal Cannabis, NDIS, Funded Therapy Assessments, Human Rights, Election 2022
As a centre-left individual, and a senior clinician, I am passionate about access and equity in social, health and educational areas. These are core human rights issues. With Australia facing a federal election next month, the moment makes me realise how much both medicalised and legalised cannabis access are in fact human rights issues. The…
Australian Election: Puppy Therapy, Disability Politics, and the Greens
Last year we were very blessed to meet a new furry friend who made last year’s winter eventual. Getting out into the cold of Armidale winter was exhilarating and reconnected us to good old mother nature. It was a fun distraction from pandemic circumstances and otherwise stressful times. Over the months, even as a puppy,…
Climate Anxiety, Behaviour Support, and NDIS
A recent article in the Guardian articulated a phenomenon that I’ve long been aware impacts people’s lives, and that often comes into therapy. Climate anxiety, existential threat to lifestyle, and climate crisis first came to my awareness during a session in Canada. We were consulting from a regional office when a client raised his intense…
War, Art Therapy, Mindfulness, and Healing
This week as the atrocities in Europe mount with overwhelming evidence of crimes against humanity, the tragic circumstances, including the entrenched attitudes of certain European countries who continue to block necessary oil and gas sanctions, simply makes people around the world feel powerless. For people around the world, and here in Australia, we call the…
A Sector in Crisis: Illegal and Unauthorised Restrictive Practices and Neglect
The recent decision of the South Australian Court regarding the case of NDIS participant Ann Marie Smith is reported by ABC News dated 18 March 2022. The ABC says that, “An Adelaide disability support worker has been jailed for more than six years for committing one of the most serious examples of manslaughter by criminal neglect…
Autism, War, and Behaviour Support
The #Ukraine war is devastating. In so many ways. The impact on women and children is completely shocking, disturbing, and traumatic for them and for everyone with a heart and mind. Many commentators have said how this particular war is more televised, and more photographed, than any war in history. The war enters into our…
Lifestyle Medicine and NDIS Funded Therapy and Behaviour Support
Dr Bowers and Dr Kennedy are members of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. Continuing to lead the professions of Counselling and applied Lifestyle and Integral Behaviour Support, Dr Bowers is on the path to becoming a Fellow of the Society. According to their site, “The ASLM Fellowship is conceptually based on a Masters degree…
The Path to Peace
My nephew asked me this morning, “Uncle have you been raising the sacred peace-pipe lately?” My reply was, “Nephew when we walk the Good Red Road of peace, we become the sacred medicine pipe.” Peace is a Way of Being Peace is not only an external force in nature and relationships. Peace is an internal…
Transgender, Sexuality, Identity, and NDIS
Over many years we have worked as specialist educators, therapists, and researchers in the areas of culture, identity, sexuality, gender, and spirituality-as-meaning-making. My first major research project was conducted back in the 1990s during a Masters of Education Counselling degree, and focused on bisexual and gay men’s experiences of religion. The project reveals the complex…
We Stand With Ukraine
The cost of human suffering in war is simply beyond beyond. We are long time advocates for human rights. We have upheld and practiced for 30+ years in person centred supports and allied health therapies. Our research and tireless efforts have sought to uphold human dignity in health care, counselling, and disability services. We have…
Services Update and Covid-19: March 2022
Health and Safety with Behaviour Support and Counselling Australians have an odd, confused, and mixed attitude to health precautions. We see this mostly because the message from government remains clouded; and without speaking with one voice the messaging will never be clear. Our service however is very clear in our approach. At this turn where…
Trimming the Bits – Pottery Meditation
A meditation on life’s changes and human development with Dr Joseph R Bowers. I am a counsellor psychotherapist to learn more visit our website http://www.abilitytherapyspecialists.com.au In future we will create and launch a new site as well at http://www.reddurt.com.au however we need some time to work out the details. The vision is to offer pottery…
Centering in Life – Pottery Meditations
This brief meditation provides the beauty and challenge of clay centering on the potter’s wheel and how this symbolises and represents centering of the person, heart and mind. Dr Joseph R Bowers provides the narrative voiceover.
Behaviour Support, Therapy, NDIS, Disability, Covid-19, Vaccination and Future Planning
Given all focus right now on Covid-19 lock downs in New South Wales, we offer this update on our services for NDIS participants and others seeking private therapy and counselling support. While we are a small team of two senior and doctoral qualified specialists our clients come to us from regional NSW and from other…
Homophobia and Healing: Psychotherapy and the Psychology of Prejudice
New book by Dr Joseph Randolph Bowers We are pleased this title has finally seen the light of day, as it has been delayed during Covid-19, and was in the works for many years. Below is the abstract book information. Click on the image to go to the sales page. With over thirty years of…
Clay, Art Therapy, NDIS, and Covid Isolation
Clay and culture go hand in hand, literally and in every other way. Clay sculptures date back over 10,000 years. In relative terms, even the Bible is young when it comes to the subterranean origins of the name Adam, meaning of the earth or made of clay. Clay works both express and facilitate culture and…
Animal Assisted Canine Therapy in Behaviour Support and Counselling in Australia: NDIS Funded Dog Assisted Reviews in Autism and Intellectual Disability
This post attaches a recent paper written to evaluate Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), particularly with trained therapy dogs in cases of Autism, Intellectual Disability, and in early, middle, and late childhood intervention contexts.
I Can’t… but you can…
I can’t, she said. Her Elder touches her face and says, the root word there, my dear, is ‘can’ followed by the contrary ‘not’… Can comes first. And you can always untie the knot with a little help from a friend.
Person Centred Values in Positive Behaviour Support
Welcome to another video release from Ability Therapy Specialists. Please like and share, and subscribe to the channel. This week, and for Easter, we share our passion for person centred practice as a form of values and culture. This very deep philosophy is part of and integral to positive behaviour support. People with Autism really…
Positive Behaviour Support and Counselling
Positive Behaviour Support and Counselling are our passion and we are very excited to offer this video introduction. We work under the NDIS in Australia.
Aged Care and Behaviour Support for NDIS Participants
The NDIS Commission has announced new arrangements for NDIS Participants living within aged care that have enormous implications for individuals but also the aged care systems and cultures in Australia. As specialists in behaviour support but more so as advocates for human rights and person centered positive and strength based practices, we welcome these changes…
In the Trenches – The Development of ‘Behaviour Support Essentials’ Course
The year 2020, wow! What a ride! So much is said about this year, we are all a bit sick of it really. So what is happening at the moment? Springtime! Yipee! Lots of sun and a bit more rain for some of us, and more than we like for others. New projects? We started…
Signing PDFs for Remote Rural Clients of Behaviour Support and Counselling
Hi there, we have found the increase in telehealth usage not surprising during the Covid-19 situation. Though we now offer telehealth as our core business, we also are learning new ways to make small things a bit easier. Like signing a PDF document? How many times do you get a doc from a provider or…
Telehealth Counselling and Behaviour Therapies – A Reflection on Change
2020 is turning out to be a stellar year for change, upheaval, and disruption on many levels. Covid-19, bush fires, economic downturns, massive unemployment, global unrest, even the emergence of a new cold war between superpowers making indirect, direct, and real impact on our lives. Learning to cope with change is not easy for anyone.…
Changes to Services under Covid-19
Due to addressing the health crisis we have moved all clinical services to online and telehealth models. As you might appreciate, the many major changes happening every day in Australia are taking time to process not only for our service but in the case of each of our clients. We have been helping clients to…
Receiving NDIS clinical services during the coronovirus covid-19 behaviour support and counselling therapies – a new book launch!
Well before the health outbreak of Covid-19 we were taking steps to move our service model into telehealth methods. It just happened that when we were ready to complete the published book, lodge the ISBN number, and provide public access to the book – the virus outbreak was escalating this past week across NSW and…
Free Ebook on Telehealth Clinical Services in Australia: How Telehealth Works and Its Effectiveness in the Context of Specialist Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Behaviour Support
In the context of Coronovirus Covid-19 we launch this book that actively seeks to provide greater access to behaviour support and counselling therapies via online systems in Australia and for NDIS participants. This book was written just before the health crisis broke the news, because it just makes sense to provide online clinical services via…
Counselling and Behaviour Support via Telehealth Online During The Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Special Public Health Notice: The declared outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) places us all on alert. Please let us know by phone if you have any of the following signs: If you have a fever – – – – Sore throat – – – – Shortness of breath. Please think ahead and cancel your appointment.…
Telehealth Online Behaviour Support and Counselling Psychotherapy
Having taught for many years at a few of Australia’s premier universities offering distance education, and having worked in therapy for even longer via distance technologies and across countries, our practice naturally embraces this form of consultation. Even more so, working in the New England North West that spans over 400 km in each direction,…
Spiritual Values and Behaviour Support
At first glance and broadly speaking, specialist behaviour support within the NDIS and Australian context is based in western secular science and particularly with insights that come from a long tradition of psychiatry, medicine, psychology, education, and counselling psychotherapy. From these traditions arise bodies of knowledge that inform and guide positive person centred behaviour support.…
What is Diagnosis?
To many of us, a diagnosis is a label that is used to name a condition, disability, illness, or capacity. This meaning makes diagnosis a noun, and all too often a person, a place, or a thing. While there is no doubt that a label might be useful to help us get medical or other…
Behaviour Support in New England NSW
Our service extends from Armidale to Inverell. Many of our clients hail from Inverell and we enjoy visiting the beautiful community as often as possible. Travel costs are reduced when we can book in two to four clients in one day visit, and then each participant shares the travel which is three hours return from…
Neuropsychotherapy Basics
Regionally people suggest that it is difficult to find therapy assistance with adults suffering from Aquired Brain Injury or Traumatic Brain Injury. Most specialists at this level seem to be based in larger cities and/or in Sydney NSW. At the local level, over several years we have been consulting periodically with people who seek out…
YouthMentalHealth NYC!23Sept
Press Release from the Global Coalition on Youth Mental Health We are thrilled to announce our featured speakers for the upcoming YMentalHealth? | Our Future Depends on It event in New York City on Monday, September 23. Youth advocates will take the mic to dialogue on the growing impact of mental illness and call for…
Mothers, Therapy, and Behaviour Support
Because our work in behaviour support and counselling therapies is family-focused, and because we work with parents and their child with a disability, we find that mothers come forward quite often and attend therapy with their child. For the mom, this is an opportunity to learn about therapy and to work with the therapist. Many…
Refuge as Therapy, Therapy as Refuge
Welcome. Each moment is precious. Welcome to your moment. Be here now, with the fullness of your heart. Take this moment to breathe… breathe in… out… Take feeling – how are you going right now? What is arising for you? In you? In the you of you? Are you, the littler you, overwhelmed? If so,…
Buddhist Wisdom and Psychotherapy
Among the many paths contained within the two-legged sentient world, today especially in Australia we can acknowledge great diversity! As such, one can consider the range of cultural and spiritual wisdom traditions as part of one humanity. In many ways, perhaps more ways than any other perspective, there are indeed connections and harmonies created by…
Y7 Call to Action 2019, June 9-13 Paris G7 Summit
The G7 or Group of Seven nations includes, “Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These countries, with the seven largest IMF-described advanced economies in the world,[1] represent 58% of the global net wealth ($317 trillion).[2] The G7 countries also represent more than 46% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) based on nominal values, and more than 32% of the global GDP based on purchasing power parity.[3] The European…
Hypnotherapy and Mindfulness
Hypnotherapy and mindfulness go hand-in-hand. This approach provides skills and awareness that anyone can benefit from, which are part of universal human functions of the body-mind-heart. Hypnotherapy is a form of psychotherapy, meaning the approach works with the body-mind-self to assist individuals to achieve personal outcomes across many health, relationship, and lifestyle related goals. Hypnotherapy…
Whole-istic Health and Behaviour Support
Many people ask, what is behaviour support? At the most basic levels, therapeutic behaviour support provides assessment and practical options for assisting with behaviours of concern. Naturally, we ask, what are concerning behaviours? In common sense terms, these are anything that people do that causes high levels of concern – such as self harming, other…
Youth Mental Health – 2018 in Review
As a member of the Global Coalition on Youth Mental Health, ATS Pty Ltd was proud to assist with the shout outs on the G7 Summit happening overseas. The collective efforts of membership helped to influence inclusion of Youth Mental Health on the global agenda. Fascinating and insightful, from our view, that the Summit’s leadership…
New Free 2019 Ability-Diversity Multicultural Calendar by ATS Pty Ltd
We are happy to provide you with free download of our new 2019 Ability-Diversity Multicultural Calendar. The 2019 Ability-Diversity Multicultural Calendar is a project of Ability Therapy Specialists Pty Ltd and Earth Rattle Publishing. You can print this calendar in A4 Paper Size, or other paper size adjustments on your computer or printer. Many of…
Restrictive Practices Update in Light of NDIA Commission Developments
The NDIS Commission launched 1 July 2018 with new standards for behaviour support. In NSW we have entered into a joint agreement that fits our standards within the umbrella determined by the Commission. This means a few changes to NSW Policy and Practice. To read more and learn about the changes, click on the links.…
Specialist Behaviour Support
NDIA Commission Lauch 1 July 2018 The new financial year brings new government oversight of behaviour support. In NSW where we are based, the state system has now fully transitioned (more or less) to the new national system. This means that disability service providers will face new regulations and standards for behaviour support practice. The…
Finding Your Path in Life
One of the amazing parts of counselling psychotherapy is when a person is seeking where they belong. We feel lost, afraid, alone, stressed out, and even desperate. But only one sleep can change all that. We honestly never know what is around the corner. Life is actually a massive adventure, and we have no idea…
Mental Health 101
So many people talk about “mental health” nowadays… but the simple truth is that dealing with the illness side of mental health can be extremely challenging. Therapists and clinicians, doctors and nurses, psychologists and counsellors, also deal with mental health and illness in their personal lives. I remember as a young Counsellor in training one…
Psychometric and Educational Assessments
ATS offers a range of psychometric and educational assessments upon request. This post is dated and will not be revised in future. To see a more up to date list visit the page on this topic found via a link on the site menu. The following tests and assessments we may be able to provide.…
Restrictive Practices and NDIS Part 2
Essentially, when the states hand over certain controls of the disability sector to the #NDIS, existing standards for safety, dignity, and human rights once covered by state policies will translate to national standards. For example, the NSW Behaviour Support Policy and Practice Guide. The assumption is that existing standards will actually remain if not become…
Restrictive Practices and NDIS
Behaviour support in Australia has evolved in significant ways over the past five years. The NDIS has created a new social, political, and legal environment. One of the areas of most significant change is around restrictive practices. On one hand, the disbanding of state based systems in some states like NSW has left some with…
Insidious Travel Distance, NDIS Behaviour Support, and Regional Australia
Access, choice, and control in regional Australia and across northern NSW relies on stronger travel policies that take large distances into account. For example, in the New England North West of NSW it is extremely common to rely on services by travelling from one regional centre to another – especially to see a specialist service.…
From Behaviour Support to Trauma Counselling
ATS are NDIS Registered Providers, and we do private work with a wide range of clients. The NDIS allows participants of the Scheme to access our services under the guidelines of funding. We have developed a number of tailored solutions for people with disabilities and mental health concerns. As specialists in this area our work…
Australian Counselling and Psychotherapy
People from around the world ask me whether there is a distinct form of Australian counselling and psychotherapy. My response is immediately, yes! Over the past three decades my work has brought me to many conferences. Over time presenting and doing keynotes has given me a unique perspective. Teaching counselling training at universities, and maintaining…
Who Comes from Where?
Our service is based in beautiful Armidale. But we find that our clients come from all over the New England and now from Coffs Harbour and Mid North Coast. We have had several from Tenterfield in the North. To the West we see people from as far as Moree. The South brings people from beyond…
Inverell Community Clinic
Ability Therapy Specialists begins this Monday providing a fortnightly clinic in Inverell focused on participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. We are hosted by Inverell’s own Individual Ability Supports (IAS). We also have participants coming via other organisations like Brighter Access. If you know of people interested in attending the clinic, the way to…
Importance of Independent Behaviour Support
So many people rely on professional supports. We all need doctors, nurses, therapists of many disciplines, and specialists. Yet in disability support many still accept in house practitioners for behaviour support and counselling. Even though these fields are highly specialist – or should be… the complexity of therapy in disability and mental health really requires…
Year End Reflections for 2017
Looking at 2017, many changes and developments followed just as many challenges and accomplishments. Ability Therapy Specialists (ATS) had its first year in full time practice. We have growth to include two practitioners, one full time, the other engaged part time. Our clients come from privately paid requests, government paid services under the NDIS, corporate…
GLBTI2S Couple and Marriage Counselling – Video
On the cusp of Australia’s revealing the results of our postal vote on same sex civil marriage, show host Dr Joseph Randolph Bowers discusses the dynamic of professional supportive counselling and psychotherapy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Two Spirit couples, marriages, and families. His message is profound and provocative. Intentional relationships and families…
Ask A Therapist Episode 6 Couple Counselling vs Mediation? What is Available for Couples?
Episode 6 What is Available for Couples? looks at the enrichment-to-counselling-to-psychotherapy-to-mediation-to-litigation spectrum in couple relationship services. With five areas on the spectrum Dr Bowers offers couples a realistic view on how to seek help depending on their needs at the moment. https://youtu.be/dYX3q0KVUXs
Ask A Therapist Episode 4 What is “Ability” AKA “Ability” Therapy Specialists
Episode 4 What is “Ability” explores this amazing word and what this means for people today – and what it can mean for you… https://youtu.be/gyofwC2Kvcw
Ask A Therapist Episode 3 Workplace Stress – Help Please?
Episode 3 Workplace Stress looks at the natural ways we can work with our mind for a change, to de-stress, and find a new perspective. https://youtu.be/mX9nE8exVKs
Ask A Therapist Series Episode 2 What is Intellectual Ability?
“Episode 2 What is Intellectual Ability?” covers the cognitive intellectual and adaptive social skills and capacities that people have. This is huge! https://youtu.be/FyJKhntp_zM
Ask A Therapist Video Series, Episode 1 What is Intellectual Disability?
“Ask a Therapist” Video Series is based on participant’s questions and topics of interest. “Episode 1 What is Intellectual Disability?” covers the cognitive intellectual and adaptive social aspects of Intellectual Disability. Dr Joseph Randolph Bowers is our host to this question and answer series. Questions are welcome please send them by email via the Contact…
Essentials of Behaviour Support – From NDIS Provider Ability Therapy Specialists in Armidale New England NSW
Behaviour Support begins with your goals, strengths, and skills. Goals come from two places. The first is personal feelings. This is how you feel about your life and what you want to do. The second is social feelings. This is how others feel about your life and what others want for you and with you.…
Patterns and Perfection
Nature patterns and builds in dys-function to offset atrophy and create opportunity for variation in a species. Imperfections are part of the pattern of perfection even in the most elegant and perfect of systems where observation needs greater detail and precision to pick up the imperfect variation.
Behaviour Support and Counselling Psychotherapy
In many western countries, Behaviour support is traditionally the domain of disability support services that evolved over several generations from the days when families supported their children and banded together to form volunteer associations. The needs they carried attracted the attention of many different professionals. Over time society shifted away from centralised institutions, where behaviour…
Interview with Dr Joseph Randolph Bowers
This interview was recorded by a colleague who wanted to remain unnamed. They gathered this information to share in their organisation. Dr Bowers, may I call you Joseph? Yes, no worries. Joseph, why did you create Ability Therapy Specialists (ATS)? About three years ago now, the NSW government and the commonwealth moved forward with plans…
Solitude, Mysticism, and Spiritual Growth: Retrospective Christian Texts by Dr Joseph Randolph Bowers
Solitude, Mysticism, and Spiritual Growth: Retrospective Christian Texts by Dr Joseph Randolph Bowers A study in western mysticism based in medieval, ecological, and eremitic contemplative practice. Historic foundations for solitude and spiritual growth from postmodern psychotherapeutic perspectives with metaphors of enduring value. Work written over a 30 year time frame. A personal but social and…
New Title – Counselling LGBTI+, First Nation, and Two Spirit: Queer and Indigenous Identity for Helpers and Healers
Click here to go to purchase page: Counselling LGBTI+, First Nation, and Two Spirit: Queer and Indigenous Identity for Helpers and Healers Counselling needs to be culturally grounded or infused to be ethical and of high quality. Practitioners need to grow in relationships of trust over years within Indigenous and/or multicultural settings. One size fits…
The Politics of Faith: A Psychotherapist’s Critical Reflection on ‘Lumen Fidei’ Light of Faith by Pope Francis
The Politics of Faith: A Psychotherapist’s Critical Reflection on ‘Lumen Fidei’ Light of Faith by Pope Francis Critically reflecting on Pope Francis encyclical letter to the faithful of the Roman Catholic world ’Lumen Fidei’ that was published during June 2013, Dr Joseph Randolph Bowers brings over thirty years of community based practice, reflection, and advanced…
Homophobia and the everyday mechanisms of prejudice: Findings from a qualitative study, Dr Joseph Randolph Bowers
During a time when overt and often militant homophobia is actually on the increase and resistance to LGBTI+ human rights including to equal access to marriage under secular civil law, this ebook is both timely and shows how little yet how far we have come over the past 20+ years. This is a pivotal and…
Wholistic applications of counselling with the aging in dialogue with pastoral care concerns: A postmodern and transcendental analysis, Ebook by Dr Joseph Randolph Bowers
Exploring notions of aging during the early years of increasing awareness of population trends gave rise to many research and professional initiatives. Twenty+ years into this mix, this ebook reflects on the trends and philosophic issues by reminding us of the human element – the pastoral, personal, and familial element. Timely and effective for today…