Hi, I'm Wathnak VY
Wathnak is a registered counsellor and clinical psychotherapist accredited and registered with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and a private holistic approach clinician for Salisbury Counselling, an international mental health counselling services based in Australia. The first Cambodian-born counsellor registered with the International Association for Counselling.
As the first registered ACA Khmer speaking counsellor and a psychotherapist in Australia, he has many years of experience providing clinical services for people from all walks of life, especially from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. As a graduate from the top 1% university worldwide, the University of Adelaide (UOA) and a prestigious international private university in Australia, the Torrens University (TU), Adelaide, Wathnak is a strong believer in using evidence-based treatment. In order to provide high-quality counselling services to his clients, Wathnak uses many different approaches including person-centred therapy (PCT), motivational interviewing (MI), solution-focused therapy (SFT), cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and behaviour therapy (BT). Background in anthropology, Wathnak views counselling not just a talking therapy, but to understand the core root of the issue, allow the clients to open up, and explore alternative options. He is also proficient in providing group counselling, couple counselling and family therapy using reflective practice. Wathnak also believes strongly in continuing education and life-long learning. Currently, Wathnak is continually changing the lives of many community members in Australia through his face-to-face counselling, eCounselling, presents public talks, facilitates workshops while volunteers his time assisting a grassroots community project, ‘Untangle: A Mental Health Project’ back in Cambodia, and continuing inspired diverse young people across Australia and Cambodia on the topic of mental health. In the field of Mental Health, Wathnak was awarded the 2021 Australian Day Leadership in Languages and Cultures Award by His Excellency The Honourable Hieu Van Le AO, Governor of South Australia; 2021 Young Citizen of The Year by the Adelaide City Council presented by The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Sandy Verschoor; and the top national prestige mental health award - the 2020 Mental Health Youth of The Year by the Mental Health Foundation of Australia. For awards and achievement, please visit the LinkedIn official page: |