WE ARE NOT YOUR AVERAGE THERAPISTS OR COUNSELLORS

While men’s and boys’ mental health is known to be a huge personal, family and societal issue, there are few therapeutic services designed for specifically for men in mind.

Helen and Jon decided to join forces and create a place which offers a suite of services specifically designed for men and their partners.

OUR STORY

Jon and Helen first met in 2018 while co-facilitating groups for men. We would often see men stuck in patterns of avoidance – avoidance of emotions, pain, vulnerability, and responsibility. Men who seek validation, approval, and comfort from something or someone outside of themselves – in women, sex, alcohol and other drugs, work, technology, gambling etc. Often leading to a never-ending chase, looking for security and love in all the wrong places. We saw much pain masked under the guise of addiction.

For most men, the subjects of relationships, love and sexuality are complex, confusing, and sadly covered by a layer of shame. And yet, we see men who long to understand themselves, want to live a meaningful life and be better partners and fathers – but don’t know how.

We have witnessed countless men courageous enough to transform themselves. As they improved their relationship with themselves, they became the catalyst for healthier, more meaningful relationships with others, most importantly, the partners and children in their lives.

Our Story At The Courageous Man, Men's Mental Health Clinic
Our Mission At The Courageous Man, Men's Mental Health Clinic

OUR MISSION

  • To respectfully invite men to connect with their emotions, develop emotional intelligence, and embody a healthy and mature form of masculinity.
  • To support men and women to develop relationship intelligence, and show up as whole people, and equals, in their relationships with their partners, and as parents.

We believe in supporting men to connect deeply with who they are we are helping to break the rigid dichotomy of gender roles and doing our bit to generate societal and cultural change to benefit all here now, as well as future generations.

THE COURAGEOUS MAN

The Courageous Man represents us as value driven people and therapists, committed to our own journeys of growth, rooted in our own values and integrity.

The Courageous Man also represents our interest in personal, relational, cultural, societal, and systemic change.

OUR APPROACH

We are not your average therapists or counsellors.

Our approach is direct, no-nonsense, and sometimes challenging. You might not always like what we have to say however our intention to support you to be the person you want to be. You will experience kindness when we get close to sensitive places, old wounds, and patterns of behaviour that no longer serve. We will cheer you on when things are working.

We work with our clients as whole people including their physical, mental, and spiritual selves, always respecting the individual’s personal journey. We intend to support you to become a self-aware human being, living a fulfilled and purposeful life.

A person who demonstrates integrity, respect, truth, and love within your relationships. We want to support you to feel ‘at home’ within yourself, and in relationships that feel good to come home to.

Our Approach At The Courageous Man, Men's Mental Health Clinic
Our Values At The Courageous Man, Men's Mental Health Clinic

OUR VALUES

Respect: To respect ourselves as unique individuals and the clients that we work with. To promote respect as a core value intrinsic to positive change, including an improved relationship with self and others alike. Respect is the key needed to open many doors.

Truth. Life is easier when we’re honest with ourselves and honest with the people nearest to us. For too many people the risk of telling the truth is too high. Telling the truth means understanding what is true for us, in our hearts, minds, and bodies and expressing it in a way that supports connection. We commit to being truthful and transparent will all the people we work with.

Integrity. We walk the talk. We are committed to our own growth and evolution. We do the work on ourselves as people, partners, parents, and therapists. Our intention is to act with integrity. We make mistakes and we own them. We are committed to acting in accordance with our own values, our intuition.

Equality. We value equality and respect between all human beings.  We are pro-men’s and women’s empowerment. We are pro-children and are pro supporting men to be safe, present and loving fathers. You may find us challenging some gender, family, and cultural beliefs you may not be aware of, which might be getting in the way of true authenticity, connection, and intimacy. We are Humanists.

Love. We value being loving and compassionate to ourselves and showing love and kindness to the people we work with. We will meet you in your dark places with love and compassion. We will lovingly guide you to become the person you want to be.

WHO WE ARE

Meet Helen and Jon, the co-founders of The Courageous Man

ABOUT HELEN

Helen is the co-founder of The Courageous Man. She is a registered psychotherapist, a certified couples & relationship therapist, and holds a master’s degree from the University of NSW. Over the past 15 years Helen has worked with thousands clients and people in all kinds of relationships. She currently sees clients from Australia, Germany, USA, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, to name a few.

Helen is one of four people in Australia who is certified couple’s therapist with the Relational Life Therapy Institute and was trained directly by Terry Real (Home – Relational Life Institute). She is also a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional with Institute of Integrative Sex Therapy Institute in the USA.

Her mission is to people to connect deeply with who they are, helping to break the rigid dichotomy of gender roles, and doing her bit to generate societal and cultural change to benefit all here now, as well as future generations.

Helen over a decade’s worth of experience & training in working with men, including seven years as a group facilitator of Men’s Behaviour Change Groups. She holds a ‘Graduate Certificate in Men’s Behaviour Change and is a trained & experienced facilitator of the ‘Caring Dads’ group program, developed in Canada.

She is also passionate about supporting men to be present as fathers, equals in their intimate relationships, and as parents. Most of all she is passionate about parenting her own two teenage children.

Prior to training as a psychotherapist, Helen spent over a decade working in the social policy and gender equality arena for the United Nations in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, and across the Pacific region. She continues to provide consulting services to non-government organisations.

Her style is warm, gentle, down to earth, and direct. She can be deeply loving and challenging all in the same breath. Helen ‘walks the talk’ and applies what she teaches in her own life.

Helen is a registered member of the Australian Counselling Association.

Summary of Formal Qualifications:

  • Master’s Degree, International Social Development, University of NSW
  • Graduate Diploma Psychotherapy (Gestalt)
  • Certified Couples/ Relationship Therapist, Relational Life Therapy Institute, USA
  • Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional, Institute of Integrative Sex Therapy Institute, USA
  • Certified Somatic Sexology Coach, Institute of Somatic Sexology, Australia (in progress)
  • Graduate Certificate in Men’s Behaviour Change – Individual and Group-work Interventions, Education Centre Against Violence.

Summary of Professional Development courses:

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples
  • Gottman Method for Couples Therapy
  • Gestalt Relational Therapy for Couples, The Relational Institute of Australia
  • Working with Infidelity, The Relational Institute of Australia
  • Compassionate Enquiry, Gabor Mate
  • Internal Family Systems, Dick Swartz
  • Somatic Experiencing, Peter Levine
  • Working with Trauma, The Body Keeps Score, Bessel Van Der Kolk
  • Non-dual psychotherapy, The Relational Institute of Australia

“For as long as I can remember I looked to my relationships with men to find security, love, and acceptance. When I realised I was looking for love in all the wrong places, and I sourced my sense of security and love within myself, my relationships with men changed”

Helen

Jon Farham - Men's Health Therapist - MacMasters Beach, Central Coast, NSW

ABOUT JON

Jon is the co-founder of The Courageous Man. He is a registered counsellor with experience in Alcohol, Drug, and Gambling rehabilitation, as well as Mental Health and Domestic Violence. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science (Psychology) and postgraduate qualifications in Psychology with distinction. Additionally, Jon has qualifications in Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs, and Counselling.

Jon believes in the human ability to bring about significant personal changes through connection (primarily to self), discovering meaning and purpose and living a life of responsibility.

He believes that through a courageous exploration and deeper understanding of ourselves, we can become the catalyst for healthier, more meaningful relationships with others.

Jon’s style is open and inquisitive, judgement-free and respectful, with a “real life” approach to his work with his clients and within life more broadly.

Jon is a registered member of the Australian Counselling Association.

“All I can change is myself, I will place all my energy into doing the next right thing thereby taking responsibility for what I have within my control, myself”

Jon

WHAT CLIENTS SAY

“My husband and I flew from Perth to NSW to do a 2-day Relationship Intensive with Helen and Jon. I was 100% ready to end the marriage. This was our last-ditch effort to salvage our 14-year marriage. We needed someone to be direct with us, cut through the BS, and get the source of our issues, and that’s exactly what Helen and Jon did. It was a great experience in which we felt supported and came out of it with a “new” marriage and the skills to reconnect and rebuild our marriage. The space in which the intensives are held is beautiful. It was of benefit for us to be away from home and the daily stresses of life and work while doing this program. It was a lifesaving, and we will be forever grateful.”

Lesley & Mick, Perth, Australia (Helen & Jon)

“After some failed attempts at therapy, I was very fortunate to have found Helen. Only after a few sessions, Helen has been able to help me view things from an empowering perspective, gain clarity and help process my thoughts and feelings. I find Helen’s approach to be kind, caring, sometimes direct. It doesn’t feel clinical or judgemental like others have.”

Luke, Central Coast, Australia (Helen)

“Jon has been instrumental in helping me achieve greater accountability and ownership over my actions and emotions. Through his compassionate and insightful approach, he has guided me in identifying and expressing the challenges that were holding me back in my daily life. Jon has provided active, practical solutions and encouraged longer-term strategies to improve my mood and overall well-being.His support has helped me reframe my week with purpose, reshape conversations to be more constructive, and foster stronger, more meaningful connections with the people around me. I am deeply grateful for his guidance and the positive impact he has had and continuesto have on my personal growth.”

T.F (Jon)

“I was skeptical about going to therapy but I was in a dark place and I needed help. I’m glad I found Helen. She was easy to talk to and I would leave feeling lighter”

Mark (Helen)

“Jon’s collaborative, practical, accountable, trustworthy, and non-transactional approach to therapy has exceeded everything I felt possible out of therapy. Jon’s ‘real life’ perspective and willingness to relate, creates an environment that allows me to share some of my deepest, darkest topics possible and unpack them. I foresee Jon being a consistent part of my life and future moving forward, and strongly recommend him and his services to anybody in need, regardless of the circumstances or history.”

S.L (Jon)

“My experience doing couples therapy with Helen has been just excellent! Some words to describe Helen and her approach include: compassionate, dedicated, thoughtful, flexible, understanding and fair. She has helped my partner and I to improve our romantic relationship in ways that other therapists haven’t been able to. Thank you”

Rebecca, Sydney, Australia (Helen)

“My sessions with Jon have been invaluable in helping unpack my thoughts and feelings around things that were causing distress in my everyday life. I’ve found it extremely helpful to have someone impartial to speak to who has experience in matters of the heart and head, and have found Jon’s approach to be thoughtful and encouraging. Jon is the first counsellor I have seen and I feel quite fortunate to have found someone who is such a good fit for my mental health needs.”

M.R (Jon)

“We were both amazed and impressed by how accurately Helen pinpointed what we needed to work on and could not stop rambling about how wonderfully understanding you were and how beneficial the session was. Already, things are much more stable and open than they were, and we’re so grateful to you. We’ll be recommending your services to anyone who asks!”

I&J The Entrance, NSW, Australia (Helen)

“I would highly recommend Helen for couple’s therapy. Her honest, open, and straightforward approach allowed us to be more open with each other. It wasn’t always easy, but she was warm, calm, and easy to talk to.”

Leanne F, Newcastle (Helen)

“Over the three months I saw Helen my life and attitude towards life began to change. Not only was she a person I could open up to, she was also someone who could help me deal with my demons I had deep down within myself. She helped me let go a lot of traumas which I hadn’t looked at in a very long time. Helen helped me become a better partner and father. I am proud to say I am in a better place frame of mind than I have ever been. I continue to have sessions with Helen when I need them. She is a legend!”

Blake, Chittaway Bay, NSW (Helen)

“Helen has helped me deal with and understand my trauma, from childhood all the way to adulthood. She has been truly amazing with my journey in life. I would highly recommend her.”

Linc (Helen)

“Jon’s compassionate and insightful approach has played a pivotal role in my journey towards overcoming addiction and regaining control of my life. His tailored support and practical strategies have not only helped me break unhealthy patterns but also guided me in discovering a renewed sense of meaning and purpose. Through Jon’s encouragement, I have developed healthier coping mechanisms, reshaped my daily routines, and found greater fulfillment in my relationships and personal goals. His holistic approach provides a safe and non-judgmental space to explore life’s challenges, empowering me with the confidence to move forward with clarity and resilience. I highly recommend Jon to anyone seeking lasting positive change and support.”

C.T (Jon)