I’m Stephanie ‘Stephie’ Fallon
I studied at UNSW, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy, and then completed a Graduate Diploma of Counselling at the Australian College of Applied Professions. I then decided that I hadn’t been through enough academic rigour, so I completed a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy during COVID at ACAP. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with PACFA and currently run my private practice, Mountain Blue Therapy, at the foot of the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
I always knew I wanted to work in the realm of counselling, though like most people, I believed the only way to do this was to become a psychologist. Halfway through a psychology degree, I realised it was more ‘rats and stats’, and I lost interest, opting to become a philosopher instead. I found myself living in Japan on a working holiday visa as an English conversation teacher, where I discovered I had a knack for connecting with all kinds of people, relying on reading body language over their words and really listening to them to understand their experience. I found I enjoyed helping people feel heard and validated. So, upon returning to Australia, I began my studies in counselling.
To date, I have worked as a counsellor for children in the Allied Health space, then started my own practice in 2020. I was headhunted to work as an adolescent counsellor in the youth drug and alcohol space, which I did successfully for three years before finishing up to focus on my private practice. I’m also contracted with Wesley Mission in their Family Preservation program. And here we are!
A Day in the Life with Stephie
6.30–7.30am: Wake-Up & Duolingo
I wake up, get dressed, and prepare for the day. I’ve been trying to keep my Japanese going, so I do some Duolingo during this time. Duolingo is a fun, free app for learning 40+ languages through quick, bite-sized lessons. Through the app, I can practice speaking, reading, listening, and writing to build my vocabulary and grammar skills.
7.30–9.00am: A Juggling Act
It’s breakfast time and I get the kiddos ready for daycare or preschool! This is a real juggling act, and I’ve learned to embrace the chaos. As long as the outcome is the same, I’m less concerned about how we get there! Sometimes I walk to work, which gives me an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Blue Mountains where I live and listen to some music to get me in the zone for the day.
9.00am–12.00pm: Client Time!
The first thing I do is make a pot of Buddha’s Tears green tea, water my succulent (two years and it’s still alive!), and take a moment to ground myself and prepare for the first interactions. I might start with some admin, check my emails, and turn on my phone to see if there have been any cancellations.
12.00–1.00pm: Lunchtime
I am very strict with my ‘off’ time, particularly as I work long days. So, during lunchtime, I eat, read, do some writing, watch TikToks… whatever I like, as long as it’s not work.
1.00–3.00pm: Client Time
Round two! I am currently a Victim Services Counsellor. I see clients of all ages but connect well with adolescents and those who have been victims of trauma. I utilise techniques from various modalities, but my preferred ones are Person-Centred Therapy, Narrative Therapy, DBT, and Schema Therapy.
3.00–4.00pm: Counselling Admin
This is admin time. I might make some calls, follow up on emails, or do some case notes. I make sure I have a full hour here, plus a snack. I’ll also take some time to do professional development or resource-making when I’m on top of everything else. Currently, I am working on my Schema Therapy techniques, so going over notes and guides for this has been taking up a lot of my time recently.
4.00–7.00pm: Client Time
This is my last block of client time, and I end with case notes. I try very hard to get my case notes done before I go home so I don’t have anything in my head to worry about, and can be present at home!
7.00–8.00pm: Family Time
I head home to be with the kiddos as they settle in for the night—and grab a bite for myself as well! I try to get their bags ready for the next day and catch up on basic chores. The more that’s done at night means less to do in the morning, which is key as I am definitely not a morning person.
8.00–9.00pm: Move My Body
I’ll try and move my body, whether it’s a walk, or doing some dancing with my husband—we’ve been learning rock’n’roll for fun. Alternatively, I’ll take my two retrievers for a walk.
9.00–10.00pm: Self-Care & Self-Reflection
I write a reflection, have a shower (skin care is key!), and then settle in for the night. I wear a particular necklace when I’m counselling, and at the end of the day, I take it off, symbolising unburdening myself for the day, so I can lay to rest the space I’ve held.
Connect with Stephie
Website: https://mountainbluetherapy.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-fallon-8968881ab/
Open the Door on Your Day
The ‘Day in the Life’ series is created and edited by PACFA Registered Clinical Psychotherapist® and founder of The Psychosynthesis Centre, Jodie Gale.
Each month, the ‘A Day in the Life’ series will offer participating PACFA members the opportunity to share their unique personal and professional experience as dedicated Practising & Registered Clinical Counsellors and Registered Clinical Psychotherapists who embody the art and science of holding space for others. Click here to read more and to find out how you can open the door on your day.