ABOUT
Anika
MENTAL HEALTH
counsellor
Hi, welcome!
I’m Anika, and I believe inner peace is within your reach.
I've come to believe this as a result of grief and the transformative journey it led me on, one of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Now, I navigate life in alignment with my core values, compassionately prioritising caring for myself so that my inner and outer worlds are peaceful.
Normalising help-seeking starts with each of us individually. Often there can be a feeling of shame tied to therapy, like we're admitting we're not good enough. I think instead, if we shift our perspective slightly and look at therapy as an opportunity to learn about ourselves and take tools home that help us grow, our outcomes can change significantly.
Inner work empowered me to be true to myself and make a career shift from communications to one that truly aligns with my core value of giving back.
This is how Anika Bull Therapy came to be.
I bring a lightness to the space of mental health with simple language, humour, balanced power dynamics and a nurturing environment that supports your healing.
my story.
I was raised in the vibrant city of Karachi in a home where cultures intertwined. Growing up as a cross-cultural kid sparked a curiosity within me, a pursuit to learn more about people, their intricate stories and their cultures.
By my mid 20s I had lived in four countries, travelled extensively and found myself settling down in Australia with a boy from the bush. We now raise our own babies in a multicultural home and travel with them as often as we can.
When I’m not seeing clients or head down in professional development, you’ll find me cosy at home with my family, clocking kms and lifting at the gym or spending quality time with my dogs in the forest.
My exposure to the world has shaped me, it has fostered empathy, broadened my perspective, made me adaptable and an articulate communicator. These skills have supported me in my career as a mental health counsellor to establish meaningful connections with a client base representing the cultural kaleidoscope that is Australia.
I feel so privileged to do the work I do, I truly believe it is the best job in the world.
Qualifications
-
I am a registered counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association. My clinical profile is available here.
Lindy Chaleyer; a wealth of knowledge supports me as my Clinical Supervisor.
-
Diploma of Counselling | Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors
Advanced Study Majors: Grief and Loss Counselling | Child Development & Effective Parenting | Mindfulness Based Therapies
Master of Communication | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)
Bachelor of Arts Honours Management | University of Sheffield
-
Principles and practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy | Australian Psychological Society
The Management of Eating Disorders in the Community | Inside Out | Institute for Eating Disorders
Accredited Mental Health First Aider | Mental Health First Aid Australia
150 hours Barre Teacher Training Program | Barre Body Australia
Grow with me
-
I offer a complimentary twenty minute consultation to first time clients. This is a great way for us to work out whether we’re a good match. If not, don't worry, I'm here to help and will provide you with referral options so you can strategically move forward on your mental health journey.
-
Here you will find essential resources for mental health support in Australia.
-
Practising gratitude as soon as I open my eyes in the morning, followed by movement, meditation, and listening to mood-boosting music are daily non-negotiables for me.
This is how I fit caring for myself into my busy schedule:
✿ Gratitude | I list the first five things I can think of. It can start off simple; for example, how snuggly I feel in my bed, and it usually naturally progresses from there.
✿ Movement | I'm hooked to the Centr app, thirty minutes a day and I’ve ticked off my workout.
✿ Meditation | Calm has always been my go to app, I adore Tamara Levitt's guided meditations, which only take ten minutes.
✿ Music | I'll leave the facts to neuroscientists. You can listen to Andrew Huberman explain how music can boost motivation, mood and improve learning here.
for psychoeducation to inspire new ways of thinking follow me on instagram
✿
for psychoeducation to inspire new ways of thinking follow me on instagram ✿
