Danielle Bell-Venter
Founder & Director
About Me.
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Hello, and thank you for visiting Head for Health.
About my career …
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My experience within the social sciences is broad - spanning the arc of professional growth, personal development, setbacks, and success. My studies in Behavioural Science and Applied Coaching Psychology, along with several achievement awards and personal accomplishments, create the foundation of Head for Health - a coaching and counselling practice that I established to help people to achieve clarity, empowerment and control.
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Relevant and educated support is vital to good health — I am ardently committed to providing informed, educated, and evidence-based practice, whilst continually expanding my own professional development. My counselling approach is from an integrative perspective, drawn from several theories and techniques: low-intensity cognitive and behaviour-based therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and strength based Positive Psychology. ​My personal style is supportive and committed, underpinned by my lived experience with intergenerational trauma and the impact on health.
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Life is about the choices we make.
A little about my choices ...
I am fortunate to have adopted Australia as my home.
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My desire to understand cultural differences (I am, as they say, a people person!), inspired me to explore. My education in the social sciences was initially about discovering countries and cultures where I learnt much, about myself and others.
I’ve had my fair share of uni lecturers and hallowed halls. But it was the unlikely teachers I’ve met on my journey who truly shaped my path…
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The children in Kathmandu to whom I taught English, the Sherpa people who were my guides on Everest, the kindness of strangers whilst cycling the Southern Alps of New Zealand, the traders of the floating markets on the Mekong River and, discovering the Dolomites in Northern Italy with my much loved teenage daughter whilst in search of the village from which my family originate (my lovely Mum was Northern Italian). To the University of California, Berkeley where I found the mentor (the first American woman to attempt Mount Everest) who originally inspired me to explore the Himalaya with her book ‘Annapurna: A women’s Place’.
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Now, I live with my man (a crazy sailor who rides a Ducati and, thankfully, loves to cook). I have a cat named after a Himalayan Mountain – Lhotse. And gratitude is an essential part of my daily routine - for my health, for my parents who taught me courage (and much more!) for my beloved daughter - my inspiration, and for my very much loved sailor - my rock!
Our Head for Health Values - what matters.
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Professionalism - We are committed to continual education. Keep learning.
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Integrity - We provide counselling and coaching services rooted in evidence-based Psychology.
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Ethical - We do the right thing.
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We listen - We seek to understand.
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We demonstrate compassion and empathy.
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We do not ask our clients to walk a journey that we have not taken.
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We are committed to maintaining the ‘make-happy’ ethos in all our interactions.
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“ Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it.”
W.H.Murray The Scottish Himalayan Expedition
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