Blake Barber

About me

This supervisor has been approved to provide supervision under the ACCESS TO SUPERVISION PROJECT.

I am a Queer, Non-binary lived experience worker with a keen interest in working to make spaces more inclusive and affirming for LGBTQIAP+ folk. I work from a trauma-informed, person centered approach. I definitely know what it’s like to have a full plate and the difficulties that can arise with balancing work, study and life in general! My own lived experience with mental health concerns has forced some valuable lessons in accepting myself, pushing myself through discomfort and also knowing when to take a breather. Supervision has been a valuable tool in this “getting to know myself” journey and managing the use of self in this work, and I am keen to share this space with others.

This supervisor has been approved to provide supervision under the ACCESS TO SUPERVISION PROJECT. If you are a supervisee who has received an approval email/letter from the CMHL you may contact this supervisor for supervision for this project, then follow the stated processes for supervision payment.

My experience

I have worked in mental health Lived Experience roles for over 4 years, much of these in a supervisory Senior Peer Worker positions overseeing multiple programs with mixed modes of delivery (groups, individual peer support, phone line) and different teams of Peer Workers. I completed a Bachelor of Arts with Psychology and Counselling majors and find these skills to be useful in my work.

My current role/work

I am currently in a Services Coordinator role which oversees continuous quality improvement and development of programs at Brook RED. I work to improve our services, systems, offer supervision to Peer Workers and have some duties reporting to funding bodies, writing grant applications and representing the organisation at external meetings. I also oversee our Belong Program, which is an award winning program that offers training in creating an affirming professional practice to LGBTQIAP+ folks. It is a point of joy in my work!

My training

Bachelor of Arts - psych and counselling majors

When Conversation Turns to Suicide – Wildflower Alliance

Autism and Mental Health – Autism Queensland

Forming Culturally Responsive Practice – Marumali Consultations

ASIST – Living Works
Trauma Informed Care – Blue Knot
Trauma Informed Care - Alcohol and Other Drugs – Insight
Hearing Voices – Hearing Voices Australia
Motivational Interviewing - Veriti
Tools for Hard Conversations – Skattle

My approach to supervision

My values as a supervisor are trust and openness to experience. I also find that being respectfully challenged in a space that is built on trust and is affirming can really push our practice in a positive way! I really want to be able to provide a space to talk things out, explore concepts and ideas together and find some sort of comfort in the grey. I think it's also very important to have the space to reflect on the ups and downs that can come from working in a Lived Experience space - free of judgment or consequence.