Christian Cosma

About me

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

My name is Christian and I have a lived and living experience of mental ill health and associated challenges. I am interested in humans, the journey that is life, personal development and stepping outside my comfort zone.

I am currently a Senior Consumer Peer Support Worker at Alfred Health, a clinical area mental health service in Melbourne. My role sees me provide one on one Consumer Perspective Supervision, Consumer Perspective Group Supervision, mental health peer support, facilitate groups, as well as work on a number of projects using my consumer perspective.

I also own and operate an independent NDIS registered business providing mental health peer support to NDIS participants and Consumer Perspective Supervision to peer support workers.

My personal mission as a lived experience specialist is to empower and support people in their own journeys of recovery and growth from mental ill health. The starting point for this peer relationship is a “genuine connection”.

Prior to finding myself working in mental health I completed an Advanced Diploma of International Business, Bachelor of Business and a Masters of Project Management. I have worked in the construction, retail, hospitality, international trade and a number of other fields. It took me many years to find my true calling!

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

2020 – 2022 (Current): Senior Consumer Peer Support Worker at Alfred Health (Clinical Service). First senior peer support worker at this service, actively managing the rapid growth of the lived experience workforce.
2019 - 2021: (Current): Owner operator of Genuine Connections a registered NDIS provider. Services include peer support and consumer perspective supervision.
2016 - 2020 : Consumer Peer Support Worker at Alfred Health (Clinical Service). First peer support worker at this service, establishing the role from scratch and raising the profile of peer support.
2016: Mind Australia PALS program volunteer. Program focused on reconnecting individuals to the local community and supporting them to engage in social and recreational activities.

My training

Consumer Perspective Supervision (CPS) Training
Intentional Peer Support (IPS) Mind Australia’s Peer Support Training Mental Health First Aid
Emotional eCPR The Hearing Voices Approach by Voices Vic Motivational Interviewing Psychodrama And many other modalities
Motivational Interviewing
Psychodrama
And many other modalities

My approach to supervision

The role of supervision is to develop best practice and the lived experience skill set.

My approach to peer perspective supervision is to promote self-reflection, open discussion, curiosity, self-development, confidence and the development of one’s own moral compass in relation to consumer peer values and principles.

I endeavour to put the supervisee at the steering wheel of all conversation, establish a warm, genuine, trusting and open relationship, focus on strengths and one’s unique talents that they bring to the role, recognise that learning is mutual and reciprocal, and respect the lived experience of both people in the relationship in a harmonious way.

My practice is informed by Consumer Perspective Supervision training, IPS values and principles and a humanistic approach. I am motivated by a desire to see people grow, and the success and expansion of lived experience workers across the mental health space.