About the College
The College of Relationship Counselling (CRC) is a division of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), dedicated to advancing the practice of relationship counselling in Australia. The CRC and PACFA raise awareness in the community of the benefits of relationship counselling, provide representation, support, guidance, professional standards and development for those who practice as relationship counsellors.
The CRC has developed several resources for members of the public seeking relationship counselling, including how to choose a relationship counsellor, and FAQs.
A Leadership Group has been established to lead the College and to plan activities for members. Contact the College of Relationship Counselling Leadership Group: [email protected]
Activities include:
- Providing resources to the community about relationship issues and relationship counselling and psychotherapy
- Building a vibrant community of practitioners who identify as relationship counsellors and psychotherapists
- Developing and promoting practice standards and guidelines
- Sponsoring and fostering research
- Providing continuing professional development opportunities for all practitioners, including those in regional and rural areas
- Providing opportunities for networking and peer support
How to Join the College of Relationship Counselling
The CRC Leadership Group is currently working on improving the College’s membership application pathway and supporting documentation. To support the implementation of the new pathway, the College has temporarily paused the acceptance of all new applications. The application pathway is expected to re-open in late 2025. Keep an eye on the PACFA E-News for updates!
Meet the Leadership Group
Convenor – Leonie Stewart
Leonie Stewart is a qualified counsellor and supervisor with over 30 years of professional experience working in schools, communities, and universities. Leonie is passionate about relationship counselling and has dedicated her career to supporting couples, families, and individuals through a range of challenges. As Convenor of the CRC, Leonie focuses on creating strong networks, providing continuing professional development opportunities, and promoting the highest standards of professional practice.
Peter Seccombe
Peter Seccombe is an experienced relationship counsellor and family therapist. He has extensive experience in helping couples and families navigate difficult times in their relationships. Peters's practice is informed by a commitment to creating a supportive and safe environment for clients to explore their concerns. He has a strong focus on training and development, and in his role as Deputy Convenor, he works to ensure members of the CRC have access to the best professional resources and peer support.
Melissa Ferrari
Melissa Ferrari is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience in couples counselling, refugee/migrant counselling, and individual psychotherapy. Fully certified and specialising in the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT), Melissa provides intensive sessions with practical, personalised feedback, through which she helps individuals and couples to make savvy relationship choices. Melissa has a strong media presence in Australia and for the past 10 years has held regular spots on The Today Show, Today Extra, ABC Radio and now with her column in The Courier-Mail she discusses relationships and how to create secure and solid connections. Her areas of interest are trauma, neuroscience, attachment and arousal regulation in couples and the brain in love. Melissa is passionate about creating consistent standards in Australia, particularly in couples therapy.
Melanie Creek
Melanie Creek has provided Clinical Supervision in the not-for-profit, community, and mental health sectors, as well as in private practice, for over 20 years. Her supervision work spans individual and group settings across multiple practice areas, including mental health, trauma, therapy and counselling, sexual assault, post-suicide intervention, family violence, couples therapy, and trauma programs for men, women, and children.
With over 30 years of experience as a practising Clinical Family Therapist, Melanie has worked with individuals, couples, and families using a variety of theoretical models and integrative practices. She has also held key roles such as Clinical Supervisor at a Family Counselling Service and Manager of Clinical work in the Drug and Alcohol sector. For the past 19 years, Melanie has provided supervision to counsellors, therapists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers, with a focus on individual, couple, and family therapy.
Melanie also provides supervision to Masters of Counselling, Couple Counselling, and Psychology interns at Swinburne University and has taught Systemic Course work in their Master's Programs. She has developed and led several group programs related to family violence, trauma, vicarious trauma, and training in somatic and integrated therapeutic approaches.
Melanie holds a degree in Applied Psychology from Monash University, a Post Graduate Diploma in Family Therapy, and an Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision. She is a registered Clinical Family Therapist with extensive training in trauma, including Somatic Experiencing, and holds qualifications in IFS, EMDR, ACT, CBT, and EFT. She is a Clinical Member of PACFA and an Accredited Clinical Supervisor with PACFA, AAFT, and ARCAP.
Contact the College of Relationship Counsellors: [email protected]