Julie is a practising clinical Counsellor/Psychotherapist, having been practising for over 8 years. She has a depth of practical experience in working with clients in both short and long-terms contexts. She works from a person centred and client focused framework. Julie subscribes to the client as the expert in their own life. Her professional approach is one of empowering the individual to achieve greater independence, improved mental health and positive well-being. Her areas of focus have been centred on how historic traumatic events impact people in their present-day relationships and sense of self-worth.
Julie is a practising clinical Counsellor/Psychotherapist, having been practising for over 8 years. She has a depth of practical experience in working with clients in both short and long-terms contexts. She works from a person centred and client focused framework. Julie subscribes to the client as the expert in their own life. Her professional approach is one of empowering the individual to achieve greater independence, improved mental health and positive well-being. Her areas of focus have been centred on how historic traumatic events impact people in their present-day relationships and sense of self-worth.
Find inspiration as we talk to Julie Sweet in our #StrongHealthyWomen interview.
Hi Julie! Thank you for being part of the Health and Fitness Travel, Strong, Healthy Women Interview Series, where we are shining a light on the importance of self-care, not as an indulgence but a necessity to reduce stress and general health issues.
Is there such a thing as a typical day for you and what does that look like?
My day starts at 5:30 am where I kick off my morning by taking my beautiful border collie pup for her daily walk.
I then head to my clinical practice in the gorgeous eastern suburbs of Sydney in Bondi Junction and begin seeing my clients.
I’m very fortunate to have flexibility within my working week and have the privilege of designing my days around my clinical practice and psychotherapy sessions with clients. As my clients are my priority, sessions take precedent and then once my sessions are booked, I fulfil networking opportunities and professional development. Attending events not only gives me the chance to meet inspirational likeminded people, it’s also a wonderful time to develop myself personally and professionally.
I’m kept up to date with best clinical standard training and lectures, mental health conferences, engagement with entrepreneurs, corporates and mentors.
Can you share a time when you felt your well-being was challenged in the past and what did you do to overcome it?
It has been challenged only recently through grief and loss. After losing someone extremely close to me, my well-being naturally was impacted.
Whilst I’ll never “overcome” the absence of losing this significant person in my life, with the support I receive from my partner, family and friends, coupled with therapeutic intervention, self care strategies and professional resources which I utilise, I’m able to better process the death and function in a healthy, sustainable capacity.
What does being healthy mean to you and how do you keep this at the forefront when life gets unavoidably busy?
Healthy for me is a combination of mental and emotional health, along with physical well-being. My mental and emotional health is paramount and physically I love walking.
I also love anything water, so whenever I’m near the ocean or harbour, I feel deeply happy. Eating well no doubt is essential and I choose to not smoke nor drink alcohol.
I think as a clinician it’s very important I stay mentally and emotionally focused and that’s where tapping into my professional resources cultivates a healthy existence and places me in an optimal position to serve my clients.
Have you ever taken a holiday specifically for your well-being? Can you share what the experience was like?
Yes, I went alone only 2 years ago to Noumea and it was one of the most rewarding and hugely beneficial gifts I’ve given myself. Travelling alone is not only refreshing, it’s empowering.
I had the most relaxing and nourishing 10 days in a country I’d never travelled, where I got to disconnect and unplug, nourish my mind and spirit, swim and soak up the sun, read and indulge in uninterrupted down time. It was a magnificent experience.
Every woman’s idea of self-care is different, tell us about yours.
Self care for me consists of daily walks, being with my puppy, going to the beach, reading, psychotherapy, going out with my partner, family and friends, taking road trips, meeting people, listening to podcasts and having boundaries (yes boundaries equals self care).
Work on self is central to my purpose and vocation, yet personally when things are working well on the inside, it enables me to also thrive within my life generally – as a clinician, business person, partner, daughter, sister, friend and woman.
Life is abundant and I want to be apart of that abundance, doing whatever I can to have as many experiences in this lifespan as possible.
Want to tell your story? Reach out to us via info@healthandfitnesstravel.com.au and be featured as our next strong, healthy woman.
