time and place
Michelle Bates is a narrative therapist, facilitator & coach practising between Mparntwe Alice Springs & Mulubinba Newcastle.
p: 0438 333 131
e: michellebates@time-place.com.au
Offering
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Michelle is an experienced & accredited counsellor. Her approach to counselling is gentle; focussed on fostering safety and curiosity.
The frameworks of narrative therapy & trauma informed practice support conversations which enable challenges to be safely explored; and new possibilities to be uncovered.
Counselling is offered in person in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Mulubinba (Newcastle) or online.
Should you, or someone you know be seeking to access support funded through an NDIS plan, this offering accessible under ‘therapeutic supports.’ NB: Michelle is not currently registered as an NDIS provider.
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Michelle specialises in providing professional supervision to individuals and groups navigating the joys and challenges of working in complex and cross-cultural contexts.
Reflective practice is a structured learning process where practitioners are supported to examine their reactions and responses to work experiences. Through facilitated inquiry, workers explore the implicit knowledge, skills, and values that shape their responses to challenges.
This process is crucial for developing culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive practice.
Reflective practice skills support workers resilience in the face of ethical challenges and complexity by exploring ways of remaining anchored to their values and integrity as they greet the challenge of their work.
Michelle currently provides regular group facilitations to several Aboriginal Community Controlled human service organisations in Central Australia.
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Michelle is a certified coach, trained in process-oriented coaching. This approach supports individuals to get moving in their lives; and the emergence of clarity, momentum and new possibilities.
Coaching is process driven and, whilst safe and supportive, is not a method of therapeutic enquiry.
Rather, coaching is a process that supports self-learning and change in your life. Through deep engagement in a supported process, you are assisted to define and move toward your goals.
Should you be curious about whether this process is what you’re looking for, please feel welcome to get in touch.
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“No-one is a passive recipient of trauma. Even in the face of overwhelming trauma, people take steps to try to protect and to preserve what they give value to." - Michael White
A narrative approach to incident debriefing supports participants to recognise and understand their responses to distressing events. This process is facilitated in a gentle, trauma-informed way which brings forth participants awareness in their own strength, values & resilience; fostering hope, wellness and connection.
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Michelle is an experienced community development practitioner, and is available to facilitate commissioned and one-off workshop facilitation using narrative approaches (collective documentation & Tree of Life); as well as assisting with & consulting on long term community development projects.
In her previous work with communities, Michelle has facilitated projects on suicide prevention, resistance to violence, children’s experiences of community, lived experiences of disability, and experiences of the justice and child protection systems.
Michelle proudly led the development of the Paterson Street Hub in Tennant Creek.
Currently, Michelle supports the continued emergence of the Tennant Creek Shed community project. This project has brought together philanthropists with the local community to build a safe place in town for connection, purpose and sharing.
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Michelle's counselling services are accessible as 'therapeutic supports' for those with access to NDIS plan funding.
About
After living more than six years on Warumungu country (Tennant Creek NT) Michelle is now based in Mparntwe, Alice Springs. Her community work often takes her across the Northern Territory and the country.
Michelle is experienced in working inclusively within complex and diverse contexts. She is regarded for her curiosity and warmth; as well as her skills in deep listening, holding safe space, cultural sensitivity and knowledges and in asking great questions.
Much of Michelle’s career has been spent working alongside people with lived experience of disability. This work remains an ongoing priority; Michelle holding a deep commitment to offering care, dignity, advocacy & leadership in this space.
Michelle holds a Master of Narrative Therapy and Community Work & Bachelor Education (Disability and Inclusive Studies). She holds accreditation as a Level 3 member of the Australian Counselling Association & as an accredited member of the Global Coaching Institute.
As a First Nations narrative practitioner, Michelle’s work was published in 2022 by the Dulwich Centre in Yarning with a Purpose: First Nations narrative practice (read the chapter here). During her years in Tennant Creek, Michelle co-founded the Paterson Street Hub community space.
I gladly live and work on the unceded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples lands, seas and waterways.
I acknowledge the first peoples of this place, to which my birthright is indelibly connected. I honour the enduring strength and resilience of first peoples, who embody and hold the ancient stories, learnings,
I offer my deep respect to those that continue to find hope, and the continuing advocacy of leaders, of all ages and times.
And to those that continue on, in the face of the realities of injustice, and support others in contexts of deeply abiding adversity.
In my everyday, I am influenced by my ancestors of the Anaiwan and Gamilaroi nations.
