ACA Fraser Coast Chapter - February 2026
About
The ACA Fraser Coast Chapter meet on the third Saturday of each month in Hervey BayAgenda: What’s in Your Mental Health Toolbox? – Peer sharing of techniques, models, and practitioner wisdom.
Presented by Jacqui Brassington.
“What Tools Do We Each Bring to the Room?”
(This is descriptive, not prescriptive)
The aim is to surface habits, preferences, and defaults in our therapeutic work — not to teach techniques or defend models.
1. Regulation & Grounding Supports
Conversation prompt:
When things get heightened — for the client or for you — what do you tend to reach for first?
Examples people may name:
• Breathing practices
• Grounding or orienting exercises
• Slowing the pace
• Silence or pausing
• Naming physiological states
2. Awareness, Attention & Noticing
Conversation prompt:
How do you help clients notice what’s happening without needing to fix it straight away?
Examples people may name:
• Mindfulness (broadly defined)
• Observer stance / meta-awareness
• Noticing language
• Tracking thoughts, emotions, or body cues
3. Thought, Meaning & Perspective
Conversation prompt:
When clients are caught in a story or belief, how do you tend to work with that?
Examples people may name:
• Reframing
• Thought records or journalling
• Externalising thoughts
• Curiosity about meaning
• Narrative approaches
4. Direction, Values & Goals
Conversation prompt:
How do you help clients find direction when they feel stuck or overwhelmed?
Examples people may name:
• Values clarification
• Goal setting
• Scaling questions
• Preferred future conversations
• Strengths-based reflection
5. Action, Practice & Between-Session Work
Conversation prompt:
What kinds of “between-session” practices do you most often offer — if any?
Examples people may name:
• Journalling or reflection tasks
• Behavioural experiments
• Micro-actions
• Observation tasks
• Skills practice
Jacqueline Brassington is a psychotherapist with over 15 years’ experience in clinical practice. Prior to this, she worked for 17 years as a childcare educator, giving her a deep, practical understanding of child development, family systems, and relational dynamics across the lifespan.
She holds qualifications in counselling, relationship therapy, and alcohol and other drug (AOD) work, and among her postgraduate training she has completed a Graduate Diploma in Relationship Counselling. Jacqueline is also a registered supervisor with the College of Supervisors, supporting the professional development of other practitioners.
Committed to ongoing learning, Jacqueline travels extensively to research and deepen her understanding of counselling practice, including two recent study trips to Oxford University.
Her areas of practice include children and families, domestic violence support, neurodiversity, trauma, and anxiety, with a strong focus on relational safety and practical, compassionate care.
Jacqueline is married, a mother of two, and a grandmother of four.
Location
Urangan Community Wellness Centre - Training Room 1
62-105 Elizabeth Street, Urangan QLD 4655