Founded by Fiona Landford, Courage Wisdom Change is empowering children, youth and adults with skills for positive change.
Tell us about your business and how it started?
My passion is that every person is equipped with the skills to find not only their true self but their unique voice as well.
Courage Wisdom Change is an holistic counselling service that focuses on developing a person's emotional fitness in order to build their capacity to manage uncertainty.
Over a period of 20 years as a special education teacher and later Assistant Principal Special Education, I saw the growing need for services that would proactively support not only isolated and/or disadvantaged families but also, neurodivergent children and their families.
Three of our adopted children identify as neurodivergent and to find professionals who were versed in neurodivergence, the impact of disability and also trauma-informed was a challenge- not to mention finding someone who understood the complexities of living in rural and regional Australia.
Hence, with the encouragement of others, I retrained over a period of years and in 2016 established Courage Wisdom Change.
Initially established in Crookwell, NSW, Courage Wisdom Change is now a thriving practice in Kyneton, Victoria after an interstate move late last year.
What do you love about your service?
I love being able to offer a unique service where I have the scope to be creative in how I deliver services in order to engage people fully.
LEGO®-Based Therapy is one of my creative options. It provides the opportunity to help a participant (child or adult) improve their adaptability to social situations by developing their observation and communication skills through intuitive, hands on experiences rather than learning rote language or a checklist of social information.
In moments of self doubt, how do you build yourself back up?
What is the best piece of business advice you were given?
Who are your biggest cheerleaders?
How can women support other women?
For so long, in my world anyway, women have been socially conditioned to stay in the background. Women need to champion each other, to celebrate their achievements, for their role at home, in the community, in the workplace and to recognise that for many regional, rural and remote women they are all of the above at the same time.
What is your next big challenge/project?
My goal for 2023 is to create online face to face opportunities, 1:1 and group, that will support parents and carers in their journey.
Ultimately, I would love for these to be accessible to families in remote and rural areas of Australia - having lived in both regions I am aware how being able to access relevant services can minimise feelings of isolation and improve people's capacity to deal with uncertainty.
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Fiona Landford has worked extensively with children, youth, adults and families with additional needs, from a wide range of backgrounds for over 25 years.
Courage Wisdom Change is empowering children, youth and adults with skills for positive change.
Mention seeing Fiona in OAK to receive a free 1:1 hour session.