About Us
Background
Sonja Bottern is a highly experienced trainer with over 20 years of experience in mental health She has worked in a senior position at several headspace centres leading clinicians working in and with a range of schools and this has given her valuable insights into the mental health of young people.
As a VIT registered secondary teacher she understands the complexities of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of staff and students at schools. As a brief therapy counsellor Sonja has a genuine interest in supporting the mental health of people of all ages, ranging from adolescents to older adults who are facing challenges including anxiety, depression, COVID-related impacts, suicidal ideation and interpersonal relationships or difficult decision making processes.
As the owner and director of Bottern Consulting, Sonja has a particular interest in providing support to workplaces, consulting in the area of mental health compliance and safety/wellbeing for employees. She provides secondary consultations to businesses including family lawyers, around helping clients facing emotional difficulties through separations and divorces. She is a keen participant in business networks like the Dandenong Chamber of Commerce, the Frankston Business Collective and Bayside BEC.
For many years Sonja advocated, trained and supported communities and schools that had been impacted by suicide. Her part time role is supporting communities impacted by suicide and she has her own lived experience of losing a family member to suicide. She is an accredited ASIST and safeTALK trainer (Livingworks).
Founder Sonja Bottern
Background
Sonja Bottern is a highly experienced trainer with over 20 years of experience in mental health She has worked in a senior position at several headspace centres leading clinicians working in and with a range of schools and this has given her valuable insights into the mental health of young people.
As a VIT registered secondary teacher she understands the complexities of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of staff and students at schools. As a brief therapy counsellor Sonja has a genuine interest in supporting the mental health of people of all ages, ranging from adolescents to older adults who are facing challenges including anxiety, depression, COVID-related impacts, suicidal ideation and interpersonal relationships or difficult decision making processes.
As the owner and director of Bottern Consulting, Sonja has a particular interest in providing support to workplaces, consulting in the area of mental health compliance and safety/wellbeing for employees. She provides secondary consultations to businesses including family lawyers, around helping clients facing emotional difficulties through separations and divorces. She is a keen participant in business networks like the Dandenong Chamber of Commerce, the Frankston Business Collective and Bayside BEC.
For many years Sonja advocated, trained and supported communities and schools that had been impacted by suicide. Her part time role is supporting communities impacted by suicide and she has her own lived experience of losing a family member to suicide. She is an accredited ASIST and safeTALK trainer (Livingworks).
Founder Sonja Bottern
About Bottern Consulting
Bottern Consulting was initially set up with a focus to help stop people dying by suicide. After losing her father aged 86yrs to suicide in July 2021, Sonja wanted to provide training to teach people how to be alert to the signs that someone may be thinking about suicide. Her long term goal is to help people understand the mental health needs of Older Adults.
About Sonja
Career
Career
-Business Owner Bottern Consulting + Relief Teaching in -Secondary Schools
-Jesuits Support After Suicide (Postvention Project Coordinator -Gippsland, Support After Suicide)
-StandBY (Regional Coordinator)
-headspace Narre Warren, Hastings, Dandenong and Pakenham (Team Leader School Services + Community Partnerships)
-headspace Frankston (Senior Clinician Educator)
-headspace National Office (Headspace School Support - Senior Education & Clinical Consultant)
-Department of Education + Training (Senior Education Officer)
-Peninsula Health (School Focused Youth Services/Acting Team Leader for PENDAP Youth + Outreach Team)
-Frankston City Council (Langwarrin Community Project)
-Various schools in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia (Secondary Teacher)
Education
Education
-2002 Bachelor of Social Work - Monash University
-1987 Diploma of Education - Monash University (Secondary Teacher)
-1986 Bachelor of Arts (majoring Japanese + English) - Monash University
Training
Training
CURRENT:
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)
Standard Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA)
Older Adults Mental Health First Aid (OAMHFA)
Mental Health First Aid for the Community
Mental Health First Aid for the Workplace
Conversations about Suicide
Conversations about Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
ASIST Suicide Prevention + Intervention
safeTALK Suicide Awareness
Tuning Into Teens
Cert IV in Workplace Training & Assessment (in progress)
PREVIOUS:
safeMINDS
FRIENDS Trainer
STORM (Suicide Risk And Assessment) Trainer
Suicide Postvention in Secondary Schools
Skills
Skills
• Training
• Leadership
• Management
• Reflective Practice
• Strategic Planning
• Public Speaking
• Relationship Management
• Partnerships
• Advocacy
• Team Building
• Networking and Collaboration
• Creativity
• Communication
• Interpersonal
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Critical Thinking
• Time Management
