About Derek

Professional experience.
A lived Catholic faith.

I’m Derek Boylen, a counsellor, educator, husband, father and person of faith.

For more than twenty years, I have supported individuals, couples and families through the realities of mental health, relationships, grief, trauma, addiction and personal growth. I hold a Master of Counselling and Level 4 registration with the Australian Counselling Association, and I teach counselling at postgraduate level.

My Catholic faith is not a technique I apply to people. It is part of the way I understand human dignity, relationship, freedom, suffering, hope and the lifelong work of becoming more fully ourselves.

Catholic Practitioner gives me room to write at the intersection of professional counselling, ordinary human experience and faith. These are reflections rather than personal clinical advice. My hope is that they help readers think more clearly, respond more compassionately and take wise next steps.