My Story

I didn't start out in therapy. I was a stockbroker, a director of a small stockbroking firm in Melbourne, Australia. I loved the work, but it was also incredibly stressful. I'd gone in with big dreams of making a lot of money and supporting my family. I'd spent most of my twenties on and off antidepressants, with insomnia, depression and anxiety, and I didn't understand why.

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When the Global Financial Crisis hit in 2008, the firm couldn't survive, and neither could I. I had a severe burnout, chronic health conditions, and I lost everything. I had no money, so I gave up my apartment almost immediately and forfeited my bond just to pay the last month's rent. I slept on my brother's couch for about a month with no idea what came next.

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By then I'd started seeing a counsellor, and on their suggestion I began to meditate. Meditation, yoga and therapy, practised consistently, held me while everything else fell apart. They also showed me what I actually value: mental, emotional and spiritual growth.

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I went to my parents' country property and sat on the veranda overlooking the rolling hills of south-west Victoria, with a pen and a piece of paper. I wrote down everything I valued and enjoyed. Within half an hour it was clear that I wanted to study to become a therapist. Therapy had opened up a world I'd known was there but couldn't get a handle on, and my therapist had helped me do it. I loved it, and I wanted to understand it more.

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Training and Experience

I asked my therapist for a referral and found a good school. I started with two one-month courses: an introduction to counselling skills and then an advanced course. Then I enrolled in a year-long certificate and a two-year Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Cairnmillar Institute in Australia.

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At the same time, I began attending a meditation and yoga school. I ended up living there for seven years and became one of its managers. I completed yoga and meditation teacher training, and began teaching yoga philosophy, including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, in yoga teacher trainings there. I've taught it in many yoga studios since. That's where my passion for meditation as a mental, emotional and spiritual practice took hold.

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I left the Ashram with a group of whistleblowers after we spoke up about institutional abuse within the organisation. It was painful, and it sent me back to university, as I wanted to try to understand how such abuse could take place in even a seemingly benevolent institution.

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I studied psychology through to an honours year, with a thesis on burnout, a subject I knew first-hand from my stockbroking days. In that honours year I went to Europe on a study abroad trip, met my now wife, and moved to Brussels a year later.

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In 2020 I completed a Master's in Organisational Psychology through Maastricht University, studying online from Brussels during COVID.

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How I Work

You are not broken, and there is nothing fundamentally wrong with you. We are mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual beings. You can't say “I'm this, but not that.” They all work together, so I work with all of them, to understand what's contributing to your distress.

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The first session is exploratory. I'll ask about your experience of therapy and counselling so far, what you enjoyed and what you didn't, and what might make you not want to continue with me, so we can address those concerns early. I'll also ask about any neurodiversity or medication history, and about your beliefs about God, the universe and life. Your answers show me how you'll connect with the approaches we use. No two people need the same approach.

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Whether it's therapy, ADHD coaching, meditation teaching or spiritual exploration, the thread is the same: psychoeducation and hands-on exploration of what it means for you to be human. Our experience of being human can rest on misunderstandings and misidentifications. As those clear, each person's psyche, which is unique, becomes something to work with. I help you use your inner faculties and strengths as tools for solving the puzzles in your life, rather than being overrun by them.

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People often think of therapy as the scientific approach and meditation as the spiritual one, and there's something true in that, since they come from different traditions with different methods. I'd gently challenge that assumption, though. Each holds elements of the other, along with its own perspective. Once you start working with the psyche, whether through psychology or science, you're working with things that aren't material.

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What Clients Say

“Simon has found a great measure and balance between western psychology and eastern philosophy, bringing together a therapeutic context which really works and really helps to heal. Thank you very much.”

Client

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“I cannot recommend Simon highly enough. He gets straight to the point and understands what you're dealing with. His practical advice and personalised strategies have had a positive impact on my life from session one. I highly recommend Simon to anyone looking for a straightforward and effective professional. He knows his stuff and truly makes a difference.”

Client

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Beyond the Practice

When I'm not working, you'll find me meditating, playing or listening to music, indoor climbing, talking with friends about the nature of consciousness, or simply enjoying life. I'm curious about what it means to be human. It's my work, and it's also what I care about most.

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Would You Like to Talk?

I'm always happy to speak with new people and explore together how I may help. If you're interested in working together, please reach out directly.

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simon@simondwyer.eu · +32 471 772 496

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If you'd rather explore meditation at your own pace, have a look at my Meditation Courses or browse some Free Content to get a feel for how I teach.