Network Coordinator Profile: Amy Howell

For Amy Howell, accredited mental health social worker and Coordinator of the EMDR and Schema Therapy Clinical Skills Network, professional networking is more about relational rapport than short-term transactions. She measures success not just by strengthened referral pathways, knowledge-building and other practical gains, but by expanded “opportunities for community and connection” with others who understand the complexity of mental health work. The learning is ongoing, as is collegial support.

Emerging research on the efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) also fuels Amy’s commitment to nurturing a connected and empowered Network. As the Co-Founder of a private practice specialising in trauma-informed therapies, she acknowledges the value in engaging with GPs, nurses, psychiatrists and other primary care providers.
“Having cross-disciplinary conversations is so important, whether that’s a coffee catchup, shared CPD event, or simply knowing who to call when a consumer needs a referral,” she shares. “Frontline practitioners are well-placed to understand the intersection between EMDR and crisis settings as well, often sitting with consumers in the aftermath of exactly those moments.”

In addition to fostering multidisciplinary collaboration within the EMDR and Schema Therapy Clinical Skills Network, Amy encourages members to sustain professional relationships outside of Network meetings.

“We never stop trying to meet new mental health practitioners,” she says.

The EMDR and Schema Therapy Clinical Skills Network is co-located in Daylesford and Brunswick in Victoria, with meetings held both online and face-to-face.

Amy welcomes new sign-ups to the Network, particularly those working in allied health. She is dedicated to creating a space where practitioners can come together in meaningful ways and explore the evidence-informed potential of multidisciplinary collaboration in reshaping the consumer and carer experience.