THE CENTRE

Our Counsellors

Karl Hood

Karl is lead counsellor for MECCC. He has a masters degree in counselling from Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia and is executive director of Biblical Counselling Australia and adjunct lecturer in pastoral care at PTC Melbourne. He was a pastor for almost 10 years before taking up work at MECCC. He is also a registered GP and works as an anaesthetist in Gippsland

For more about Karl click here.

Grace Nicodemus

Born and educated in India, Grace obtained her MA before coming to Melbourne in 1994. While teaching academic English to students at Latrobe University, Grace completed all the counselling certificates from CCEF Philadelphia and has been counselling ever since. She has also done other studies in pastoral care. Her desire is to see holistic transformation of people’s lives. She deals with depression, anxiety, loss and grief.

Jacqui Spanos

Jacqui’s career and training has been underpinned by a deep compassion and care for people. Jacqui has trained in pastoral care from several places, including PTC Melbourne.

Following a career in nursing and allied health, she was invited to pioneer the role of a ‘Women’s Pastoral Worker’ within her denomination in Victoria, where for several years she provided biblical pastoral counselling to support women of all ages. She has also served as a certified Chaplain (Spiritual Care Practitioner) within the public health system.

For more about Jacqui click here

Graeme Lowe

Graeme is a pastoral counsellor at MECCC and also serves pastorally in his local Church. Graeme’s training and experience include completion of a theological degree through PTC Victoria, followed by more than 20 years in pastoral ministry and 9 years as Senior School Chaplain in an independent school. Graeme has experience supporting people from every generation and in responding with prayerful Biblical counsel.

Kirstyn Castle

Kirstyn has worked as a counseling coordinator in a church and has completed the Foundations of Biblical Counseling program at CCEF. This comprehensive study has included courses in a biblical view of personal change and developing effective helping relationships. She also has training in understanding counselling problems and procedures in both individual and marriage counselling. Her background is in Occupational Therapy - BOccTher (Hons).

For more about Kirstyn click here.

Sandy Bryant

Sandy has been involved in ministry to women for many years. She has a Grad Dip Div (ACT) from PTC Melbourne majoring in biblical counselling. Sandy is also a registered nurse with experience in medical clinics, aged care and mental health services. She has a passion for helping women affected by violence find hope and healing and move forward in life. She has two married daughters and two absolutely wonderful sons in law and all four bring her joy every day.

Adrian Martinez

Adrian is an experienced counsellor. In addition to many years of counselling, Adrian has worked as a pastor and a chaplain He has an MABC and MDiv from The Master’s University and is ACBC certified. He serves on the board of Biblical Counselling Australia and is a council board member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition in the USA.

Rory Weightman

Rory has a passion for seeing God bring about gospel change in people's lives. After undertaking a two year ministry traineeship in his church he now serves there as an elder.

He has completed the 'Foundations of Biblical Counselling’ certificate through CCEF and is working towards BCA accreditation. His other roles include working as the BCA administration assistant and a podiatrist part time.

Rory lives in Bendigo with his wife and two young children and predominantly counsels online.

MECCC is a group of Christian counsellors with diverse personal and professional backgrounds who work together as a team. We have all had training in the counselling approach of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation that was established in Philadelphia in 1968 - also known as biblical counselling or pastoral counselling.

We strive to provide quality Christian counselling to people struggling with a wide range of problems. One of our goals is to support and extend the pastoral care and counselling that is provided in churches.

Melbourne East Christian Counselling Incorporated, an ACNC registered charity, manages the facilities and receives donations and distributes funds to support the provision of Christian counselling services.

Past Centre News:

October 2021 Face to face counselling is back. Zoom is still available.

February 2021 Adrian Martinez has joined MECCC. Adrian is a very experienced counsellor and we are blessed to have him work with us.

March 2020 We have gone online for most counselling because of the coronavirus restrictions.

The BCA workshops are cancelled

February 2020 Dr Karl Hood is now available for supervision of biblical counsellors and pastors by Zoom or face to face

January 2020 BCA will hold its Melbourne workshop 'The Counselling Church' with Steve Midgley of BCUK on May 18th and MECCC counsellors will be speaking

November 2019 Our counsellors are available for Skype or Zoom sessions where face to face appointments are impractical

September 2019 Some of our counsellors are now available for appointments on other days at other sites.

July 2019 From early next year we will be able to offer professional supervision for pastors and for biblical counsellors

Opening day April 23rd !

March 26th, 2019.

We are booking our first appointments at MECCC from April 23rd.

Untangling Emotions Workshop 2019

Alasdair Groves and Ed Welch of CCEF will be speaking at a BCA workshop day in Melbourne on Wednesday May 29th.

The workshop is part of a two day residential conference.

All our counsellors agree to a counselling code of ethics, carry professional indemnity insurance, and have current WWWC cards and police checks.