About Us
Dr Paul Whetham - Dip. Comm. Welfare, BA(Hons), PhD (Clinical Psychology), FAPS.
Dr Paul Whetham - Dip. Comm. Welfare, BA(Hons), PhD (Clinical Psychology), FAPS.
Dr Paul Whetham - Dip. Comm. Welfare, BA(Hons), PhD (Clinical Psychology), FAPS.
Hi, I’m Paul Whetham, a clinical psychologist with over 30 years’ experience as an educator, author and counsellor.
I’ve lived and worked in residential community settings; researched loneliness extensively for my PhD; lectured in and headed up the Masters in Counselling program at the University of South Australia; authored numerous books; edited psychology textbooks; and, for the last 15 years have been counselling and offering workshops in private practice and the community.
I'm married to Lib and have two wonderful daughters. I love a long bike ride, making music or watching a good doco with friends.
I'm excited to explore our life journey together, whether in the counselling space or unlived life workshop.
Walk on!
Our mission: Promote healthy minds & connected lives
Dr Paul Whetham - Dip. Comm. Welfare, BA(Hons), PhD (Clinical Psychology), FAPS.
Dr Paul Whetham - Dip. Comm. Welfare, BA(Hons), PhD (Clinical Psychology), FAPS.
LIFE CAFE's mission is to promote healthy minds and connected lives through community-based skills training.
Health services are so stretched that there are simply not enough paid professionals to deal with the tsunami of mental health and loneliness in the community.
Unfortunately, professionals are like ambulances at the bottom of a cliff. While this is important, putting a fence of 'Community Connectors' at the top of the cliff makes more sense.
Life Cafe trains Community Connectors - skilled friends who listen without judgment - to move the conversation beyond small talk to soul talk. Read the article about our Government funded pilot below.
Beyond Loneliness Project – Adapted newspaper article by Emma Heidenreich 2024
It’s easy to be busy and distracted in our modern world, losing sight of the more important things. Clinical psychologist, author and coordinator of the popular Life Cafe and the Community Connector Course, Dr Paul Whetham, will introduce his Dash of Life Taster session in Victor Harbor this year.
This free event will see Dr Whetham guide a conversation from small talk to soul talk by focusing on ‘The BIG 5’ life issues - identity, isolation, death, meaning and freedom.
Dr Whetham said the workshop also helps participants outline practical ways to find your 'Why' and boost your wisdom and wellbeing. “After completing the workshop, participants may choose to go on and do the government funded Community Connector Course,” Dr Whetham said. This enables the participant to become a Community Connector and make an impact in Victor Harbor, through the course.
Dr Whetham’s main goal through the Community Connector Course is to tackle the growing impact that loneliness is having on communities across the region. “1 in 3 people are lonely and loneliness takes up to 15 years off your life; it’s the equivalent of being a smoker or alcoholic.” Dr Whetham said “This is where the Community Connector Course and the skills training of ‘Community Connectors’ comes in!”
Dr Whetham said through the Community Connector Course, he helps participants to combat loneliness through reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection among community members, build a greater understanding of themselves and others, provide community support and reduce stigma around loneliness and mental health. Dr Paul Whetham has dedicated his career to the study of loneliness, neuroscience and community education.
For more information, visit www.beyondloneliness.club