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If you or someone you care about is feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure about what’s ahead, you’re definitely not alone. Life can get pretty complicated for teenagers and young adults, and it’s often hard for parents to see their kids struggling.
I’m Lukas Winward, a registered counsellor based near Mentone. I specialise in supporting young people, parents, and families through life’s challenges, whether it’s anxiety, failure to launch, capacity building, addiction, grief, identity issues or something else.
Clients from across Mentone can access both face-to-face and online counselling options.
Counselling in Parkdale
Mentone is a vibrant bayside suburb known for its schools, beaches, and family-friendly atmosphere. But even in a supportive environment, young people and their families can feel stuck or overwhelmed.
Many teens and young adults in Mentone deal with academic pressure, changing friendships, and mental health struggles. Parents often feel unsure how to help or worried about what’s next.
Counselling is a space to take stock, feel heard, and work through challenges in a compassionate and practical way.
What I Help With
I provide counselling services for young people and their families on a wide variety of issues, including:
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Failure to Launch: supporting those feeling stuck or unsure about next steps
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Friendships: dealing with social challenges, bullying, or loneliness
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Capacity Building: developing confidence, emotional skills, and resilience
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Addiction: gaming, screen/device use, smoking, drugs and alcohol, pornography, gambling, and more
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Anxiety: general worries, social anxiety, and pressure to perform
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Suicide Ideation: caring support for those dealing with suicidal thoughts
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Self Harm: understanding and working through self-injury
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Grief & Loss: coping with bereavement or major life changes
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School Refusal: uncovering causes and planning a path back
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Parental Issues: improving communication and emotional safety at home
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Pathways & Career Counselling: helping young adults with study, work, and life choices
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Depression: managing low mood, lack of motivation, and disconnection
You or your child don’t have to face these challenges alone and change is absolutely possible.
ABOUT
Lukas
Lukas lives in Parkdale with his family. He is a qualified counsellor registered with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) level 4 who has extensive experience working with young people and adults.
He has worked with teenagers in schools, TAFE (VCAL), Apprentices, NDIS (capacity building), ChildFIRST, Tuning into Kids facilitation, crisis supporter (phone support line) and victims of crime.
Where I Work
I work with clients in Mentone and nearby areas like Parkdale, Cheltenham, Beaumaris, and Mordialloc.
Sessions are available both in person and online for your convenience.
No referral is required, and I welcome all backgrounds and identities.
A Golfing Counsellor
Lukas Winward is also the founder of The Golfing Counsellor, an innovative therapy experience that combines the therapeutic benefits of counselling with the calming environment of a golf course.
For teenagers and young adults, traditional therapy settings can sometimes feel intimidating or stressful. That’s why incorporating golf - a sport close to my heart with courses like Cheltenham Golf Club, Sandringham, and Brighton Golf Course nearby - can offer a more relaxed and mindful way to approach counselling. Golf provides a sense of calm and grounding that can make the therapeutic process feel more accessible and natural.
It’s also a way some clients connect with me, especially young people or parents who enjoy the game. Sometimes golf becomes a natural bridge to deeper conversations about stress, identity, or discipline.
