About Brian Basham

I am Brian Basham. I work as a registered counsellor and clinical hypnotherapist from a small practice in Horsham, in the Wimmera region of Victoria.

Before this work, I spent close to four decades across policing, compliance, and education in both state and federal settings. My early years were in NSW with the Transport Investigation Branch, which became the NSW Police Transit Police Branch in 1988. From late 1989 I served with Victoria Police across multiple periods, in operational, investigative, instructional, and analytical roles, finishing as Senior Educator (Law and Policy) at the Victoria Police Academy in 2016.

In between, I ran a private crime and risk consultancy, worked on the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry, and held compliance and fraud-investigation roles with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and Centrelink, including AUSTRAC investigations.

That work taught me a great deal about how organisations treat people, and what happens to people when the treatment goes wrong.

It is part of why I do what I do now. I hold a Master of Counselling (Advanced Practice) from the University of Southern Queensland, where I am also a PhD candidate. My research examines the impact of management behaviour on the mental health of former Australian police officers.

I am a Level 4 member of the Australian Counselling Association, a registered WorkSafe Victoria provider, and a clinical hypnotherapist. I work with adults and young people from age 12 upwards. I see clients who are dealing with anxiety, trauma, workplace stress, relationship difficulties, grief, and the long shadows of difficult experiences.

I also work with organisations on workplace psychological safety, including the BRER + Difficult Conversations program. I bring my own life into the room with me.

I have been through a traumatic brain injury, the loss of a business, the slow remaking of a career, and the hard work of building something new in a region where mental health support is genuinely needed.

None of that makes me an expert in your story. It does mean I will not be surprised by what you bring.

My Approach

I don’t believe one counselling model fits everyone. People are too different, situations too varied, and life too complex for a one-size-fits-all approach. What I do believe is that the relationship between a client and their counsellor is the foundation of everything — without trust, no technique works.

My work is grounded in evidence-based practice and draws on a range of therapeutic approaches, including trauma-informed care, clinical hypnotherapy, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). I work with adults and adolescents (12 and above) across a broad range of concerns — anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, trauma, workplace stress, and significant life transitions.

I have particular experience working with emergency services personnel, law enforcement, and others who carry the unique burdens of high-pressure, high-stakes work. If you’ve worn a uniform — or supported someone who has — I understand your world in ways that go beyond what I’ve read in a textbook.

Sessions are available in person and online, and I offer flexible scheduling to accommodate the rhythms of life in regional and rural areas.

Qualifications and credentials

Currently undertaking

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Candidate) — University of Southern Queensland | Research: Former police officers’ perception of management treatment and impact on mental health

Academic Qualifications

  • Master of Counselling (Advanced Practice) — University of Southern Queensland
  • Master of Education — Griffith University | Research: Learning Strategies of Emergency Services Personnel
  • Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Mental Health) — University of Southern Queensland
  • Graduate Certificate in Counselling (Mental Health) — University of Southern Queensland
  • Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching — University of Melbourne
  • Master of Education — University of Southern Queensland | Research: Adult Learning Principles Applied by Sworn Police Instructors
  • Bachelor of Business (Management & Leadership) — University of Southern Queensland

Professional Certifications

  • Level 4 Member — Australian Counselling Association
  • Registered Provider — WorkSafe Victoria

Awards & Appointments

  • Victoria Police Star — Awarded for injury sustained in the line of duty
  • Victoria Police Diligent and Ethical Conduct Medal — 15-year clasp
  • Bail Justice, Victoria (2003–2013) — Appointed by the Attorney General’s Department

Published Author

Basham, B. R. (2017). What limits should not define: Achieving in postgraduate study with a disability or impairment.

Basham, B. R. (2014). Police instructor or police educator. Salus Journal, 2(1), 99–109.