About Peninsula MindCare
Counselling and Psychotherapy for the Mornington Peninsula Community
Counselling and Psychotherapy for the Mornington Peninsula Community
Peninsula MindCare was established in 2025 by Stephen Pate, a long-standing Mornington Peninsula practitioner and founder of Peninsula Acupuncture & Natural Medicine.
After more than a decade supporting thousands of local clients, it became clear that emotional wellbeing and physical health are deeply connected. Peninsula MindCare was created to offer dedicated counselling and psychotherapy alongside existing health services.
We provide professional, grounded therapy in Mornington and via telehealth, supporting individuals, couples and families across the Peninsula.
Our Counselling Philosopy
We believe therapy should feel safe, supportive, and tailored to each individual. Every client’s experience is unique, and our role is to walk alongside you helping you make sense of what’s happening, reconnect with your strengths, and move toward what matters most.
Peninsula MindCare brings together skilled practitioners who share a common philosophy: to provide therapy that is grounded, respectful, and compassionate.
Peninsula MindCare Team
Stephen Pate - Psychotherapist & Counsellor
Stephen’s journey into counselling and psychotherapy began after many years of working in allied health. Having founded Peninsula Acupuncture & Natural Medicine in 2011, Stephen has supported thousands of clients in restoring physical health and balance.
His curiosity about the emotional roots of illness led him to complete a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Today, Stephen works with people from all walks of life, supporting clients experiencing anxiety, stress, grief, burnout, chronic illness, and life transitions.
Stephen is particularly drawn to working with:
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Men’s mental health and emotional expression
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Adolescents and teenagers, particularly around motivation, school stress, and identity
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Athletes and active individuals managing performance pressure or recovery from injury
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Anxiety, stress, and emotional overwhelm
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Burnout and life transitions
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Grief, loss, and adjustment
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Chronic pain and illness — exploring the mind-body connection
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Clients feeling stuck, disconnected, or searching for direction
Stephen’s style is empowering, collaborative, and compassionate, integrating a range of evidence-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-Centred Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness-based practices.
Ali Lyubimova - Counsellor & Hypnotherapist
My work with people is deeply personal, shaped by lived experience and a genuine respect for the complexity of emotional and relational life. I’m local to the Bayside and Mornington Peninsula and care deeply about supporting people in this community. My background began in community services and grew into training in psychology at Deakin University, a Master of Counselling through the University of New England, clinical hypnotherapy with the Institute of Applied Psychology, and behaviour support training through Monash University.
I offer a calm, supportive space where you can slow down and make sense of what’s happening within you and in your relationships. People often come to counselling during times of anxiety, stress, trauma, grief and loss, burnout, emotional overwhelm, or major life transitions. I work with adults, adolescents, and couples, supporting emotional balance, deeper connection, and meaningful change that feels grounded and authentic.
My Therapeutic Approach
My approach is warm, gentle, and collaborative, focused on creating safety, understanding, and the experience of being truly heard. I support clients with concerns including anxiety and overthinking, trauma and unresolved past experiences, relationship and attachment challenges, women’s health and self-worth, parenting stress, grief and loss, and teenage anxiety or withdrawal.
I integrate evidence-based approaches including Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and mindfulness-based practices, working at each client’s pace. Clients often tell me they feel seen, understood, and able to finally exhale in sessions. I see symptoms not as problems to eliminate, but as meaningful signals that invite deeper understanding. My aim is to help clients feel more emotionally safe, steady, and supported, so change can unfold naturally and sustainably.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
Clients often feel truly heard and understood, with space to explore emotions like anxiety, grief, shame, or anger in a safe, compassionate environment. I focus on helping clients regain control, emotional stability, and inner balance, supporting change in a way that feels natural, meaningful, and long-lasting.
Josie Bowe - Counsellor *currently on leave
Josie’s counselling philosophy is grounded in empathy, compassion, and collaboration. She believes every person deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilling life, and that with the right support, healing and growth are always possible.
Drawing on her own lived experiences, Josie provides a safe, non-judgemental space for clients to explore challenges, build resilience, and move toward wellbeing.
Her integrative approach combines Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-Centred Therapy, and Positive Psychology.
Josie is passionate about supporting individuals through a wide range of life experiences and emotional challenges. Her areas of focus include:
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Anxiety and depression, particularly in adolescents and young adults
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Identity, self-esteem, and confidence building
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Adolescent and youth wellbeing, including school stress, social pressures, and self-discovery
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Women’s mental health, including pregnancy, parenting, and menopause
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Relationship and family dynamics, communication, and conflict resolution
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Grief, loss, and adjustment
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Stress management and burnout
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Navigating major life transitions — study, work, parenting, or ageing
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Emotional regulation and resilience building
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Trauma recovery and post-traumatic growth
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Personal growth and meaning-making — supporting clients in finding direction and fulfilment
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Self-compassion and mindfulness-based approaches
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Positive psychology and strengths-based work — helping clients reconnect with their values, hope, and potential
Above all, Josie values the therapeutic relationship — ensuring every client feels seen, heard, and supported.
Our Mission
At Peninsula MindCare, our mission is to offer meaningful, person-centred therapy that meets clients where they are — emotionally, physically, and practically.
We recognise that everyone’s needs are different. For some, therapy may be short-term and focused, providing support during a specific challenge or life transition. For others, it can be a more in-depth and ongoing process, exploring long-standing patterns and deeper emotional growth.
Whether through counselling, psychotherapy, or Walk & Talk sessions in nature, we aim to help clients develop emotional awareness, resilience, and a greater sense of balance in life