Ms Megan Bonetti

A conversation with Megan Bonetti

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  For me, counselling grew from a long-standing commitment to people, relationships and social justice rather than a single defining moment. Early in my career, I was drawn to the relational depth of the work. Sitting with people in complexity, hearing their stories, and supporting them through change, loss and uncertainty. Alongside this, I became acutely aware of the systems that often failed individuals, families and communities, and I’ve spent much of my career working within those systems to advocate for meaningful, sustained support. Over time, working across mental health, perinatal care, family and community settings, I saw how often people were expected to “cope” without space to be properly heard or supported. Psychotherapy felt like a natural extension of this work: a way to offer grounded, thoughtful support that honours both individual experience and the wider systems people live within.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  My professional development has been shaped by relational, person-centred and systems-based philosophies, alongside trauma-informed and social justice perspectives. I’m influenced by approaches that value context, meaning and relationship, and that recognise how personal experience is shaped by family, culture, work and broader systems. I also draw from depth-oriented and narrative traditions, alongside practical, evidence-informed methods, which allows me to work flexibly rather than from a single fixed model. Overall, I’m guided by philosophies that prioritise dignity, curiosity, collaboration and care, and that see growth as something that unfolds through understanding, stories, safety and connection rather than quick fixes.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  I’m particularly interested in the parts of the human journey that sit beneath the surface, emotional exhaustion, identity, relationships, grief and the quiet impact of long-term stress. I’m drawn to working with people who are highly capable and caring, yet feel worn down from holding everything together in their work, families or communities. I’m also deeply interested in how life transitions, cultural context and systemic pressures shape wellbeing. I focus on supporting people to reconnect with themselves and others, broadening a network of support, make sense of their experiences, and find ways forward that feel sustainable and authentic.

• What methods do you use?

  I use an integrative, mixed-model approach, drawing on a range of evidence-informed methods depending on the person, their context and what feels most helpful at the time. My work may incorporate relational and trauma-informed therapy, narrative and systems approaches, somatic awareness and exercises, and practical skills-based strategies where appropriate. Rather than relying on a single framework, I work flexibly and collaboratively, allowing the process and the person’s journey and needs to guide the methods used.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  Progress looks different for each person, but many clients begin to notice small shifts within the first few sessions, such as feeling more understood, less alone, or clearer about what they’re dealing with. For others, progress may emerge more gradually as trust builds and patterns become clearer. I see progress not only as symptom relief, but as increased insight, emotional steadiness and a growing sense of choice and self-compassion over time.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  What I value most is the privilege of being trusted with people’s stories. I’m deeply appreciative of the moments when someone feels safe enough to be honest, vulnerable and reflective, and when insight or relief begins to emerge. I also make effort to engage in my own clinical supervision and therapy. I have two people I go to regularly for clinical insight and personal wisdom and it is invaluable.
  
  

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  Being a therapist allows me to witness growth, resilience and change in real time, and to offer a steady, compassionate presence during periods that can feel uncertain or overwhelming. It has also deepened my understanding of the human condition and just how remarkable people are. While patterns exist, no two stories are ever the same. I’m continually in awe of each person’s uniqueness, and deeply grateful for what I learn from clients as I support them through some of life’s most challenging moments.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Absolutely. Yes. I’m human. Some days are messier than others. I think that’s part of what helps me show up with empathy and realism rather than perfection. Therapy isn’t about having it all together; it’s about being present, reflective, and willing to engage honestly, on good hair days and bad ones. For me, it's simply about being honest and genuine in my approach whether I am feeling like a rock star on the day or feeling a bit foggy. I think sometimes when someone can see the imperfection of even their therapist, they can also be a little less harsh on themselves.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  I think one of the most significant challenges we face today is disconnection, from ourselves, from one another, and from meaning. Many people are under constant pressure to perform, cope and keep going, often without adequate support or space to rest or reflect and figure out ways to do things differently, reserve and sustain energy and be kinder to themselves. This disconnection is intensified by social, economic and systemic stressors, and it shows up as burnout, loneliness, perfectionism, self-loathing, guilt and distress. Rebuilding connection, care and understanding at both personal and collective levels feels essential to moving forward.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  For me it is a recent film and a very old book. The film: 2025's If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and the book: 1946's Man’s Search for Meaning.
  
  If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is a sharp, darkly funny and emotionally raw portrayal of burnout, identity strain and the quiet unraveling that occurs when people are expected to keep functioning without pause. It holds deep compassion for exhaustion rather than pathology, allowing humour and humanity to sit alongside distress, without rushing toward neat resolutions.
  
  Man’s Search for Meaning continues to inspire me through its profound exploration of dignity, choice and meaning in the face of suffering. It shows how, even under extreme pressure, individuals can find meaning, process suffering through reflection and expression, and work through profound physical and psychological stressors in order to keep living with purpose.
  
  Together, these works reflect a core belief in my practice: that many of the challenges people face today stem from disconnection, from self, others and meaning, and that healing begins not with fixes, but with understanding, presence and ongoing care for self and from a support network.