Overview
Background
Jim Schirmer is an Lecturer in the Master of Counselling Program, and has taught into that program in a variety of roles since 2012. He specialises in teaching and supervising ethics and professional practice, counselling theories, family therapy, and practitioner-research, and is active in scholarship of teaching in this area. His background is in the humanities - specifically philosophy, ethics and theology - and maintains an interest in exploring the integration of these intellectual traditions within the theory and practice of psychotherapy. His doctoral research follows this trend in exploring ways to identify and develop virtues, strengths and values in the character of the counsellor which have potential to enhance the outcome of psychotherapy. He brings close to 20 years’ experience in the human services field, specialising in working with adolescents and with refugee survivors of trauma, and maintains close connections to the field of professional practice.
Availability
- Mr Jim Schirmer is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework) of Counselling, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Jim Schirmer’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Book
The practice of counselling and psychotherapy
O'Hara, Denis, Schirmer, Jim, Ellwood, Michael and Witteveen, Kate (2025). The practice of counselling and psychotherapy. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/109db44
2025
Journal Article
Are professional counsellors and psychotherapists prepared to make a greater contribution to the Australian mental health workforce? A comparison of training content and mental health standards
Schirmer, Jim, Ellwood, Michael W., Witteveen, Kate and O'Hara, Denis (2025). Are professional counsellors and psychotherapists prepared to make a greater contribution to the Australian mental health workforce? A comparison of training content and mental health standards. Advances in Mental Health, 23 (1), 126-139. doi: 10.1080/18387357.2024.2347434
2023
Journal Article
Increasing complexity in case formulation: a process for counseling and psychotherapy trainees
Schirmer, Jim (2023). Increasing complexity in case formulation: a process for counseling and psychotherapy trainees. IAPS Journal of Practice in Mental Health, 1 (2), 62-69. doi: 10.4103/IJPMH.IJPMH_11_23
2023
Conference Publication
Virtues in action: exploring traits that have sustained experienced counsellors in the demands of practice
Schirmer, Jim (2023). Virtues in action: exploring traits that have sustained experienced counsellors in the demands of practice. Australian Counselling Association, Sydney, Australia, 30 September-1 October 2023.
2022
Conference Publication
Virtue in Psychotherapy: how philosophy and psychology could unravel therapist effects
Schirmer, Jim (2022). Virtue in Psychotherapy: how philosophy and psychology could unravel therapist effects. Australasian Society for Philosophy and Psychology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17-19 February 2022.
2021
Conference Publication
The supervision in counselling survey: results and implications for the profession
Schirmer, Jim and Thompson, Sonia (2021). The supervision in counselling survey: results and implications for the profession. Supervision in Turbulent Times, Online, 24 November 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Supervision from two perspectives: comparing supervisor and supervisee experiences
Schirmer, Jim and Thompson, Sonia (2021). Supervision from two perspectives: comparing supervisor and supervisee experiences. Australian Counselling Research Journal, 15 (Spring Special Issue), 33-39.
2021
Other Outputs
Evidence of focused psychological strategies provided by counsellors and psychotherapists: a systematic scoping review
Schirmer, Jim, Witteveen, Kate and O'Hara, Denis (2021). Evidence of focused psychological strategies provided by counsellors and psychotherapists: a systematic scoping review. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/edfa455
2021
Journal Article
Supervision in counselling: a national report on the practice, content and value of supervision
Schirmer, Jim and Thompson, Sonia (2021). Supervision in counselling: a national report on the practice, content and value of supervision. Counselling Australia, 22 (4), 10-26.
2020
Journal Article
Common practice elements of school-based trauma interventions for children and adolescents exhibiting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review
Du Mello Kenyon, Georgina and Schirmer, Jim (2020). Common practice elements of school-based trauma interventions for children and adolescents exhibiting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 30 (2), 112-128. doi: 10.1017/jgc.2019.31
2019
Conference Publication
“Lest we become monsters ourselves”: moral distress for trauma recovery workers
Schirmer, Jim (2019). “Lest we become monsters ourselves”: moral distress for trauma recovery workers. Australian and New Zealand Refugee Trauma Recovery in Resettlement Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 27-29 March 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Transformative Learning Experiences of Counsellor Trainees: Studying student experiences to inform pedagogy
Schirmer, Jim (2019). Transformative Learning Experiences of Counsellor Trainees: Studying student experiences to inform pedagogy. Asia Pacific Rim Confederation of Counsellors Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 27-29 September 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
A philosophy of ethos: A Virtue Ethics formulation of the professions
Schirmer, Jim (2019). A philosophy of ethos: A Virtue Ethics formulation of the professions. Professional Futures Conference: Challenges and opportunities for 21st Century professions, Brisbane, Australia, 5-8 February 2019.
2019
Journal Article
From ethics to ethos: an expanded agenda for counsellor training and development
Schirmer, Jim (2019). From ethics to ethos: an expanded agenda for counsellor training and development. Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia, 7 (1). doi: 10.59158/001c.71110
2018
Journal Article
The person of the counsellor in the outcome of counselling: the science of therapist effects and the potential of reform for evidence-based practice
Schirmer, Jim (2018). The person of the counsellor in the outcome of counselling: the science of therapist effects and the potential of reform for evidence-based practice. Counselling Australia, 18 (3), 34-40.
2018
Conference Publication
What do professions profess? Ethos, virtue and the potential for moral leadership from the professions
Schirmer, Jim (2018). What do professions profess? Ethos, virtue and the potential for moral leadership from the professions. Ethics in a Crowded World: AAPAE Conference 2018, Melbourne, Australia, 5-7 September 2018. Australian Association for Professional & Applied Ethics.
2018
Conference Publication
From stress to strength: exploring the intersection of counsellors’ professional challenges and personal growth
Schirmer, Jim (2018). From stress to strength: exploring the intersection of counsellors’ professional challenges and personal growth. From Strength to Strength: Building Resilience through Counselling, Melbourne, 7-9 September 2018. Australian Counselling Association.
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Mr Jim Schirmer is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Mr Jim Schirmer's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: