Toltu Tufa
Toltu Tufa
Psychologist. Speaker. Consultant.
Psychologist. Speaker. Consultant.
Meet Toltu Tufa: Your Melbourne Psychologist for Wellbeing and Growth
I don't follow trends.
I don't make you feel awkward.
And I don't believe single methods work for all.
And that really makes all the difference.
You are not just looking for 'a psychologist' or 'a speaker'. You want to lead children, staff and communities who feel safe, seen and heard.
If you think you need to be an expert to explore tricky conversations, think again.
As someone who presents very confidently, I would experience privately overwhelming dread around conversations I did not know the answers to. I would rather the earth swallowed me up than to engage in conversations that started from openly exploring my own differences, my flaws and my vulnerabilities. How's that for irony?
The truth is, becoming a psychologist shined a glaring spotlight on everything I tried to run away from in my life, including my role in casually avoiding difficult conversations.
That's why when I do this job, I'm all about replacing your internal panic with compassionate ways to engage with with even the trickiest or distressing topics. Because I never want you to quietly freak out when your staff, congregation or children confront you with *tricky* disclosures and conversations. I want you to feel like no matter how tough the terrain becomes, you've got this in your pocket, and I've already slipped you the notes you need.
I am all about.....
Authenticity
To me, authenticity is the spark that truly ignites others.
Attunement
Because a connection is not enough, its the quality of the connection that matters.
Empowerment
Because I know that deep down, you already have the answers within you.
Consciousness
If you allow your own consciousness to be awakened, you can truly transform the the solutions you seek for yourself.
My superpower is taking an overused message and turning it into the thing that makes you truly stand out.
This might surprise you...
17 years ago, I was invited to attend a prestigious event in recognition of my professional achievements. On the day of the awards, l was told I no longer had a job.
I remember walking back to my desk, my cheeks flushed with anger. I had been working non-stop for the last 18 months creating *award worthy* achievements; I felt completely gutted. Believe it or not, I happened to win the award later that evening and ironically, I was offered (another) even more fantastic job on the same night! But still, over my growing years of work experiences, degrees and accolades, I couldn't ignore how my expertise, passions and talents felt they were constantly being used like condiments on a meal, rather than being offered as the meal itself.
I knew something had to change.
I noticed that all of the non-stop 'work' I committed towards throughout my life seemed to have one thing in common: my passion for amplifying voices that are traditionally ignored or silenced. Even though the silence is deafening on many issues that I am passionate about, the practical solutions kept beckoning me to make a move. And even though my hands were full with a successful psychology clinic, global initiatives in native language retention and raising beautiful children, I casually agreed to make a reel following the suggestion of a renowned parenting coach on the other side of the world. Let's just say that 60 second reel changed everything.
The requests started to come in thick and fast...parents, schools, conferences, places of workship and corporates. People desperately seeking ways to pivot their perspectives, lean into their authenticity and amplify their voices in ways that celebrate their diversity and inspire a sense of community. Within months, I was presenting at national conferences, signing book deals, consulting for schools and presenting to communities on global platforms. Now as a sexual educator for parents and schools, my expertise, passion and talents have come full circle. As a mother, a psychologist, a woman of color, a consultant and a cultural advocate, I choose to share a smorgasboard of delights that nurture my 'zone of genius'. And the best past for me isn't offering you a wonderful meal to enjoy - it is seeing how it can, quite literally, change your life.
My professional bio
Toltu Tufa, BA (Psychology), PostGradDip (Psychology), M.Ed (Leadership), M.ProfPsych.
Toltu Tufa is a practicing psychologist, distinguished public speaker and award-winning sexual educator. With a focus on both prevention and clinical intervention, Toltu has worked extensively in the assessment and treatment of people convicted of sexually harming others and provides treatment for victim survivors of sexual abuse.
Beyond her work with individuals, Toltu engages in consultancy services for schools. With additional post graduate studies in Education, Toltu supports school leadership and wellbeing teams to better address problem sexual behaviours as well as develop culturally, religiously, clinically and age responsive sexual education resources for parents, teachers and learners.
Get to know me: Trivia Edition
My Myers Briggs Personality Type
ESFJ *major extrovert*
My first job was for
An insurance company.
The most used app on my phone
Whatsapp.
Fun fact
I'm left handed!
My perfect day would start with
A good night's sleep.
My secret talent is
I can tie shoelaces.... FAST.
Feel like we're the right fit?
Let's find what you're looking for and share with me how you would like to collaborate. Let's take action together, I'd love to get to know you!
