INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING

Using strength-based practice, our counsellor is guided by the clients capabilities and what they identify as strengths to support change. Underlining this is working within an attachment-based framework, addressing any past experiences that may be influencing the client's presenting issues. The role of the counsellor is to find out what ways the client has been impacted by their issues and work with the client to find answers or a way forward. Counselling sessions are for 60 mins. 

FAMILY COUNSELLING

Applying a progressive model of change, our counsellor works within a family systems therapy framework that acknowledges interpersonal connections between family members while supporting individual change for each member. Some of the topics addressed in sessions have included communication styles and language, boundaries, strengths and alignments between family members, and historic trauma and working towards positive resolutions. Counselling sessions are for 60 - 90 mins., depending on the number of family members present.


SANDPLAY AND PLAY THERAPY
Therapeutic interventions used in conjunction with counselling, sandplay and play therapy are used in sessions with children and adolescents to support transition and healing. Play therapy is an effective means of responding to the mental health needs of young people, and is widely accepted as a valuable and developmentally appropriate intervention for trauma and abuse. Our counsellor is specifically trained to use sandplay and play therapy as the basis of therapeutic interactions, with both children and families.

FAMILY VIOLENCE COUNSELLING

NEXT STEPS
A family violence counselling program that supports victim-survivors who are or have experienced domestic abuse. The counselling sessions are designed to support clients individual emotional wellbeing and self-care, whilst identifying the impacts of trauma and abuse. The program can work in conjunction with other service systems (e.g. family services/ child protection, parenting programs, adolescent group therapy) and complimentary psychological treatments, or clients can attend independently. Conducted in a safe and confidential space, clients receive one-on-one counselling supporting their safety, agency, autonomy and self-efficacy. To enter this program it requires a referral.

MENTEGRITY
A men’s family violence counselling program that supports adults who use family violence, with the focus on adopting change towards non-violent behaviour. This program can work in conjunction with a Mens Behaviour Change program or clients can attend independently. The counselling sessions are designed to support in-depth exploration by the client, addressing historical grief and trauma, and the attachment to violence and abuse. In particular, sessions focus on adopting a more acceptable perpsective of their psychological and emotional well-being where abuse and violence has no place, and respect of self and others becomes the norm. To enter this program, a client can self refer or a referral can be made by an agency.


TRAINING
Introduction to Family Violence and MARAM training is available for private organisations, community services, small business groups, or individuals interested in working with clients experiencing family violence in their service sector. Some organisations that have received the training have included:

• Star Health

• Family Life

• Good Shepherd

• Anglicare

• Orange Door

• Kingston City Council

SUPERVISION
Clinical supervision is available for professionals and students from social work, youth work, family violence and counselling disciplines.