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Counselling Services
You’ve done the right thing to be looking into counselling, because if you feel as though you may need some help, it’s good to trust your own instincts. You have the power within yourself to know what you need. All counselling sessions with Val are confidential and safe.
Individual Counselling
In an individual counselling session, a client can expect to have concerns and challenges discussed personally with Val, one on one. In a gentle and trusting environment, work can begin to move towards creating a connection and find solutions to questions and concerns.
Val strongly believes that every problem has a solution. Many times the solutions are there but need to have safety, support and space to manifest what they are. Val believes that everyone has the power within to heal themselves of their emotional challenges, again this power can be found in a gentle, healing place. Counselling offers a place of emotional safety to explore what the answers may be.
Couples Therapy
Val provides a safe and trusted environment where both you and your partner can be heard. If you have a hesitant partner, couples counselling can commence with just you, with the aim of inviting your partner in when he/she is ready. Some of the areas Couples counselling deals with are relationship issues, conflict, communication issues and infidelity and addictions such as gambling. Val’s approach to couples counselling is quite varied. Depending on your needs, you and your partner will be able to seek counselling separately to start with, if necessary. In addition, Val’s experience may also direct you to couples group sessions or refer either of you onto a different practice, depending on any conflict of interest issues that may arise.
Group Therapy
Val is an experienced therapeutic group facilitator in Domestic Violence groups, building Resilience groups for women and in Addiction/Gambling support groups. A supportive environment is provided where resilience can be built, communication skills enhanced and networks formed so that the current situation doesn’t seem so challenging. An opportunity is created to share experiences with others.
Child Therapy
Val’s model concentrates on a ‘play therapy’ model where younger children can feelcomfortable to express themselves through play. Val draws on her combination of 30 years experience to find ways to communicate with young people to help them open up and express themselves. Val endeavours to help the child/adolescent express what they feel to their parents. The child/young person’s safety is paramount as well as building a trusting environment. Believing that a communication journey can begin with counselling every effort is made so that communication can become a regular part of a young person’s lifestyles. In these sessions parents may also benefit from being taught additional parenting skills.
FIFO Counselling
Fly In Fly Out. The challenges with FIFO are far reaching and can affect all family members. Val adopts a broad spectrum of styles of communication. Sometimes geographically challenged, Val can follow up with all family members. When employing FIFO employees, companies may begin to see improvements in staff morale by simply creating an environment allowing employees to speak with Val whether in person or by phone to help them keep their feet on the ground. Val has personal experience with fly in fly out and has frequently attended mine sites to assist with accidents and lay-offs.
It is her experience that many times staff wish for counselling in a more confidential setting and are prepared to pay fees for this service rather that avail themselves of the company free counselling services. Our fees are affordable and our support can be accessed from remote locations.
Web sites that assist:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Parent Helpline 1300 364 100
Mens Helpline 9223 1199
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
SANE
Headwest/Headspace
Grow
ARAFMI - Association for the relatives and friends of the mentally ill.
Carers WA
Mental Health Direct Line=1800 220400
Trauma Counselling
Some people seem able to cope with difficult traumatic events and some can be severelyaffected by a traumatic event. Trauma affects everyone differently and can manifest itself immediately, or many years after the event. Some of the bodily responses to trauma can include: flash backs, sleep disturbances, fear and mood swings. Often incorrectly diagnosed as a mental illness.
Ones behaviour can change and this is often a sign for family members to bring a person to counselling. For example, an otherwise happy person withdraws and becomes isolated, substance abuse can occur, suicidal thoughts may begin. There can be an increase in the startle reflex.
All the above can also lead to having sexual problems and an inability or fear of relating socially to people, causing more withdrawal and more isolation. Anxiety and depression can take hold and panic attacks can begin with no known cause or reason to the person.
If some of these reactions are happening for you it may be time to speak with Val, or to seek help elsewhere.
Domestic Violence Counselling
Val provides a unique approach to domestic violence with clients being able to come and express their innermost fears and work through issues to create strategies. Strategies to either stay in an abusive relationship and be safe or strategies to leave the abusive relationship and be safe. Confidentiality and safety are paramount in all of Val’s sessions. These sessions are aimed at building resistance, resilience and empowerment. Val has many years working in the DV environment and because of this she has extensive knowledge for referrals and other supports available. She is very familiar with the legal system and the requirements of the family court system.
Professional Mentoring
Allowing professionals to create new pathways to build self confidence and pursue the goals that they never thought they could achieve. This also extends to students undertaking counselling degrees or courses.
Clinical Supervision
Val has provided support to a number of professionals working in the counselling arena. She is passionate about peer support and works hard at supporting other professionals to navigate difficult challenges that sometimes can throw one off course. Her supportive sessions are affordable and relaxed.
A forum is created to bounce ideas off someone who is highly experienced and trained in the counselling arena.