Counselling and social work
What is counselling?
Counselling is a chance to work with a professional counsellor to make positive changes in your life. Counselling can help you to sort through thoughts and feelings in a safe environment, and to find strategies to help you cope with difficult situations.
Your counsellor will not tell you what to do but rather, will work with you to find a strategy that may help you to improve your situation.
The length of a counselling session is approximately one hour with the frequency and number of sessions negotiated between you and your counsellor. The following are issues that people frequently discuss in counselling:
- Anxiety/depression
- Grief and loss
- Domestic violence
- Adjustment to illness or injury
- Relationship/family issues
- Anger/stress management
As well as providing counselling for individuals and families, social workers can assist with referrals to other appropriate services when necessary. Social Workers can also be an advocate for their clients.
Cost
There are no fees charged for counselling/social work services. Contact Community Health for an appointment by phoning (03) 5761 4500.
Your responsibility
We ask you to:
- Respect the privacy of all other clients using our service
- Keep appointments and notify reception if you are unable to attend
- Give health professionals all the information that might assist in your treatment
- Keep up treatment plans that you have agreed to
- Respect the rights of staff to be treated politely and with respect
Limitations on confidentiality
Whatever you discuss with your counsellor will be treated as confidential. If information is to be shared with other organisations then your permission must be given. In some cases though, we must disclose information:
- If there is a risk that you are going to hurt yourself or others
- If your counsellor believes you have committed a serious crime
- If a court of law subpoenas information about you.
Free counselling phone services
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Suicide Helpline: 1800 187 263
- Gamblers Helpline: 1800 858 858
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
- Parentline: 1800 880 660