Journeying Possibilities

All photography provided by Yap Ying Ying

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE

Abstinence from substances is not a requirement to attend. I welcome people who have substance use issues or who have used substances as a coping strategy. The therapy and work is based in values of care, connection, practical support and trust in the ability of people of people to find their own path.

violence

Given the high incidence of violence and sexual abuse in our community, i will pay specific attention to these potential areas for discussion. I hold the value that sexual abuse and violence in its many forms are never acceptable, and prioritising the safety of adults and children will be a guiding principle in any conversations about these issues.

In conversations with adults and/or children who have been subjected to violence and/or abuse, I will take care to approach these conversations in ways that do not infer blame or promote experiences of shame, which are often reasons why people find it difficult to discuss their experiences. I will also acknowledge and discuss ways of dealing with difficult times.

In conversations with people who have been violent and/or abusive to others, I will endeavour to support and assist the person to take steps to ensure the safety of other adults and children, and to engage in acts of redress in whatever way possible. I also recognise that some people who seek counselling wish to speak about times when they have been subjected to violence or sexual abuse, as well as times in which they have enacted violence or abuse towards others. I am committed to making it possible for individuals, couples and families to speak about these issues, to deal with past experiences and to prevent further harm.

feedback and evaluation

As i am committed to responding to your evaluation of the counselling service you receive, we provide a number of ways to invite your feedback:

• During counselling, I will ask you about how the conversations are going. In this way, you will have the opportunity to inform the direction of the counselling.
•  I will give you an evaluation form to complete regarding your experience of the service you’ve received. It is entirely up to you whether you fill this out, but we do encourage you to take up this more formal opportunity.
• You can also provide feedback in drawings, letters or poems.

All feedback that i receive is taken seriously. Evaluation forms are read and taken to supervision discussions during which ways of acting on feedback will be discussed. A verbal or written response will be provided to anyone who offers feedback if they indicate they would like this.

TAKING CARE WITH CONFIDENTIALITY

Any information you discuss with your counsellor on the phone or in person is confidential under the following guidelines, which your counsellor would be happy to explain in more detail:

• When information is given by one member of a family it will be kept confidential from other members of the family unless permission has been given to disclose this information.
• If your counsellor has concerns about your personal safety or the safety of others they are legally obliged to share information to a third party.
• Your counsellor has a commitment to receiving supervision. During this supervision, details of your conversations with the counsellor may be shared with the supervisor and this will be done respectfully. This supervision is an important process in order for counsellors to provide the best possible service to the people who seek consultations. You have the right to know from whom your counsellor receives supervision.
• Counselling notes are written during sessions so that it is possible to keep a record of your words, the issues discussed, ideas that have been developed in the counselling, your contact details, and the names of other people you may mention who are key supports. You can discuss your counselling notes at any time with your counsellor. We keep a copy of these notes in a secured filing cabinet and they are considered confidential. If we need to discuss any of these details with another professional agency we will seek and gain written permission from you before doing so.
• Some people like to take a video or audio recording of their counselling sessions home with them to watch again later. With appropriate permission, these recordings can also be helpful for your counsellor. It will be completely up to you whether your counselling sessions are recorded. If recordings are made, your counsellor has a responsibility to talk with you about the ways your tape recording could be helpful to you and/or others and who would have access to the recording. You will have a choice as to whether to go ahead or not.
• There may come a time in the counselling when you wish to invite other people to witness the positive steps that you are taking in your life, because people often find this very helpful. Many of the people who choose to help in this way have faced similar problems in the past and can therefore really appreciate what you’re up against and the significance of the steps that you are taking. If I think it might be a good idea to involve other people in the counselling process (either in person, over the phone, or by letter or email) they might suggest this and explain its purpose. It will be completely up to you whether you choose to take up this option or not. If you agree to involve a supportive person, issues of confidentiality will be explained and agreed to before this goes ahead.