Counselling
Counselling adults, young people, kids in Brisbane
At LifeCare, we provide professional counselling support and a range of counselling services to adults, young people, children and their families in the Brisbane area.
Counselling involves sitting with a counsellor for 1 hour to discuss your situation in a safe and supportive environment. Counselling provides a therapeutic relationship between a client and a qualified counsellor. As in any new relationship, it involves a ‘getting-to-know you’ period, and it is important that you feel comfortable with the counsellor’s way of working.
Counselling is both professional and intentional. In difficult circumstances, friends and family are sometimes unable to provide an objective viewpoint. A counsellor can offer this objectivity so that you gain insight and learn strategies to assist in managing your situation.
For more details of our counselling services please see below.
Counselling Adults, Young people & Kids
LifeCare offers counselling to people of all ages. The process and delivery is individualised. This means that adults searching for say, clarity around their journey in life, will receive counselling focused on exploration and finding direction whereas an individual who is struggling with a recent relationship breakdown will engage in counselling that addresses the myriad losses involved in that challenge. The strategies and models utilised will vary from client to client and issue to issue.
LifeCare counsellors are familiar with several evidence-based models including Personal-centred therapy, Solution-Focused therapy, Family Systems therapy, Cognitive Behavioural therapy, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, Trauma-focused therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
It is critical that counselling is underpinned by a strong awareness of the developmental stage of the client. Young people and children process their concerns differently to mature adults. The counselling they engage in must be sensitive to this. Play therapy, bibliotherapy, therapeutic games and psycho-education are all strategies that might be utilised when working with young people.
Common issues we can help with
At LifeCare we can successfully assist your child or adolescent with issues relating to… Divorce/separation | Parents/boundaries | Separation anxiety | Abuse (sexual, physical, emotional) | Fears/phobias | Self-esteem | Bullying | Transitions (school, home) | Grief and loss | Friendships | School issues | Disabilities |
Relationship Counselling
Relationship counselling is appropriate for anyone seeking to improve their relationships with others, or for those coming to terms with the end of a relationship.
Relationship counselling assists couples to address challenges in their relationship. Couples can attend together and the LifeCare counsellor will assist in the expression of their difficulties, providing guidance in learning how to recognise the feelings behind the words/actions and discover a more positive way of being in the relationship. You will reach new levels of closeness, confidence, security and satisfaction.
Contrary to popular belief, relationship counselling is not just for couples, and is also suitable for people who are single and who want to move into a loving, functional and mutually rewarding relationship. Sometimes relationships come to an end. The LifeCare counsellor can assist you to manage this difficult experience.
Common issues we can help with
Conflict resolution | Creative problem solving | Interpersonal communication | Intimacy/creating love and affection | Sexuality | Anxiety and depression | Trust and infidelity | Power and control | Managing grief and loss/anger | Deciding to stay or leave | Trauma | Addiction | Work-home life balance |
Grief & Loss
Loss can be loss of hope for the future as well as loss in the past. Loss may also include loss of a way of life, person, relationship, partner, home, job, or loss through illness. Grief is the emotional, physical and behavioural reaction to loss and is an entirely unique experience for each individual.
There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to grieve, but our LifeCare Counsellors can assist you to learn safe and effective ways of processing your grief and finding new ways to incorporate your loss in your life.
Common issues we can help with
Support is available for loss associated with: Divorce/separation | Death | Reproductive loss | Transitions: such as moving house/country, changing jobs or children leaving home | Friendships |
Child Inclusive Mediation
Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM) is a process whereby a child’s views and wishes around parenting arrangements can be communicated to the parents. It is the only process in Australia that enables the child’s voice to be heard in a non-judicial platform.
CIM forms part of an overall mediation process and is usually recommended for children over 10 years old.
What does the process look like?
CIM involves a session with each parent and each child – separately. On the day of the scheduled mediation, along with the mediator, the therapist will offer their professional opinion about what sort of parenting arrangement is likely to be in the children’s best interests.
Mediation is confidential and opinions offered during mediation cannot be used in subsequent family court proceedings
Family Law Reports
LifeCare Family Consultants can provide Family Reports for Independent Children’s Lawyers, and private individuals who are involved in disputes around children whose parents have separated or who are unable to provide adequate parenting.
Addiction Treatment & Support
Facilitated by Amelia De Campo (BSW) and Dr Ingrid McGuffog, D&M Consultants offer a holistic, non-medical and unique approach to addiction and recovery based on academic research and lived experience.
Their target client group are ‘functioning addicts’ who haven’t lost everything. For more details, please see the D&M Consultants website for more information.
Anger Management Program
Facilitated by Psychologist Ian Polglase, this program can be individually tailored to focus on the specific challenges facing a client.
Additionally, Ian has specialist training in the area of domestic violence and is committed to education and training for professionals and individuals who require support and guidance.
Post-Separation Parenting Support
Jude Tapp has been associated with LifeCare for over 5 years. Prior to completing her Master of Counselling, Jude was a school teacher, with experience in the public, private and alternative education domains. Jude has proficiency in the therapeutic space within our supervised contact centre and provides a range of post-separation parenting support and counselling. Jude also undertakes private family reports.
For more information, please contact Jude directly via email: jude@judetapp.com.au
Prenatel, Grief & Disability Counselling
Carly Kelly-Fairweather is a clinical counsellor with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) for the past 18 years, Carly is experienced and committed to supporting women, men and families throughout the challenges of life.
Carly has a particular focus in the area of perinatal mental health, grief and loss, and disability.
Tele-Health Counselling
Stefanie gained a Master of Counselling with Distinction with a specialisation in Child, Youth & Family Therapy, thus understanding the complexities behind relationships, and counselling over the lifespan. Stefanie utilises various interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution-Focused, Family Systems and Relationship Therapy, Gestalt, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness and Relaxation techniques.
For more information, please contact Stefanie via her website https://www.stefaniedecampo.com/
Life caring thoughts
With over four decades working in the helping professions, in a range of contexts associated with psychological wellbeing, it is not surprising that Susan is frequently asked by colleagues, students, supervisees and clients to share her insights and knowledge in a more accessible way. So, here it is. This blog will provide regular commentary on various aspects of Susan’s work.
