WHAT IS COUNSELLING
- Our practice is strengths-based and client orientated.
- Working together to clarify problems in a positive way.
- To explore, identify options and outcomes, develop strategies and increase self-awareness.
- Counselling is done by qualified professionals who undertake regular training to continue developing their skills and information base.
- Counselling can be about talking or can involve the counsellor and client working together to practice and develop skills such as mindfulness, role play, learning cards, expressive therapies (such as sand-play, Interactive Drawing Therapy, clay therapy) etc.
- People may attend counselling to work on issues such as self-development and improved awareness of self, wellbeing, relationships, health issues (for example holistically dealing with health issues such as managing symptoms from a non-medical perspective where you are already being supported by a GP), developing strategies to help overcome current challenges ongoing relationships, historical issues such as post-traumatic stress, divorce, grief. Other issues may include but are not limited to parenting (including Child Safety), probation and parole, youth justice, anger management, self-esteem, self-care, stress management, assertiveness.
- We provide a culturally appropriate service which is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse individuals.
- We are to provide services to individuals who have special needs.
- When we are not able to support you in the way necessary, we are able to provide a referral to suitable organisations.
- We take referrals from individuals or from other services such as GP’s, Mental Health, Child Safety, Department of Corrective Services, Alcohol and Other Drug Services, Job Networks, Centrelink.
WHAT IS CONFIDENTIALITY?
Since December 2001 the Centre has been bound by new sections of the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 which sets out principles relating to protecting your personal information.
The following is information this Act requires us to tell to all our clients.
CLIENT’S RIGHT TO CONFIDENTIALITY
Confidentiality refers to the premise that what you say to your counsellor, stays with your counsellor. By law and by ethical obligation, workers of the Rockhampton Women’s Health Centre are not permitted to divulge information regarding clients except in the proper course of their duties or as permitted by WHIRS or as required by law.
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Your information is protected by the Privacy & Personal Information Protection Act 1998.
Any Information shared during the consultation with Centre professional staff will be kept confidential with those staff members.
Information about you, the client, will only be disclosed to others outside the Centre with your consent via a ‘Consent to Release Information’ form.
Rockhampton Women’s Health Centre counsellors operate from a Strengths-Based perspective, which means all notes and records kept are yours and that you have the right to ask to see these at any time.
For library borrowing and financial membership, we collect your name, address and telephone number.
HOW YOUR INFORMATION IS USED
The Centre collects necessary information directly from you, with your permission. Some information is collected for statistical purposes only and contains no personal information such as name, address or telephone number.
DISCLOSING YOUR INFORMATION
All client records are stored in lockable filing cabinets.
We only disclose information with permission from you.
The exception is if information needs to be obtained by a statutory. That means:
- If the police have a warrant to search and/or seize a client file
- Where there is a danger to you, the client or another person or
- Client files are subpoenaed
UP TO DATE INFORMATION
The Women’s Health Centre aims to keep your personal information up to date.
Please check the information you have given us for errors, and let us know if you’ve had a change of address or telephone etc.
You can access your personal information kept at this Centre by asking your counsellor for access to your file.
Please address all correspondence to:
Manager – Confidential
Women’s Health Centre
PO Box 472
Rockhampton 4700
WHO COMES TO COUNSELLING?
Anyone who is struggling, or would like to improve their life and wellbeing can seek counselling. No issue is too big or too small. Sometimes it can help to have someone outside of your situation to hear what is going on for you, particularly if you do not have many social and family supports in place.
Those who come to counselling don’t necessarily have ‘big problems’ or consider that what they are dealing with is a problem. They come to talk, and we can listen.
Coming to counselling is also an opportunity to develop further supports for yourself, reduce isolation and be involved in groups and workshops which may further inform and assist you.
WHAT ARE THE SERVICES WE OFFER?
We are able to provide individualised services to meet the needs of specified groups such as:
- Schools – counselling, information sessions (self-esteem, self-awareness, sexual education, healthy relationships, bullying, safe use of technology, alcohol and drugs, etc)
- Corporate – professional development, supervision, counselling for EAP, information sessions. When necessary and appropriate, we are able to attend the place of your employment to provide these services (such as in-service sessions).
- Community Ed – Information sessions on user identified topics such as perimenopause, wellbeing, sexual education, cultural awareness.
- Festivals/Fetes/Expos – information stalls about our service, in which we could provide resources on specified topics (such as about our library, other resources we have available, newsletters, etc)
- NGO’s & GO’s – As above and as required. We do our best to cover most areas of health and wellbeing.