Child counselling in the Better Place Australia Supporting Children After Separation Program in Melbourne  (SCaSP) provides a safe space for children of separating parents to express their feelings about what they are experiencing. It can also contribute to separated parents learning more parenting after separation skills.
Through SCaSP, Better Place Australia clinicians aim to achieve positive outcomes for the child, including:
- an increased ability to better understand and manage their feelings
- decreased levels of stress and anxiety
- addressing challenging behaviours
- improved communication skills and problem solving
- an increased ability to trust and form healthy relationships.
SCaSP is available to children from the age of 5 – 18 and can be delivered in person one-on-one or via telehealth, but how does it all work?.
Child counsellor with Better Place Australia, Deanne King, shares, “First step is the Intake Assessment. This is where a Better Place Australia clinician will meet with you one-on-one and discuss the concerns that you have with your child. We use this appointment to ensure SCaSP is the right service for you, as well as assessing risk and explaining confidentiality.
“If it is safe and appropriate to do so, we then arrange a one-on-one appointment with the second parent. This is because we need comprehensive information about the situation to provide the best possible support for your young person’s individual needs.
“After speaking with the second parent about your child and the concerns the second parent may have, and if the matter is deemed appropriate for child counselling, the next step is having a one-on-one appointment with your child.
“A clinician will meet with your child, normally in a one-on-one scenario. The first five counselling sessions with your child are then conducted. The child could be anywhere between 5 and 18 years of age, so we tailor the sessions to their demographic, individual goals and needs.
“After conducting five sessions with your child, we have a one-on-one meeting individually with each parent that has completed an assessment individually. Due to confidentiality, it is where the clinician discusses information that the child has approved to be fed back to the parents. This includes any suggestions by the clinician to help continue the support at home.
“After the feedback session, we continue with another five counselling sessions, usually one-on-one with the child, adapting any goals or needs that may have changed over the first five sessions. At the end of the last five sessions with the child, the clinician will touch base with parents who completed an assessment and will offer any additional feedback or referral suggestions to ensure the family is feeling supported and empowered moving forward.”
Contact Better Place Australia
Better Place Australia Supporting Children After Separation Program sees positive outcomes for children and separated parents. If you are separated or you’re navigating separation and feel like your child would benefit from Better Place Australia Supporting Children After Separation Program in Melbourne, contact Better Place Australia.
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