Here to listen

How we’re helping bring affordable counselling to the community

A collaboration between Avondale and one of the largest op shops in Australia will soon bring affordable counselling to our local community.

One-hour sessions will be offered by qualified counsellors and supervised final-year counselling students at the Morisset ADRA Op Shop on Mondays and Wednesdays from March 1.

“After working extensively with community, one of the largest needs we’ve identified is mental health,” says op shop manager Dr Paul Rankin. “So, we think offering counselling at an affordable rate will help.” It should. Counselling coordinator Lana Hibbard says getting access to a practitioner in the local area is difficult. “Even if you have a mental health care plan from a GP, you’re often waiting a long time to see a psychologist.” And few bulk bill. So, ADRA Counselling Morisset clients will pay for only what they can afford according to their income, with sessions ranging from $30 to $100.

Sophie Carver is one of the counselling students. Completing her first placement in her final year, “I want to start putting my skills to use, but I’m aware this means dealing with real-life issues. That’s a big responsibility.” She knows. As an off-campus student during the COVID lockdowns and a carer for a family member with a severe mental illness, Sophie experienced feelings of isolation and loneliness “but couldn’t afford to see a counsellor.” She contacted the Well-being Centre at Avondale, which offers a free service to staff members and students—and where Lana is the lead clinical counsellor. That helped. As did meeting other students in her class at a couple of on-campus intensives this past year. “Because I work from home as well, my whole world is at home, so I looked forward to coming for weeks.”

The Graduate Diploma in Counselling will be Sophie’s third degree—she has others in primary teaching and in special education. “It feels like a natural progression,” particularly for “a quieter person who prefers one-on-one interaction”—Sophie found the classroom challenging but enjoyed connecting with students, their parents and their teachers in a part-time chaplaincy role.

The placement at ADRA Counselling Morisset will help Sophie and other students “grow in confidence as they listen to their clients and draw on what they’ve read in textbooks and learnt from case studies,” says Lana. “Their lecturers and clinical supervisors tell them, and I tell them, ‘Trust the process.’”

As the number of clients increases, ADRA Counselling Morisset plans to expand so it can continue to meet community needs. And while “no one gets turned away,” clients who want to address issues related to domestic violence, drug or alcohol addiction or specialised mental health conditions, or who need diagnosis, will be referred to specialist services.

The Morisset ADRA Op Shop donates proceeds for the benefit of the local community. And as the largest aligned with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Australia, it is staffed by 150 volunteers, all of whom will have access to counselling at a subsidised rate. Chris Tabor has volunteered at the op shop since October last year. A “pretty tough upbringing,” a homeless stint and serving as a carer for her father, husband and son means Chris has life experience from which to draw when in conversation with customers and colleagues. “Having someone to talk to does help,” she says.

To book a one-hour session, call ADRA Counselling Morisset on 0432 293 832 or email [email protected].