Page 22 - AYC Annual Report 2017 - 2018

Adolecent & Family

18. Counsellor Program

The Adolescent and Family Counsellor Program is a free service available to young people and their families living in and around
the Cumberland LGA. The program has two key components
1. case work and therapeutic Counselling
2. psycho educational group work.

This year presented its challenges with Helena Bozich our Counsellor leaving in February of 2018 and being on leave prior to this
point. Whilst AYC went through 2 recruitment processes to engage a new Counsellor we focused on case work intervention and
group work.

This year our Adolescent and Family Program has provided outcome focused support and programs to over 600 people in
2017/18 with the vast majority of this support coming through our group work activities. This is a major growth in support from
previous years due to the focus on group work. A big thankyou to Shafia Birem who developed and delivered a majority of our
group work in 2017/18.

Counselling and Case Work

This year 26 young people were supported though therapeutic counselling and case work with a recorded total of 152
sessions in this time. 17 support people / families members were included in various sessions throughout 2017/18. The hiatus in
employment of a counsellor reduced our support numbers in 2017/18.

We utilised a person centred and strength based approach to our case work to achieve
outcomes for young people. 8 people were supported through formal casework. Presenting
issues included homelessness, family violence, truancy/suspension and offending behaviour.
Whilst these may be the presenting issues there have been an array of associated behaviours
and personal issues such as anger, isolation, mental health and trauma that have clearly
been part of the presenting matter. In each of our supports our major goals were achieved.

Our therapeutic Counselling covered issues of family relationships, offending behaviour,
anxiety and depression and mental health. AYC used an integrative model of Counselling
including modalities such as Narrative, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Expressive Arts and
Commitment Therapy all underpinned by a Person Centred approach. Using this model we
achieved collaborative goals and produced positive changes in wellbeing and relationships
for the young people using the program.

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