29/11/2017 YOUTH HEALTH FORUM Uniting Counselling & Mediation Programs Options (Parramatta only) Gambling (Campbelltown, Wollongong) Family breakup: Supporting young people Keeping Contact (Parramatta, Newcastle, Sydney CBD) Anchor (Parramatta, Sydney CBD, Newcastle, Gosford, Campbelltown, through separation and conflict Penrith, Fairfield, Wollongong) Couple Counselling (Parramatta, Sydney CBD, Newcastle, Gosford, Penrith, Wollongong, Campbelltown) Individual Counselling (Parramatta, Sydney CBD, Newcastle, Gosford, 29 November 2017 Penrith, Wollongong, Campbelltown) Family Dispute Resolution (Parramatta, Sydney CBD, Fairfield, Penrith, Campbelltown, Wollongong) When a person contacts Unifam an intake interview is Uniting staff are mandatory reporters and are required to report conducted. risk of harm concerns. This involves obtaining the person’s concerns, family of Uniting does not provide reports for Courts or other services. In origin details and an assessment of any safety concerns. general we would only report on attendance or non-attendance. Uniting requires written consent from the family to share The process usually involves contact with both information with other relevant parties. parents/carers. Many of our clients are Court ordered to participate, but we also The allocation team (intake team leader, clinical have a number of self-referred families in the various programs. supervisor/s & manager) then decide which program would suit the family best and the case is then allocated to Warm referrals are accepted but at some stage our intake staff a therapist. would need to speak with family members. Wait times differ between different programs. 8 July 2015 • 3 8 July 2015 • 4 KEEPING CONTACT Process • Established in 1999 to strengthen safe and respectful relationships • Generally both parents and all children are involved in the process between parents and children following separation. • Staff work in a team of two, one adult consultant and one child consultant • Specifically designed for parents seeking orders following • The adult consultant will meet with each parent separately and the child contraventions or struggling to make existing orders work consultant will observe the session behind the one way screen effectively • The child consultant will then meet individually with the children (5-18 years) and then prepare feedback to the parents about the children’s needs and the • Families are Court ordered, self referred or referred from other impact of the conflict on the children. Developmental feedback is given if the programs within Uniting or from other services children are under 5 years • Parents are expected to first attend the ‘Talking with your kids’ • The adult consultant is present during the feedback. They will then work with each parent separately and will refer to the feedback during their future work program , a one off 3 hour program designed to educate parents together about the impact of conflict and develop better communication • This work may go on for up to a year 8 July 2015 • 5 8 July 2015 • 6 1
29/11/2017 OPTIONS PROGRAM The Options Team provide two types of services: ‐ Parents and adolescents experiencing conflict: Family Therapy Group work • Disagreements about family rules and expectations Family Therapy. The practitioner allocated the case liaises with the • Conflict in relationships Options team to decide which family members will be present in the initial • Violence session. • School problems The initial session generally involves other members of the Options team, with one therapist in the room with the family and the others behind a one- • Behavioural issues way screen. • Leaving home The model has a systemic approach, utilising a reflective team. The team • Depression will offer their ideas to the therapist during the first session via phone, and again at the end of the session in order to facilitate feedback and for • Separation issues further reflection. • Step-families 8 July 2015 • 7 8 July 2015 • 8 Some families find this strange or awkward at first but our We note patterns of behaviour and track behavioural sequences (eg. experience is that they soon relax and find it very helpful. when x happens, what happens next). Issues may relate to early attachments and different situations may We introduce the team and invite family members to go trigger family of origin issues in the family and/or couple which may behind the screen to see how it works. The children seem to require different responses. find it all very exciting. Common issues relate to: The therapist in the room is usually the person who continues Grief and loss Identity issues to work with the family. Structure – hierarchy, reorganisation Roles within the family This work could be with a combination of different family Attachment disruption members or individuals over many sessions, and even over Trauma many months or a year. Re-partnering Difficult behaviour containment Parenting skills – containing behaviours This systemic family therapy model is non-blaming/neutral Emotional regulation/soothing and understands problems within the family to be relational Self-harm and interactional. 8 July 2015 • 9 8 July 2015 • 10 GROUP WORK THE ANCHOR: Supporting Kids Through Separation The Options team provides group work in schools. • Attorney Generals Department These groups cover issues that include:- Resilience • Children and young people aged 5-17 years old Emotions Stress/Anxiety, including HSC • Individual and group therapy Leadership Parenting Teens • Child consultancy and Parent Feedback Our group programs are often tailored to suit the needs of a particular school, however we recognise the need to deliver evidence based • Community education programs and are currently looking at a few different programs, for example a new one recently designed in Victoria with the aim of • Referrals addressing the precursors to family violence, developing healthy relationships (emotional awareness and regulation). 8 July 2015 • 11 8 July 2015 • 12 2
29/11/2017 The Anchor aims to: Child’s Experience: what they need… • Decrease levels of distress • Protection from conflict • Improve communication • Someone to listen to their fears • Build resilience • Someone to help reduce parental conflict • Stability and security • Allow children’s voices to be included • Space to resolve their feelings • Child protection • To know they are loved • Early intervention and referrals to other • Clear communication about any changes specialists • Time to process what has happened • Systemic therapy 8 July 2015 • 13 8 July 2015 • 14 Individual Therapy Ways of Exploring and Communicating: • The child sets the agenda for the therapy • Interventions are tailored to the child’s expressed/observed needs • Safety assessments are ongoing • Exploration of the child’s inner processes • Helping with emotional language, emotional regulation 8 July 2015 • 15 8 July 2015 • 16 Outcomes: The Anchor Groups: Decreased anxiety Increased family communication • Jigsaw Individuation Feeling heard by parents Good self- Resolving esteem anger Hope for the • Connect Kids Separation Recognisin Child and Parent Story future g feelings Reunification • Connect Youth Resolving Feeling & being Healing from sadness, grief safe hurt & loss Strengthening Healing after relationships trauma Protective Behaviours Social Inclusion 8 July 2015 • 17 8 July 2015 • 18 3
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