Due to the sensitive nature of our work, our client's identities have been protected and all identifying information has been removed.
What were your circumstances before using this counselling service?
I found myself a solo mother, isolated, with an ex who refused to cooperate and continued to be verbally and emotionally abusive.
I was desperate, wanting guidance. I just felt bad... or negative is a better word... about everything.
I was in a vicious cycle which was difficult to change and not knowing how to change. I was feeling a bit hopeless, extremely frustrated. To be honest I didn't even think of counselling, my mom said "No, you need to go".
I felt hopeless, very down, and felt that the drink was taking over my life. And I was aware it was taking over my life but that wasn't where I wanted to be. That's when I went to the doctor and she sent me to counselling. It must have been a particularly low week for me to have ever gone to the doctor.
What difference has this counselling service made for you?
I'm in control of my actions and my emotions and have the tools to deal with my situation. It's helped me look at my situation and put it in perspective of a power struggle, that's what it was.
It's made me a lot more aware of my situation and made me think things through, not just accept the blame for everything. I'm now looking outside the square at things - you begin to look out wider than just “This is my fault”.
It's given me ideas about how to deal with different situations and develop strategies to deal with situations. It's helped me identify what causes me to feel the way I do sometimes and made me conscious and aware of the way I act and treat other people.
It's made me look at things. It's good to have an objective person to talk to. I sometimes just feel my family can't relate and you know what you can and can't tell them. It's liberating. I can tell my counsellor things I wouldn't tell anyone else. You don't want friends and family to judge you and they wouldn't know what to say. They don't have the capacity to deal with... what I was going through was beyond what a friend can do.
How was the experience for you?
It's been liberating... empowering. It helps having someone impartial to talk to who's not a friend or family member where I'm worried about what they're going to think. The help that I needed when I needed it. I now have a team of people who support me. My lawyer and my counsellor are part of that team of specialists.
To me it's been helpful because you really do care. You're with me listening and non-judgmental. It's not just a numbers thing or I'm just doing this because it's my job. It's hard to explain but it feels like you're with me in this.
It's been helpful... motivating... different to what I expected. I was a bit pessimistic - expected it to be more about just talking. Instead it was about the two of us working to together to figure out how I could change things. It was a lot of work.
I've looked forward to coming. It was good to have the uninterrupted time. With friends you're busy and the phone's going... This place is quite serene. Go and talk to someone professional. Friends and family can be great but sometimes the problem is beyond them. They avoid asking you some uncomfortable questions and tell you what you want to hear.
Client Testimonials
