Therapeutic Service
TOWNSVILLE
Children’s
Counselling
THERAPEUTIC SERVICE TOWNSVILLE
Once your immediate safety needs have been met, the AARDVARC program offers the children and their caregiver:
The AARDVARC Program is specifically for children and young people aged 4 to 18 years, and their safe/non-violent caregiver who have experienced domestic or family violence.
We also provide a therapeutic group program for the non-violent caregiver called 'Crossroads’.
Information, ideas, and referrals
Acknowledgement of their experience of violence
An opportunity to talk and make sense of this experience within a safe and supportive environment
Information sessions for caregivers
Individual sessions for children/young people and their primary caregiver for one hour per week for approximately six weeks
AARDVARC staff are trained and experienced domestic and family violence specialists who are here to help. The programme consists of:
Strengths-based group sessions for families
- Healthy relationships education and development
- Self-esteem
- Handling conflict, anger, and stress safely
- Communication skills
- Identification and exploration of feelings
- Protective behaviours and safety plans
A variety of activities to connect with and communicate with children are utilised in the AARDVARC programme.
Program Activities
Individual Programs
- Seek to explore the effects of violence on the child/young person and their caregiver
- Respect the role of the caregiver
- Seek to strengthen the relationship between children and their caregiver
- Assist families in developing strategies to deal with their experience of violence
- Provide specific support and information to families
- Are flexible
Short-term individual programmes provide further opportunities to explore the experience of violence for the child/young person and their caregiver.
Crossroads Program
CROSSROADS is informed by current research, theories and practices related to domestic and family violence, trauma, attachment, and the rights of children and young people. CROSSROADS applies the principles of safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment and being responsive to cultural needs, as well as safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child.
A trauma-informed, reflective parenting program for parents and carers whose children have been impacted by domestic and family violence.
“[child] seemed to understand me more, I had no idea what they did, but to let go and feel completely safe was incredible. It was like they connected us emotionally again”.
CLIENT OF DVNQ
Adult
Counselling
THERAPEUTIC SERVICE TOWNSVILLE
We offer counselling within a safe, confidential therapeutic space. Counselling provides a time and a safe place to talk and explore your experiences of domestic and family violence. It provides an opportunity to get information and develop ideas that will increase the safety and wellbeing of you and your family.
Individual Counselling
Counselling provides a safe place to discuss, explore and work through experiences of domestic and family violence. The support and information gained through counselling often plays an important role in healing from the impact of domestic and family violence. We are also able to support referrals to a range of other services as required.
This support can happen either over the phone or face to face.
Our Courage to Heal program acknowledges the impacts of domestic and family violence as we walk alongside you, recognising you are the expert in your own life.
Group Work
- To increase the participants’ knowledge of healthy and unhealthy relationships
- To increase the participants’ capacity to set boundaries
- To increase the participants’ skills in assertive communication
- To increase the participants’ awareness of the impacts of abuse
- To decrease any feelings of self-blame participants may have for abuse they have experienced
- To increase the participants’ ability to care for and be kind to themselves
- To increase the participants’ connection to their feelings
- To increase the participants’ sense of self-worth
- To increase the participants’ connection to their body
- To increase the participants’ belief in their entitlement to rights
- To increase the participants’ ability to recognise a potentially abusive or exploitative person
We also provide a therapeutic group program called 'Shark Cage’.
The group is a human rights approach to empowerment and healing for women who have experienced sexual assault or family violence. There are 8 sessions within the program.
“The team just listened and actually cared. They made me feel welcomed and respected as a victim of violence”
CLIENT OF DVNQ
Crisis Support and Advocacy
Home Safety Upgrades
Court Based Service
Homelessness Program
Response Service
Crisis Support and Advocacy
Home Safety Upgrades
Court Based Service
Therapeutic Service
Children’s Counselling
Adult Counselling
Prevention Service
Men’s Behaviour Change
Integrated Response Partnership
Men’s Behaviour Change
Integrated Service Response
