YWCA Canberra is a feminist not-for-profit organisation that has provided community services and represented womenÂ’s issues in Canberra since 1929.
Our mission is ‘We strengthen communities by supporting girls and women through our services and advocacy’. Our vision is ‘Girls and women thriving’.
We provide essential, quality services for women, girls and families in the ACT and surrounding regions. We work in the areas of childrenÂ’s services, community development, homelessness and affordable housing, domestic and family violence, youth services, personal and professional training, womenÂ’s leadership and advocacy.
Through our national Affiliate Association with YWCA Australia, we are part of the World YWCA network, which connects over 100 countries across the globe.
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Services Offered
Warm Connections Counselling at YCWA Canberra provides individual therapeutic support to families with children and young people aged zero to 15 years. This service offers long-term support to parents, children or young people and aims to strengthen family relationships and improve wellbeing.
The service is: -Child and young person-centred -Family-context informed -Strengths-based and trauma-focused
Some of the issues Warm Connections Counselling can help address include: -trauma, including historic family violence or abuse -feelings of anxiety or depression -challenges around parenting (including step-parenting/new -partnerships -social and emotional difficulties causing challenges at home, work or school
However, different support may be needed for: -group or family therapy with the whole family together, including time-limited skills training -couples counselling -serious diagnosed mental health conditions -diagnosing learning difficulties or other neurological difficulties -social, communication and behavioural learning for children diagnosed with or suspected of having autism spectrum disorder -mediating family conflict after separation and family situations -where child safety is an ongoing concern -managing ongoing family violence or abuse where safety continues to be at risk -school academic challenges or difficulties
Where your needs would be better met by another service, we can provide information and suggestions on an alternative specialist service designed to meet those needs and may offer a short session to explore options.
Warm Connections Counselling is delivered through counselling rooms in Tuggeranong, Civic and locations across Canberra and can see a child/young person at their school.
Fees and Payment
Warm Connesctions Counselling is a free service funded through the ACT Government, Community Services Directorate, Child, Youth and Family Services Program.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.