We are an organisation of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers, who work to provide a safe, youth-centred service that supports and empowers people. The youth helpline is the cornerstone of our organisation, and we have proudly provided this service since 1971. We also provide youth development opportunities through our youth development programme, and through education visits to schools and communities in the greater Wellington Region. Further to this we are committed to providing ongoing education to our volunteers and the wider community through our education workshops.
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Services Offered
Alcohol and Drug Treatment - Facing up to an addiction can be hard to do, and quitting is often just as challenging. If you think that you or someone you know needs help, then the services in this section will be able to offer you support, or point you in the right direction of accessing the right service for you. If you are unsure on making the first step to access a help service, then it's a good idea to talk to an adult you trust first, so that they can help you to make a decision. If you don't have someone that you feel comfortable talking to, there are also services in this directory that have confidential helplines, which you can access.
Counselling Services - Need someone to talk to? It can often be helpful to talk to a counselor or health professional. Counsellors can help with a wide range of issues, from pregnancy and miscarriage support to grief and trauma. You might want to meet with a counsellor regularly, or you might just want to have a chat while you are going through a difficult patch. If you are worried about being able to afford to pay for counselling, dont let this stop you. Some services work on a donation base (you pay what you can afford to), or on a sliding scale (you pay a set amount depending on what you earn). There is also financial support available through Work and Income and ACC, which the counselor will be able to talk you through. There are also free help lines like Youthline that can help support you through the tough times, and the good.
LGBT - Who we 'like' or are 'attracted to', or who we 'fall in love with' depends on our sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is the name given to the type of relationship you have or are interested in having, and is something you have to discover for yourself as you experience friendships and relationships with different people. The term transgender encompasses individuals who were born in a physical body of the opposite sex to the feelings, emotions, mental and spiritual state that they are. There are heaps of support groups out there if you find you're having a hard time with your sexuality or with being transgender.
Mental Health - Mental health refers to your general sense of wellbeing. Good mental health means you have a range of emotions, feelings and experiences that allow you to enjoy your life and make good decisions about different situations. Mental illness refers to having ongoing difficulties with feelings and emotions that end up affecting how you think about yourself, other people and the world, and this impacts on your enjoyment of life, and making good decisions. Everyone has ups and downs - this is perfectly normal. So while you might not always have good mental health, it doesn't necessarily mean you have a mental illness. Mental illness is about more ongoing difficulties. If you recognise some of the signs of depression, anxiety, or substance use problems, either in yourself or someone you know, it really helps to talk to someone you trust. This could be a friend, family member, doctor or school counsellor.
Mentoring - In this section you will find information on organisations that can help link you in with a person who can provide one on one coaching with you on a range of topics.
Sexual Health - Deciding to have sex is a big step. There are lots of things to consider, like how you feel about the person you are thinking about having sex with, how to stay safe, and whether or not you are ready. If you are having sex already, then you need to make sure that you are taking all the right precautions, and that you know where to go if something goes wrong. If you would like to talk about sex and staying safe, then there are lots of online resources, and organisations that you can visit to make sure you have all the information you need to make good choices.
Suicide and Crisis - If someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or you are worried that they may be a danger to themselves or other people, then it is important that you are able to get the help that is needed. Talking to people that you can trust to help you make decisions can be useful, this might be a doctor, counsellor or teacher, parent or family member. If you or someone you know is in urgent need of help, call 111 and ask for an ambulance. Another option in a crisis is to contact mental health professionals who work in specialist crisis teams. They will respond in mental health emergencies.
Violence & Crisis - There are several different types of abuse, and all of them hurt people. You can be pretty sure if it's any kind of abuse, it is not okay, and if you or someone you know is being abused, then it is really important that you ask for help. Abuse can be physical (punching, hitting, kicking), emotional (put downs, insults, threats) or sexual (unwanted touching or rape). Sometimes people who have been abused feel guilty, but it's never their fault. Even if you've been out partying, or if you were somewhere you shouldn't have been. If something has happened to you that has made you feel bad, and you haven't told anyone, it is important that you do talk to someone about it.
Fees and Payment
This is a registered charity.
Services Offered To: Teens Children
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
Online Counseling: Yes
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
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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.