Derbarl Yerrigan - Aboriginal Medical Health Service
Derbarl Yerrigan - Aboriginal Medical Health Service
The name Derbarl Yerrigan is the Whadjuk Noongar name for the Swan River. Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service is an Aboriginal community controlled health organisation, which was established in 1974 as the Perth Aboriginal Medical Service; changing its name in 1998 to Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service.
We provide holistic and integrated primary health care services to Aboriginal people living in the Perth metropolitan region and employ 127 staff across our head office and clinic in East Perth and clinics in Maddington, Midland and Mirrabooka.
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Services Offered
Derbarl Yerrigan offers a confidential and professional counselling service that supports people to work through their challenges. These challenges may include trauma, anxiety and depression.
Many of our clients have experienced trauma through the influence of colonisation. This has an impact on many aspects of people’s lives, further contributing to psychological difficulties, substance use, domestic violence, a sense of low self-worth, challenges with employment and education and sometimes sexual abuse.
The effect of the Stolen Generation remains highly prevalent in nearly all presentations of our clients seeking counselling.
The role of the counsellor varies from having a good yarn, to providing more specific therapies for each client. These include psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural and comprehensive EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy).
Whilst the primary client group is individual adults, we also work with children, adolescents and families and are able to provide couple therapy.
To make an appointment clients may be referred by their GP, otherwise please enquire with the East Perth Clinic about self-referral.
Fees and Payment
All services are free of charge.
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.