GUIDE TO SELECTING A COUNSELLOR
Talking with someone about your experiences of violence and abuse is a personal decision. It can be valuable but is worth thinking carefully about. You may be thinking about talking to a friend, family member, colleague, manager, service or someone else. Regardless of who you speak with, it is important they understand that your dignity and safety are central to how you live and make decisions. It is important that they follow your lead.
Guide to selecting a counsellor
Thinking about talking to a counsellor? One of the people you may choose to talk to is a counsellor or therapist. It’s important that it is your choice if and when you decide to speak to a counsellor about your experiences of domestic and family violence and abuse. This Guide to selecting a counsellor may help you select a counsellor who is the right fit for you.
Guide to selecting a counsellor: What you want to talk about in counselling sessions may change. And your circumstances may change. That is ok. It is really important that the counsellor you choose has a good understanding of domestic, family and sexualised violence and is ready to follow your lead and support your safety. The guide is designed to support your selection of a counsellor and to support your reflections about the value and safety of the counselling experience.
Explore the Guide to selecting a counsellor
*Insight Exchange is not a provider of counselling services. Information about counselling options is included in the guide.
Professional Codes and Guidelines
Counsellors can be bound by different ‘professional codes’, guidelines and legislation.
Not all counsellors have the same qualifications, or be registered as a member of a professional organisation. The professional status, codes, guidelines, legislative requirements and responsibilities of a counsellor can vary. This can make a big difference to your rights to privacy and confidentiality and their responsibilities as a counsellor.
Information about codes of ethics and guidelines are available online from the relevant professional organisations.
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA): ahpra.gov.au/ (Only registered health professionals are regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.)
- Australian Psychological Society: psychology.org.au
- Australian Association of Social Workers: aasw.asn.au
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia: pacfa.org.au
- The Australian Counselling Association: theaca.net.au
- Australian Institute of Family Therapists: aaft.asn.au
If you think the code of practice has been breached, you can make a complaint. For more information, visit the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Concerns about practitioners (ahpra.gov.au)
Supports for Counsellors
There is no neutral standpoint from which to theorise the ‘problem’ of violence or to respond. We invite studying counselling or working as a practicing counsellor to explore these free (donated) materials below to build on your understanding of and responses to violence and abuse.
About Violence and Abuse
About violence and abuse - Global, national, state and territory definitions of domestic, family and sexualised violence and criminal codes vary, however violence and abuse is never acceptable in any community, family, institution, place or context.
Voices of Insight Collection
The Voices of Insight Collection is a series of original artworks by collaborating Artist Louise Whelan inspired by the Insight Exchange Voices of Insight. The collection responds to how participants describe their lived experiences of domestic, family and sexualised violence to inform social, service and systemic responses.
Exploring insight-informed materials
Individually and collectively, we can listen to and be led by victim-survivors’ insights and experiences of violence and abuse. In the 'exploring' menu you can view and read animations and resources informed by lived experience insights. The materials include victims’ experiences of, responses to, and resistance against violence and abuse.
Modules
Insight Exchange modules are designed to build on understanding of and responses to domestic, family and sexualised violence. The modules are: 'Any Responder', 'Foundations', 'The significance of siblings', 'Understanding and responding to strangulation', and 'An Introduction to Economic Abuse' (CWES).
Our Actions
Our Actions - How we uplift responses matters. We invite you to explore how our actions can make a difference…. Every action matters and can make a meaningful and lasting difference to one person and to many. Open 'Our Actions' to read about what actions you can take individually and collectively.