(07) 3262 9877        info@wwild.org.au        Monday – Friday 9AM – 5PM
(07) 3262 9877

Counselling Program

To See a Counsellor or Make a Referral

Please phone WWILD on (07) 32629877

  • If you would like some free counselling
  • To help someone else
  • Or if you want more information about our service or other services.

Referrals:

  • Are taken over the phone by any WWILD staff member
  • May be made by anyone – a person with intellectual or learning disability, a family member, support worker or supporter
  • Are discussed at the weekly team meeting
  • Are followed up by the intake worker, who will contact you or the person to talk about what happens next.
  • Are not accepted by email. We require more detailed information for a proper referral. Please phone or if you send an email after-hours, please follow-up with a phone call if you haven’t heard back from us. If you are not able to use a phone, please let us know in the email.

Please remember WWILD is not a crisis service, if this is an emergency please:

  • Phone 000 or the Queensland Police on 131444
  • Or click on this link for other crisis and after-hours services https://wwild.org.au/links
 

Client Eligibility:

Services are available for people with intellectual and  learning disabilities, age 12 and over who:

  • Are at-risk or have experienced sexual violence
  • Have been a victim of crime or exploitation such as physical or financial abuse
  • Have been victims of youth-related property crime
  • Have been affected by the DNA Forensic Inquiry. 
 

Counselling Locations

WWILD’s counsellors work at:

  • WWILD’s Wooloowin office Monday – Friday
  • the Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre on Mondays and Thursdays,
  • the HomeLife Service in Caboolture on Thursdays.
 

Preparing someone for counselling

Read ‘What is Counselling?’ page with the person for more information.

Remember that:

  • It’s the person’s choice to come to see us or not
  • They don’t have to tell the story of what happened
  • Counselling helps us to understanding and manage our feelings
  • Counselling helps to learn ways to feel better and more in control
  • Counselling helps us to work out what we want to do
  • The person can bring someone into the counselling room with them if they want to, it is up to them
  • If they are not sure, they can visit WWILD first, to meet us before they make up their mind.

 

WWILD’s counselling approach:

  • We see the person – not their disability
  • We do not define the person by their abuse and trauma
  • We believe the person is the expert in their own life (not the counsellor)
  • We take time to build rapport, assess, identify and work together on goals
  • We change how we speak with and listen to the person according to their needs
  • We are careful about suggestibility and masking
  • We try to avoid jargon and asking closed questions
  • We work with the effects of trauma, without always talking about what happened to the person
  • We normalise these effects, acknowledge coping strategies and practice new strategies
  • We utilise trauma informed practice and aim to empower the person by identifying choices and options
  • We aim to improve the person’s self-esteem and self-protection strategies
  • We like to work in lots of different ways according to the person’s needs, by using a range of theoretical approaches and creative strategies.