Our Services and Support
The Sunlight Centre offers empathetic and non-judgemental person-centred mental health support services.
We specialise in providing:
- face to face counselling for teens and adults experiencing suicidal thoughts and self-harm
- Youth Mental Health First Aid (Accredited Training/Certified)
- Standard Mental Health First Aid (Accredited Training/Certified)
- Healthy Mind Workshops (We share practical tools, techniques and psycho-education to help manage stress, depression, anxiety, and low mood)
Accessible and personalised
We aim to remove barriers that hold people in crisis back from seeking help. To remove barriers and be accessible:
- our face to face counselling is always free to the client
- clients can self-refer (clients do not need a mental health plan or a referral from another service), and
- we aim to work with you and our counselling team to arrange a time for counselling that works for you.
In some circumstances we can deliver counselling services via video conferencing, however research suggests that face to face counselling with the same counsellor has greater positive impact.
Expert and authentic
Clients are supported confidentially and empathetically through the recovery process by the same counsellor across up to 15 sessions using evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy counselling methods.
All staff responding to enquiries and providing counselling services are mental health support specialists with qualifications and experience providing counselling and mental health support.
What can you expect if you contact us for counselling?
We understand that you may be feeling alone, afraid, and uncertain of what to do right now. You might also be feeling isolated and unsure about how to talk to friends and family about your feelings because you may be worried about how they may react. These feelings are common. Research tells us that sharing how you feel with a family member or friend can be very helpful and allows them to help you.
Process overview
- The first step is to call or email us to ask about our counselling. If you don’t feel you can manage this, ask a friend or family member to contact us on your behalf or to support you while you do it.
- One of our counsellors or mental health workers will call you back within 24 hours. They will be authentic and non-judgemental and will ask you some questions to understand your support needs to ensure we are a service that can meet your needs. If we are, we will work with you and our counselling team to arrange an appointment time with one of our accredited counsellors.
- Do not worry about your appointment. Our accredited counsellors are compassionate, non-judgemental, and welcoming.
- Counselling rooms provide a confidential space to talk and are designed to provide a warm and comfortable environment. You may like to bring a friend or family member with you to the first appointment. There is room for them in the counselling room or they can wait in our reception area while you talk to the counsellor.
- You will need to provide phone contact details of a support person to ensure we have an In Case of Emergency Contact. After the first appointment, we’ll arrange for one of our counsellors to start your counselling.
- Appointments are usually 50 minutes.
- You will work with the same accredited counsellor for your entire Sunlight Centre journey. They will support you in the recovery process across up to 15 counselling sessions using evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy counselling methods.
Our Purpose
Nurturing the mental health of our community
Our Vision
Building understanding and acceptance of the mental health needs of our community
Our Values
Client Care and Support
We believe that people who are supported and empowered through their darkest times can learn, endure and thrive.
We prioritise face to face counselling for people in crisis and the support needs of their families.
Community Driven
Our priorities and activities are guided by a deep knowledge of community and their needs.
Professionalism and Integrity
We stay up to date and use current evidence based clinical practices to ensure our clients receive the best solution focused therapy.
Observing professional standards, we use a multi-discipline team to practice Client First practices and support our Clinical Team through supervision.
Safe
We provide a warm, safe and confidential environment.
We care about the safety of our clients and the community and therefore follow Children’s First training and Mandatory Reporting practices.
