Counselling uses evidence based therapy modalities and treatment plans to support individuals to achieve what they are seeking, whether this is to work towards wellness or become our best selves. Conscious Recovery's counsellors are accredited with the Australian Counselling Association, and is bound by a code of ethics and practise. Whereas, Recovery Coaching (or at least how Conscious Recovery uses this term) was introduced into the Australian Mental Health system in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 2020. The concept of recovery coaching here is a combination of practical linkages to supports to create a holistic care system, using evidence based strategies to address an individuals goals, strengths and barriers. At Conscious Recovery, all recovery coaching is aligned with counselling code of ethics and practise, however, it is important to note that Recovery Coaching is not therapy, but may use therapy techniques.

Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic approach that uses literature and reading materials to support mental health and well-being. It involves the use of books, articles, poems, and other written materials as tools to facilitate personal insight, emotional healing, and behavioral change. Bibliotherapy can be used as a standalone intervention or as a complement to other therapeutic modalities. Specifically at Conscious Recovery, we believe that reading and working towards mental wellness is meant to be an enjoyable experience, not everything that is good for you, is meant to be hard work. In alignment with this, we focus our bibliotherapy recommendations and process in fantasy and science fiction, because who doesn't want to read about dragons, vampires and witches and have the added benefit of self discovery and mental wellness.

Counseling can help you understand and manage your emotions, cope with stress, improve relationships, and make positive changes in your life. Counsellors are trained to support early intervention and prevention of clinical mental health disorders, as well as support within clinical mental health issues. A clinical mental health issue is when symptoms reach a level that meets the criteria for a diagnosis from a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. How counselling helps anyone, is a very individual and unique experience and can take some trail and error to find your person. This is why at Conscious Recovery, we try to make this process as supportive as possible with a free initial consult to find out if we are a good fit for you.

Emotional Healing Reading about characters and situations similar to one's own experiences can provide comfort, validation, and a sense of connection, reducing feelings of isolation and distress. This can be achieved by Cognitive Insight Bibliotherapy can help individuals gain new perspectives, challenge negative thought patterns, and develop problem-solving skills. Behavioral Change Through identifying with characters and stories, individuals can learn and adopt healthier behaviors and coping mechanisms. Stress Reduction Engaging with literature can provide a relaxing and immersive escape, reducing stress and promoting mental relaxation. Self-Reflection Reading can stimulate self-reflection and self-awareness, helping individuals better understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Personalized Support Each coaching plan is customized to meet your specific needs and goals, ensuring a highly personalized approach to your recovery. Skill Development Learn practical techniques to manage stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges. This also includes developing essential life skills such as time management, communication, and problem-solving that enhance your daily functioning and overall well-being. Empowerment Gain confidence in your ability to manage your mental health and make positive changes. This includes taking an active role in your recovery process, making informed decisions and setting achievable goals. Goal Achievement Work with your coach to set clear, realistic goals and develop a step-by-step plan to achieve them. Regular sessions with your coach help keep you motivated and accountable, ensuring steady progress towards your goals, and continual adjustments based in your own self discovery. Resilience Building Identify and build on your existing strengths and resources to enhance your resilience. This includes learning how to adapt to and overcome setbacks, fostering a sense of resilience and perseverance. Enhanced Mental Health Receive support in managing and prevention of symptoms of mental health conditions, leading to improved emotional stability and well-being. Improved Quality of Life Address various aspects of your life, including physical health, relationships, and personal development, to improve your overall quality of life. Work towards achieving a healthy balance between work, personal life, and self-care. Increased Self-Awareness Gain deeper insights into your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, helping you understand yourself better. Engage in reflective practices that promote self-awareness and personal growth. Community Integration Build and strengthen social connections, enhancing your sense of belonging and community, and receive assistance in navigating community resources and services that support your recovery and well-being.

Counseling is a professional relationship that focuses on empowering individuals to overcome personal challenges, achieve their goals, and improve their overall well-being. It involves talking with a trained counselor who provides support, guidance, and practical strategies. The approach that a counsellor uses can vary between counsellors. Read Below for Conscious Recoverys Specific Approach.

Psychosocial recovery coaching is a support service that helps individuals with mental health challenges develop skills, build resilience, and achieve their personal recovery goals. It involves working with a coach to create a personalized plan for recovery and well-being. Practically, this involves linking with support services that are currently available, building your capacity in any life area (financial, emotional, socially, etc), and continually adjusting and working alongside you in your treatment plan.

Solution focused approach is an evidence-based approach that intends to identify and focus on potential solutions guided by an individual's strengths and resources to a problem. Unlike many other treatment modalities that focus on the past, or the problem, a solution focused approach looks forward and focusses on the solutions that you already possess. The solution focused approach uses several assumptions that include; if it’s not broken don’t fix it, if it works do more of it, and if it’s not working do something different. The assumptions of change in this process are; small changes lead to larger change, the future is creatable, the solution is not always related to the problem, and the language for solutions is different to language needed to describe the problem. Together, we explore what this would mean for you and your life.

We hear this phrase everywhere - "We use person centred practises and approaches!" But what exactly does this mean? Carl Roger's developed an approach he called the "Person- Centred Appraoch", which is built upon the notion that individuals contain vast resources for self understanding, the ability to alter the way we view ourselves and conduct self-directed behaviour. Within this approach, the counsellor experiences and projects empathy (feeling what the other person is feeling), unconditional positive regard (believing the very best of this person) and congruence (being in a state of stability) to the client. The goal of the therapist is not to guide the client through this approach, but to sit alongside the individual as they grow and move through stages of change. We employ all of this in the work we do. The person centred approach essentially allows for the authentic exploration of self from you, and ensures that we are here to support you for as long as you need, within the context of what you decide is important.

All sessions are typically one hour in length, however we can adjust this to fit your needs. An hour is typically the prefered time frame as it allows for a "warm up" to the session which includes a check in, and a "cool off" that allows for check ins to ensure we reached the topics, depth or themes that you wanted to explore in that session, and bring you back to your baseline if needed.

Counselling starts from $100 per session which is typically one hour in length. Fees are adjusted on the basis of extended sessions or shorter ones, speak directly with our team as this is evaluated on a case by case basis. Recovery Coaching is typically an NDIS service that aligns with NDIS fee structures and service provision requirements. Within recovery coaching there is often a lot of indirect tasks such as referrals, researching specific supports for you, care team meetings and report writing, which includes indirect billing. For more information on what this can look like, please reach out to our team. There are low cost options available, however this is a case by case basis and depends on current wait times. Please reach out to our team for more information.