Counselling Women
Muriel | Angelika | Joanna
Estelle | Jaqui | Anne
We provide specialist counselling opportunities for women, living in Auckland, who are the victims of violence or abuse or who have experienced trauma in their lives.
We have two specific programmes - Freedom from Fear and the New Migrant Group - through our Mt Eden centre; as well as providing counselling to women living within a refuge.
Freedom from Fear: is for women who wish to rebuild confidence and self-worth in their lives following an abusive or violent relationship.
It offers a series of supportive and educational topics on issues surrounding domestic violence and abuse and is provided by counsellors who are professionally trained and experienced in working with women in the area of domestic violence. It has been developed by the Home and Family Society and endorsed by the Department of Courts. more..
New Start Programme: Home and Family provides a therapeutic group programme for women newly arrived to New Zealand either as new migrants or through the refugee programmes. These groups provide a safe, non-judgmental environment in which to work through the traumas of their past and difficulties in resettling, to help them find the confidence to rebuild their lives and their family. more..
Women's Refuge Service: Home and Family Society's counsellors have worked in Auckland refuges for the past 13 years. This important work ties in well with the society's founding philosophy of supporting women's and children's right to safety. more..
To learn more about these counselling programmes and services, click on the highlighted name above.
Freedom from Fear
(provided only through the Mt Eden centre)
This is a specialist programme for women who wish to rebuild confidence and self-worth in their lives following an abusive or violent relationship. It offers a series of supportive and educational topics on issues surrounding domestic violence and abuse and is provided by counsellors who are professionally trained and experienced in working with women in the area of domestic violence.
Freedom from Fear was developed by Home and Family and the programme content, and the counsellors who provide it, have been approved by the Department of Courts. The programme is designed to ensure a safe and non-threatening experience and is delivered in a caring supportive environment. The Freedom from Fear counsellors are Muriel Jaqui Barrett and Anne . To learn more about them click on their name.
Topics offered within the Freedom from Fear programme include:
| Recognising and understanding the 'cycle of violence' Power and control issues The effects of abuse Myths about violence Self care |
Keeping safe Learning to say 'no' Setting the boundaries Dealing constructively with conflict Building up confidence Discovering your inner strength |
What is violence and abuse?
Women who have lived under the control of another person who has been violent, or emotionally or physically abusive, often describe feeling anxious in the presence of their partner or doubting their own abilities to do simple things:
"Nothing I do is good enough. It's like he's watching every move I make, ready to criticise; just the though of him coming home makes me feel anxious."
"I have no confidence. Just doing the shopping is stressful. For years I thought it was my fault, that I was stupid."
"I feel as if I'm going crazy, I'm not myself anymore."
To find out more about the Freedom from Fear programme or to make a booking for counselling with Home and Family, contact us today.
Click here to download the Freedom from Fear brochure.
Helping Migrant and Refugee Women
(provided through our Mt Eden centre)
Home and Family provides a therapeutic group programme for women newly arrived to New Zealand either as new migrants or through the refugee programmes. These groups provide a safe, non-judgmental environment in which to work through the traumas of their past and difficulties in resettling, to help them find the confidence to rebuild their lives and their family.
The programme is in a group format which not only forms the basis of the therapy used but also helps by developing social support networks for the women in the programme.
Our group facilitators are experienced in working with women from different cultures and understanding the difficulties experienced in leaving one's homeland and the issues associated with settling in a new and very different country. They also have specialist training in addressing trauma.
Programme Purpose:
- Encourage women to express their pain so that healing can begin to take place.
- Explore effects of war, trauma and other violence/abuse, trying to understand it within a social, cultural and intergenerational context.
- Recognise, acknowledge and express positive personal attributes.
- Gain an understanding of the importance of developing support networks as part of ongoing self-care and safety.
- Restore a sense of hope, dignity and empowerment as they adapt to the New Zealand way of life.
The Way We Work
- The group comprises 12-15 women with four facilitators.
- Each course consists of 6 weekly sessions of two-and-a-half hours each and one full day held on a Sunday.
- Sessions are held at 344 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden
- Sharing in the group is treated as confidential - members are asked not to talk about what others have shared.
- Childcare and transport are available.
The Team
The groups are co-ordinated by Estelle (psychodramatist and team leader); Angelika (co-leader) and Muriel.
Group members
Since the programme first started in 1998, we have seen women from many different countries within Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa; and our team speak several languages between them. We honour and respect women with all religious and cultural beliefs and customs.
How the New Start programme has helped others
Women who have joined the programme have made the following comments:
"Escaping from my country was very traumatic for me - I felt sure I would die. I feel very alone with my family so far away and suffering so much. I look forward to the group each week and it is helping me deal with the trauma I have been through."
"My children are caught between two cultures. I find this difficult as a parent but have found discussing this with the group very helpful."
To find out more about the New Start Programme for women or to make a booking with Home and Family, call 09 630 8961, fax 09 630 8487 or email info@homeandfamily.org.nz.
Women's Refuge Services
Home and Family Society's counsellors have worked in Auckland refuges for the past 13 years. This important work ties in well with the society's founding philosophy of supporting women's and children's right to safety.
Our counsellor is Joanna is our outreach worker providing counselling services at women's refuges within Auckland. To learn more about Joanna please click on her name.
Services provided:
Counselling is offered to women who are temporarily seeking shelter in a refuge, to help women:
- Evaluate their current circumstances
- Explore changes they wish to make for themselves and their children
- Examine their options for the future.
Home and Family Counselling began providing counselling at women's refuges in response to a request for such a service in 1989. This service grew steadily and, at its peak from 1996 to 1998, it had three counsellors working in seven refuges. Today, many refuges now provide counselling to women themselves.