A counsellor is a trained professional that can support you in all aspects of your life. For NDIS participants, in particular, counsellors can improve your quality of life by helping you process your experiences and work towards your goals. From helping you develop coping strategies and time management skills, build confidence, gain more positive perspectives and more, counsellors can be a key part of your NDIS journey. 

How Does Counselling Help?

Counselling is a valuable therapeutic support that allows you to work through a problem or issue with a trained professional. It helps you develop different techniques and skills to strengthen your mental health, help you become more independent and better navigate areas you might feel overwhelmed or have problems with.

Counsellors are also flexible and adaptable to your needs and can provide services such as: 

• Guiding you through life transition goals
• Refining different life skills, including social, time management and goal setting skills
• Supporting you in your job-seeking journey
• Assisting your planning, time management and memory issues

While your NDIS plan can have many other supports that help you work towards your goals, including counselling services early on can be a great way to get extra support. The biggest benefit of counselling is that it provides a safe space to discuss your struggles and goals without fear of judgement. No issue is too big or small, and there are many ways a counsellor can support your concerns and needs and improve your wellbeing with strategies tailor-made for your situation and circumstances.

Your First Counselling Session

You can access counselling services if you have included ‘Improved Daily Living’ in your NDIS plan. This provides you with funds from the NDIS to access services from an allied health professional, including counsellors. You can also choose to put however much of this fund towards your needs and goals for counselling. 

Once you are eligible to access counselling services, your first session with a counsellor will focus on getting to know you and establishing your goals for therapy. Your counsellor will ask questions about your history, current circumstances, ambitions, interests and struggles. They are there to understand what your disability means to you and create a safe space where you feel heard and are in the best mindset to process your emotions and identify your needs. Your counselling sessions are there for you and your counsellor to work together to help you achieve your goals. 

How Long Should NDIS Counselling Last?

How often and how long you see your counsellor is up to you and how much funding your plan has dedicated to counselling. You can establish how many times you wish to meet with your counsellor in your first session, which can be as frequent or as infrequent as you like.

What matters most is that you are empowered through counselling and gain the skills that help you to achieve your goals and be independent.

Counselling is your space to discuss and develop coping strategies for a whole range of different topics, including relationships, emotion regulation, depression, anxiety, life transitions, social skills, behaviour issues and more. Counsellors can also help develop relationships with other providers, with your school or workplace, family and friends to ensure you have the best support network around you. 

As you progress, your counsellor will review the goals that you made at the start to track your progress and see how you can grow. Your counsellor will support you for as much as you need, however long you need it. Sometimes your current counsellor might not be a good fit for you anymore or it takes you a while to find the right counsellor for you. But counsellors ultimately what you to get the best experience possible out of therapy, and that includes the right environment with the right person for you. You are in control of your own therapy and your feedback and collaboration are welcomed and encouraged.

At Enaaly, we understand everyone needs support at some stage in their life. That’s why our counsellors are trained to provide a support plan tailor-made for you to help you meet your needs and achieve your goals. If you’re in need of counselling support or would like to enquire more about our services, please contact our team today.