Did you know that your teen or child doesn’t need to have a diagnosis to go to counselling?
Young people are going through things ALL the time. There is rarely a time where everyone in the home is settled, happy and thriving.
Regular counselling sessions can help your young people explore their identity, build resilience skills and seek support from a safe person. A trained health professional (counsellor) can guide your special people to make good choices to enhance their wellbeing and maintain good mental health in times of adversity or uncertainty.
Counselling differs from the medical model of thinking where pathology is a key element: instead counselling emphasises that the client is an expert in their own life. The leading regulating body for counsellors in Australia is Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), of which I am a member.
Elements of Counselling
PACFA identifies the following as key elements of the counselling profession:
- Safe and confidential collaboration.
- Clients are active participants.
- Counselling aims include facilitating change and empowering clients.
- Counselling interventions use empirical evidence.
- Counselling interventions are tailored for people from all backgrounds and all ages.
- Counselling can be short or long term, focusing on one goal or many.
The Importance of the Therapeutic Relationship
My approach as a counsellor is based on the therapeutic relationship. Research over the last 50 years has found that the success of therapy is:
- 75% the client-counsellor relationship;
- 25% the counselling techniques
75% of the success of therapy is not what therapy was used, but how I (the counsellor) connect with your young person. This is from how I use humour, how I actively listen and create space for your young person to feel safe. These statistics indicate that investing in the therapeutic relationship can lead to long term positive outcomes for your young person.
Therapeutic Approaches
I also like to use a solution focused approach where a problem is identified and possible solutions are explored. No two young people are the same, so there is no “one size fits all” solution to be discovered. Counselling helps guide your young person to explore what solution fits them best.
Another approach I lean on is behaviour theory, in either the form of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT). These approaches emphasise that our thoughts, feelings and behaviour (or body sensations) are interconnected. Therefore, if we change one element, we can find change flows into the other two areas. This skill has been shown to be highly effective in helping a young person with ADHD, autism, anxiety or depression.
In a nutshell, counselling is psychosocial support for when times are tough, support networks are limited and can also be used as periodic maintenance decreasing feelings of loneliness.
The aim of counselling sessions is for the client to:
- increase quality of life
- improve job/school satisfaction
- strengthen relationships
- increase emotional awareness
- develop effective communication and conflict resolution skills.
The core of counselling is to add an objective layer of support to your young person’s belt that is cheering them on through the up’s and downs of life.
Author: Cassia Haase, M Counselling.
Cassia Haase works with people across all stages of life, from young children to older adults. She takes an integrated, relational approach to counselling, incorporating sand tray and expressive therapies where appropriate. Cassia is committed to meeting clients where they are, honouring their unique stories, and creating a safe, supportive space for growth and healing. She is especially passionate about empowering parents, advocating for children’s needs, and enhancing quality of life for people living with disabilities.
To make an appointment with Cassia, you can Book Online. Alternatively, you can call Vision Psychology Wishart on (07) 3088 5422 or M1 Psychology Shailer Park on (07) 3067 9129.
References
Gould. K. L., Hudson, J. L., Lyneham, H. J., & Porter, M. (2018). Cognitive-behavioural therapy for children with anxiety and comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 57(7). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2018.03.021
Haase, C. (2025). How a counsellor can help you manage anxiety. https://www.visionpsychology.com/how-a-counsellor-can-help-you-manage-anxiety/
Haase, C. (2025). How counselling can be helpful in managing depression. https://www.visionpsychology.com/how-counselling-can-be-helpful-in-managing-depression/
Haase, C. (2026). How counselling can increase quality of life when living with autism. https://www.visionpsychology.com/the-benefits-of-counselling-someone-with-autism-asd/
Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia [PACFA]. What is Counselling? https://www.pacfa.org.au/Portal/Prac-Res/Resources/CPDefinitions.aspx#tab-2
Thomas, G. (2007). The power of the therapeutic relationship: bringing balance to evidence-based practice. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Review.