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Counselling Services

Counselling at the Gender Centre

The Gender Centre counselling service provides a high quality professional counselling service to the transgender and gender questioning community. The values underpinning our work include: integrity, compassion, respect, vitality, resourcefulness, professionalism and perseverance, and is guided by the following core values.We are committed to assisting clients reach their full personal potential through the provision of counselling services and programs.
  • We are committed to achieving this with fairness and integrity.
  • We aim to provide a high quality counselling service which acknowledges human rights and ensures respect, dignity and confidentiality. It is of a particular concern to remove barriers to clients' achievements resulting from their gender, age, cultural and national background, socio-economic background or disability.
  • We will ensure that our service operates within the bounds of ethical guidelines, and the relevant codes of behaviour for psychologists, counsellors and social workers, including the maintenance of client confidentiality.
  • We will ensure access and equity issues are met for all.
The Gender Centre's counselling service is available to all clients including residential clients, community clients, partners, family members and friends of people with gender issues at no cost. The counselling service also provides support and education to school counsellors as well as counsellors in rural areas. The Gender Centre's counselling service provides:
  • Counselling to all clients of the Gender Centre;
  • Counselling to partners and families of clients of the Gender Centre;
  • Confidentiality contract (see below);
  • M.T.F. and F.T.M., transgender parents, over 55s and transgender youth support groups;
  • Referrals to psychiatrists, endocrinologists and other specialists;
  • Supervision to counsellors who have a transgender client; and
  • Placement opportunities to student counsellors.
The issues covered in counselling may include (but are not limited to):
  • cross-dressing;
  • self-harm;
  • suicide;
  • alcohol & other drugs;
  • depression;
  • harassment;
  • hormones;
  • relationships;
  • family;
  • employment;
  • discrimination;
  • anxiety;
  • sexual health;
  • accommodation; and
  • surgery options.
The counsellor has qualifications in counselling, education, workplace training and assessing and is a member of CAPA. The counselling supervisor is a member of the following professional associations:
  • Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (H.B.I.G.D.A.);
  • Clinical Member of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association of N.S.W. (CAPA);
  • Registered member of the Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia (P.A.C.F.A.); and
  • Australian Society of Sexuality Educators, Researchers and Therapists (ASSERT)
  • Please don't hesitate to send our Counsellor an email 

How does the Counselling service work

Step 1 Contact the Gender Centre  to arrange an appointment

Step 2  The counsellor will contact you to arrange your first session with us 

Step 3 Your Counsellor will provide you with counselling sessions

 

The Gender Centre Inc. Counselling Contract

Terms and Conditions


Confidentiality:

The counsellor keeps all notes under lock and key in the filing cabinet in the counselling room.
The counsellor may seek supervision on your situation in keeping with the "Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia (P.A.C.F.A.) Ethical Guidelines", thus:
Counsellors and supervisors are responsible for protecting the client's rights of confidentiality in the supervisory context by ensuring that shared information is disguised appropriately.
Supervision is a professional requirement for a counsellor to be registered in N.S.W.
The counsellor will ensure that details of your case are kept strictly confidential except for situations where there is impending risk of harm to self or others and where mandatory reporting conditions (outlined below) apply.
"Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association of N.S.W. Inc. Code of Ethics and Good Practice" states:
Circumstances may arise where a counsellor believes that a client is at risk of imminent self-harm or imminent harm to others. Such situations may give rise to exceptions to confidentiality.
Mandatory Reporting Requirements: "Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association of N.S.W. Inc. "Code of Ethics and Good Practice" states:Legislation now in force within the state of New South Wales makes it mandatory for all counsellors to report to the relevant authority, any concerns they have where a child is at risk of harm. The relevant authority is the N.S.W. Department of Human Services, Community Services.
Residents of the Gender Centre: Confidentiality as above holds except where information relevant to housing is deemed necessary for the residential service and case management.

Cancellation Policy for Counselling

The cancellation policy for the counselling service has changed.
Due to the high number of requests for counselling,within both programs  & the waiting time to get an appointment, we now require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice to cancel an appointment. If you cannot attend a booked appointment, please call 9519 7599 at least one business day prior to the booking, and let reception know.
If you fail to attend an appointment without informing the Gender Centre, you will lose any future bookings and will be required to re-book for counselling and wait until new appointments are available.

If you are new to the counselling service please fax through your GP referral letter to the Gender Centre  on 9519-8200 and download and complet the counselling form and bring it in with you to your first appointment.

pdfDOWNLOAD COUNSELLING FORM

Psychological Support Services

Psychological Support Services (PSS) funded by Central and Eastern Sydney PHN

The PSS program offers short term face to face psychological support at no cost to eligible clients experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns and live in the Central and Eastern Sydney region. The Psychologists’ at The Gender Centre are training and experienced in working with adults, young people and children. To access this service, visit your GP for a PSS referral and mental health treatment plan.

Please note: if you are out of the Central and Eastern Sydney PHN area you may still access the psychologists through Medicare by obtaining a referral and mental health treatment pan from your GP, this will allow us to bulk bill you.

Accessing PSS at The Gender Centre

PSS is for individuals who live, work or study in the Central and Eastern Sydney region with diagnosable mild to moderate mental health concerns, who may benefit from short term treatment but are unable to Access other available services. This service is for people experiencing financial hardship (Individual income < $55,000; family income < $130,000), and would not be better suited for people looking for crisis or specialist domestic violence services, or involved in court or insurance matters.
  • PSS referral and mental health treatment plan is required from your GP
  • You identify as transgender, gender diverse and/or gender questioning
  • You live in the Central and Eastern Sydney region
  • This service is for people experiencing financial hardship (Individual income < $55,000; family income < $130,000)

How does the Psychological Support Services program work

The Psychological Support Services provides FREE short term face-to-face Psychological therapies for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns

Step 1 GP completes the PSS on line referral form and indicates the Gender Centre as the preferred provider
 
Step 2 The Psychologists’ at The Gender Centre are training and experienced in working with adults, young people and children. Once TGC receives the referral you will be contacted for an appointment
 

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