Counselling and Social Work

Family Works Northern offers a range of counselling and social work support for children/tamariki, young people/rangatahi and families/whanau who are facing complex challenges. Brief details are provided below. For more information please contact the Family Works Northern office nearest to you.

• Counselling: We provide counselling for children, young people and their families to assist family members explore and address difficulties and concerns.
  
  This could include helping you to:
  -  explore emotions, thoughts and behaviour
  -  become more aware of yourself, your values and what motivates you
  -  plan and set goals
  -  improve your relationships
  -  reduce stress
  -  develop your sense of well-being
  -  do things differently.
  
  Issues addressed include: behavioural problems; abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional); depression; grief and loss; self esteem; eating disorders; anxiety, phobias and panic attacks; anger; violence and relationship issues.
  
  Counselling is available from experienced staff at all of Family Works Northern's service centres.
  
  

• Social Work:  Via social work we are committed to advancing the well-being of children, young people and their families.
  
  Social work support includes:
  -  assisting people to attain the services they need, including advocating on people’s behalf (including with Government agencies) 
  -  talking with people and helping them to address/resolve issues 
  -  linking and/or reconnecting people with appropriate and relevant family/community resources and support networks 
  -  using appropriate legislation to protect vulnerable members of society
  
  Social Work support is available from trained and experienced staff at all of Family Works Northern's service centres.
  

• Social Workers in Schools (SWIS): This programme provides a school-based social worker to help children up to Year 8 (age 13) make positive changes in their lives.
  
  Trained staff work in partnership with young people and their families to build on strengths and resolve issues or concerns. Areas of focus include reducing anti-social behaviour, encouraging success, improving life skills and health and fitness, building self-esteem and confidence and understanding domestic violence (where appropriate).
  
  A key advantage of the service is the opportunity for prevention and early intervention to prevent problems escalating. Having the social worker in schools also helps reduce the barriers to learning.
  
  In total we have 22 social workers operating in 44 schools in Auckland, Manukau, Waitakere, Waikato, Rotorua, Western Bay of Plenty, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Taupo and Turangi.
  

For more information on the counselling and social work support we provide please contact the Family Works Northern office nearest to you.