Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs for parents/carers
Q. I am afraid if I leave it up to my child they may never attend counselling.
A. Children and young people’s voices need to be listened to and respected. It may be more beneficial for you to come to counselling to help you support as much as possible. This may also help your child engage later on if you tell them about your experience at Rosebank.
Q. Can I come into the counselling session?
A. It is important that your child has a space for them to speak or create freely. Often children try to protect their loved ones from things that may upset them. Counselling offers a safe space of their own.
Q. Will I be involved at all?
A. Yes, Rosebank believes in working holistically with families. Sexual abuse impacts the whole family and in order to ensure the child gets the support they need it is helpful we involve all who are supporting them. This is individual for each family and at the choice of the child.
Q. Can counselling really help my child heal from sexual abuse?
A. Children feel the benefits of counselling in many aspects of their daily lives. Children and young people tell us: Counselling has…
Provided a place where they can be truly themselves
Helped them feel less isolated by strengthening family connections and friendships
Built on their confidence and resilience
Allowed them to feel safer at home and at school
Helped them sleep better, increase concentration and understand their bodies more
Q. What are problematic harmful sexualised behaviours
A. Problematic harmful sexualised behaviours are concerning sexual behaviours that are outside the age appropriate body exploration and that are problematic to the child’s own development. Sexual behaviour in children is their way of meeting an emotional need.
Q. Why is it important to seek help for problematic harmful sexualised behaviours?
A. Children display behaviours to communicate emotional distress. It is important to take sexualised behaviours seriously to protect the child with the behaviours and the children surrounding them. In NSW, children 10 years and over can be found responsible for their behaviours by law and can be charged. By seeking support before the age of 10, children can express the core of their emotional distress and families can respond appropriately by listening, setting boundaries and strengthening relationships.
Q. My child’s friend has displayed problematic harmful sexualised behaviours, how do I keep my child safe while keeping the friendship?
A. Sexualised behaviours can be confronting. But with the right communication, support and collaboration between families, school etc children can have safe friendships. It is important to be open and honest about your worries, set boundaries for safety without isolating the child with the behaviours. Talk with your child about safe play, their body and listen to their worries.
FAQs for children and young people
Q. Do I have to talk about what I experienced?
A. No, there is no pressure to talk about anything you do not feel comfortable to talk about. For some it is powerful to talk about what they have experienced, but for others it takes time to feel safe to do so. Others may never want to talk about it at all. It is important that you have control over what you talk about
Q. Can counselling really help me?
A. Counselling is different for everyone but the children and young people we work with tell us: Counselling has…
- Been the only place they feel comfortable to be themselves and learn about who they are
- Helped them talk to their family and make friends at school
- Built on their confidence and helped them learn how to deal with tricky things
- Allowed them to feel safer at home and want to go to school
- Helped them sleep better, be healthier and remember and learn more
- Encouraged them to explore who they want to be and what they want their future to look like
Q. What do I need to do in counselling?
A. You get to choose what you would like to do during your time at Rosebank. Some like to talk about what is happening for them and others like to express themselves through creating something. Your counsellor will help you find ways to express yourself and learn more about who you want to be.
Q. How long do I need to go to counselling?
A. This is individual and up to you? Some engage for a few sessions to learn more about themselves and the impact of trauma, some attend counselling around difficult times at school or at home, and others want long term support to work through what they have experienced, learn more about themselves and who they want to be.
FAQs for service professionals
Q. How do I make a referral?
A. It is very helpful for our counsellors to get the right information from the start to ensure we are the right service for your referral. A referral can be made over the phone or send an email to make an appointment to discuss the referral.
Q. Will I be updated with what has occurred in counselling?
A. Counselling sessions are confidential. But we understand the importance of working collaboratively with the support network surrounding our clients. With their permission we can provide basic updates especially if this helps them engage in further support.