Faith, Counselling
Looking for a counsellor? Use the search engine by clicking on the Find a Counsellor.
What’s distinctive about Christian Counselling?
Christian counsellors understand the importance of faith in one’s life. They understand and seek to express God’s unconditional love and healing presence when counselling their clients. They also understand the importance of being qualified, accountable and authentic, working with ethical integrity within a wider Christian counselling community.
They aim to support each client on their own unique journey, deeply respecting both the values of each individual and the context within which they live, work and worship.
Christian counsellors use their professional knowledge and skills in ways that sensitively promote the wellbeing of their clients whilst still respecting the client’s unique perspective, circumstances and choices.
CCAA is a professional body of Christian counsellors. We can connect you with a relevant counsellor who can provide professional counselling services, while attending to the importance of your spirituality if desired. Knowing the importance of listening and respecting your faith issues is important to CCAA. We exist to further the reputation and professional development of Australian counsellors who practice within a framework of Christian values.
When you find a CCAA counsellor, you can be confident that your counsellor fulfils the requirements of CCAA membership and ongoing professional development.
Medicare Better Access to Mental Health Rebates
The Medicare Better Access to Mental Health scheme improves access to counselling by providing rebates to psychologists and mental health social workers who are registered as Medicare allied health providers. GP’s are encouraged to refer their patients who need counselling for mental health issues to these registered practitioners.
Medicare provides a $86.15 rebate, which commonly leaves around a $100 gap fee that most psychologists charge full fee-paying clients. Most counsellors charge between $80 and $150. The Medicare rebate system limits the available psychologist appointments to 10 counselling sessions in a calendar year; appointments with a counsellor are unlimited.
Although your GP may prefer to refer you to a psychologist, it is not necessarily mean that a psychologist will provide better counselling than a counsellor. It depends on the professional’s skill, area of expertise, style of counselling, the fit with your needs and personality, and cost considerations.
Selecting a counsellor is a very personal choice. It is important that you find someone that YOU can work with. The Find a Counsellor search engine helps you find a suitably qualified Christian counsellor near you.
Christian Integration
CCAA members are more than just counsellors who happen to be Christian – they are counselling professionals whose work is informed by their Christian faith and values that support their lives. Members are able to integrate faith and professional practice to address spiritual and faith issues as part of the counselling process.
To reach Clinical Membership in CCAA, counsellors have gained additional training in the integration of counselling and faith through professional development workshops and mentoring by senior supervisors.
CCAA counsellors respect your individual faith background and preference. Of course, having a faith perspective brought into counselling sessions is at your discretion and request. If you start to get uncomfortable for any reason, just let your counsellor know.
For many, it will be comforting to know that your counsellor shares some basic spiritual beliefs with you. This can help form a safe therapeutic relationship that provides a place to reflect upon faith that can be a source of resilience and hope.
Academic Training
CCAA membership has different levels which reflect the training and experience of each counsellor:
Diploma and Provisional member have a minimal level of training that is deemed sufficient in industry standards to commence working as a counsellor, having attained a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Graduate Diploma from an approved training provider. They may be in the process of further training and development.
Graduate and Clinical Members of CCAA have graduated from an accredited counselling course at a degree level with a higher number of in training practical hours (100- 200 hours). These counsellors have attained tertiary approved qualifications at either a Bachelor degree level, or equivalent, or a Postgraduate degree, often at Masters level. They meet the high standards of training and supervised practice required by PACFA, the national peak body for counsellors and psychotherapists in Australia.
Clinical Supervision
CCAA requires all counsellors, regardless of experience, to have regular clinical supervision. Supervision means that a counsellor uses the services of a senior counsellor who is a supervisor to review their work with clients and support their own professional and personal development. Supervision helps ensure that your counsellor’s service to you is safe, ethical and competent.
Ongoing Professional Development
Counsellors are required to participate in continued training and education to maintain CCAA membership. As long as your counsellor is a member of CCAA, you can be assured that he or she is continuing to acquire relevant education, regularly updating their skills and ensuring that they are familiar with the latest counselling ideas.
Peace of Mind
You can have peace of mind that you’re in safe hands, because all CCAA counsellors must adhere to the high standards of CCAA’s Code of Ethics.
All members hold professional indemnity insurance and are required to have ongoing professional development and supervision.
Our highly skilled counsellors can support you through a broad range of issues. You can choose a CCAA member with the right skills and experience to meet your needs.
We are committed to these values and so if you believe that a counsellor has been unethical in their practice and want to make a complaint you can find out more about the process here
Go to Find a Counsellor to begin your journey.
Practical Training
During their training, CCAA members have undertaken a practical component, completing a required amount of counselling experience and corresponding supervision. The trainee’s practical experience provides opportunities for them to develop professional and clinical skills within a supervised real-life setting. This field experience is designed to better integrate theory with practice and to develop the personal growth of the counsellor.
Because CCAA members have participated in practical training, they can skilfully guide you through addressing the issues that bring you to counselling.
Resources
CCAA would like to offer to the Public resources that we believe would be helpful in your daily life. The video recordings below were aimed at Counsellors and their work with Children and Families. We trust you will benefit from the content. Please click on the pictures of the two recordings to access the content.
If you would like further help, please contact CCAA info@ccaa.net.au or visit our Find a Counsellor search for counsellors in your area or available on line.
