Family therapy
We offer family therapy services to Victorian families seeking support for their well-being and relationships at no cost.
The Bouverie Centre is a state-wide provider of family therapy services, funded by the Victorian Department of Health. We are also a practice-research-translation centre of La Trobe University, committed to integrating research across all our services, including our family therapy services, academic teaching, and workforce training.
What we offer
Families can access two levels of family therapy services. In summary they are:
- Walk-In Together: This is a unique service, giving your family a once-off Family Therapy session via Telehealth, with a small team of our family therapists. It cuts out lengthy assessments and waitlists. For many families, this timely assistance is enough to help them improve their situation.
- Multi-Session Family Therapy: This service, via telehealth and/or in person, is for families who want or need more intensive support over a longer period of time. It is offered either by
- A Bouverie Centre Therapist OR
- A Family Therapy Team, comprising mental health professionals undertaking advanced study in Family Therapy, led by a Senior Bouverie Family Therapist.
Cost
Our service is funded by the Victorian Department of Health and provided at no cost to families who meet our eligibility requirements and who agree to our Terms of Service.
Who do we see
We see Victorian families seeking support for their well-being and relationships, in light of challenges related to a member’s mental health condition, or alcohol and other drug problem, and/or past trauma or abuse. We provide specialist family therapy services for First Nations and LGBTIQA+ families who are eligible for our service.
Some limits and practicalities
- We are a tertiary service which means family members have sought help from another mental health or primary care service before us.
- We cannot offer individual therapy, couples therapy or services when there are active or pending Family Court proceedings, or the implementation of Parenting Orders (Consent or Court).
- We cannot offer a family therapy service in situations of serious current family violence.
- For families not eligible for our service we can provide alternative suggestions to an appropriate service/practitioner.
- We offer sessions during business hours, Monday to Friday.
- Before we schedule an appointment, at least 2 family members need to agree to attend sessions together.
We have provided some suggestions and links below to some services who can help with the areas we can't help your family with.
- Arbias (03) 8388 1222
- Brain Injury Matters (03) 9639 7222
- Carer Gateway 1800 422 737
- EACH 1300 003 224
- GP Mental Health Care Plan (with accredited psychologists and social workers in private practice)
- Your local community health centre
- Relationships Australia Victoria
- Relationship Matters - 1300 543 396
Courts will generally refer you to consultants who will assess and write a report. You can also access private practitioners who specialise in writing court reports here:
- Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
- Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Mensline 1300 789 978
- Parentline Victoria 13 22 89
- Police, Ambulance or Fire Brigade 000
- Psychiatric triage (information, assessment and referral) 1300 363 746
- Safe Steps (Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service) 1800 015 188
- 1800 RESPECT (Sexual assault and family violence) 1800 737 732
- Victims of Crime 1800 819 817
- Australian Psychological Society 1800 333 497
- Speech Pathology Australia 1300 368 835
- SPELD Victoria 1800 051 533
- Anglicare Victoria 1800 809 722
- Drummond Street Services - Youth Family Violence (03) 9663 6733
- Relationship Matters 1300 543 396
- Safe Steps 1800 015 188
- Australian Association of Social Workers
- Australian Psychological Society
- LGBTIQ+ individual counselling
- Thorne Harbour Country - (03) 4400 9000
- Thorne Harbour Health - (03) 9865 6700
- Psychotherapy and Counsellors Federation of Australia
- Relationships Australia Victoria
- Relationship Matters 1300 543 396
- Your local community health centre
- Your local G.P.
If you are interested in accessing our services, please read our Terms of Service and if Bouverie seems like the right service for your family, please call reception on (03) 8481 4800 to arrange a consultation with our Intake staff or to book in for a Walk-In Together session.