Walk-in Together Online Sessions
Our publicly funded Walk-in Together family therapy (WIT) service is a rapid, accessible, and high-quality response to a family contacting our service. Our WIT sessions provide telehealth sessions online via Zoom and without the waiting list. Ideal for families who want to be seen quickly and on a single family therapy session basis. It comprises a session with 2-3 highly experienced Bouverie family therapists responding to the needs of you and your family on the day.
In our time delivering the WIT service, we have found families are sometimes unsure if a ‘single session’ appointment will be enough to attend to a family’s needs. However, we notice that most families value the session and while they are welcome to attend another session in the future, most find a single session both supportive and effective at responding to their pressing needs.
Who can attend
We see Victorian families facing challenges due to mental ill health, and/or drug and alcohol misuse problems, and many forms of trauma. Within this, we provide specialist support for LGBTQIA+ families.
The word ‘family’ includes chosen or extended family, kinship groups, and community.
At least two family members must attend together. As long as it is safe to do so, families are more likely to achieve better outcomes if all affected family members attend.
First Nations families
Our Wednesday Walk-In Together family sessions operate in the Black and White model of practice, where you and your family will engage with a First Nations therapist and non-First Nations therapist. All families from any cultural background are welcome to attend our family healing sessions.
Our team of First Nations and non-First Nations family therapists also offer Multi-Session Family Healing Sessions. Click here for further information.
Session times
Walk-In Together appointments are held online on the following days and times:
Monday (2 sessions): 1:00pm and 3:00pm
Wednesday (2 sessions): 11:00am and 2:00pm
Thursday (2 sessions): 1:00pm and 3:00pm
More about Walk-in Together
- No referral or mental health care plan required.
- Approximately 75-90 minutes per telehealth session, using Zoom.
- It is Single Session Therapy focused and orientated to what is most pressing for the family.
- All attendees will be required to complete a pre-session questionnaire. This information will be used by the therapists to help guide your session.
- If, by the end of the session, you and your family want ongoing support, you may, as part of the session, be given information about other relevant services.
- Includes a reflection from the therapist team during the session.
- Ends with the family reflecting on ‘take away next steps’.
- Includes a session summary document sent to the family within 24-48 hours.
- Families are welcome to attend another single session in the future.
- Interpreter available.
Technical requirements
- A computer device (ideally a desktop, laptop or iPad, but a smartphone is also ok).
- A functioning camera and microphone on/with your device.
- Zoom program – please refer to Help with Zoom for more information.
Family members may share the same device for the session, provided you can all see the screen and be seen, and determine that you are safe and comfortable with sharing.
Contact us
Call reception on (03) 8481 4800 and depending on your suitability, you will be allocated a day and time for your session. We are able to book up to 3 weeks in advance.
Researching walk-in family therapy
We are keen to find out more about the helpfulness of walk-in family therapy and will ask families who attend a session to be part of our Walk-In Together research project. This is completely voluntary. Family members will be asked a few questions at the beginning and end of their session, with a follow up contact by our research team around 6 weeks later.