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.

Who can attend

All 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 First Nations and 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.

More about Walk-in Together

• Runs every Monday and Wednesday with the first appointment at 2:30pm and the second at 4:30pm.
• No referral or mental health care plan required.
• Approximately 75-90 minutes per telehealth session, using Zoom.
• 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.
• Families are welcome to ‘walk back in’ for another single session in the future.
• It is Single Session Therapy focused and orientated to what is most pressing for the family.
• Is focused on family relationships.
• 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.

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 “walk” back in for future sessions, most find a single session both supportive and effective at responding to their pressing needs.

Cost

There is no cost to families. Our family therapy service is funded by the Victorian Department of Health.

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.

To access Walk-in Together

Call us on (03) 8481 4800 and depending on availability, your family will be allocated a day and time for your session. We are able to book up to 2 weeks in advance. You and all attendees will be asked for details such as Full Name, Address, DOB, Phone Number and Email Address to create a registration, so please ensure you have these available when you call.

On the day

We will be in contact with you the morning of your appointment to confirm your attendance.

• Your family will be provided the Zoom link for the session via email.
• All attendees will also be required to complete a pre-session questionnaire. This information will be used by the therapists to help guide your session.

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.