Counselling Services
All counselling services are provided by professionally qualified counsellors (social work or psychology) with an indepth knowledge of the complexities of contemporary adoption.
Telephone Counselling
Telephone counselling is often the first step in sharing your experience.
It is safe, confidential and private. For those living with adoption (or families where there is separation) secrecy and silence have often been a part of the experience. It takes courage to speak – telephone counselling gives you the chance to explore your feelings without having to identify yourself.
For those who live in the country or interstate, telephone counselling gives you access to a professional, specialist counselling service.
Individual, Couple and Family Counselling
Counselling can be helpful for anyone who would like to explore any adoption-related issues:
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relinquishment |
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relationships |
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infertility |
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prospective adoptive parenting |
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post reunion relationships |
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identity |
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family connection |
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searching |
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approved mandatory UK counselling |
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loss/grief |
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parenting |
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Counselling can involve partners, children and other family members.
Anyone interested in counselling can contact ARCS to make an appointment. Sessions are approximately for one hour.
All counselling services are confidential.
A means tested fee structure applies to counselling services. Your counsellor will discuss this with you.
Pre-Relinquishing Counselling
A service to those birthparents and their families dealing with unplanned pregnancy.
ARCS is committed to providing a counselling service to birth parents and their families who are considering relinquishment.
An unplanned pregnancy can be traumatic for the woman, her partner and family. By their very nature unplanned pregnancies are not prepared for. We believe that women and their partners deserve a service that is non-judgemental, supportive and informative. In order to make an informed decision those involved need to have access to unbiased information. They can then appreciate the full meaning and implications of their decision for their child and themselves.
Adoption legislation has changed radically in recent times. We have learnt from the past experiences of those personally involved in adoption. Those considering adoption as an option may not be fully informed of these changes, for example:
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choice of adoptive parent
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possibilities of contact and openness
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negotiated adoption agreement.
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ARCS staff will assist you to make sense of these changes and their meaning for you and your child now and in the future.
Women in the past facing an unplanned pregnancy often had no choice or little choice. Parents now must be able to make a fully informed decision about their child’s future and need to know all available options.
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