Frequently Asked Questions
About Counselling
Counselling is an opportunity for you to talk through issues that concern you and address areas of your life where you would like to change.
MISA creates a safe, confidential and accepting place where you can feel confident to speak freely about personal matters which are focused on your particular situation.
MISA’s counsellors will work with you to help you make sense of your situation or experiences, gain new insights and tools, and reach your own decisions about a way forward, often with new skills.Misa works with men regardless of where they've been and we work with men experiencing domestic violence from both sides. If you are looking to improve the outcomes for you and your loved ones, we're here to help.
Cost shouldn't be a barrier to accessing help.
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At MISA individual sessions are $60/ hour and couples sessions are $100/ hour, however if cost is an issue we can offer reduced or no cost sessions.
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We also offer no-cost sessions with students and volunteers when they are available.
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We dont need a mental health care plan. Just give us a call.
Sessions are 60 minutes in length.
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If you are late for your session it will reduce in time as we usually have other clients scheduled in. Please let us know if you face any issues in getting to your session or if you're running late.
There is no right answer to how many sessions will work for you.
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This will depend on things like your readiness for change, finding the right counsellor, your circumstances and situation, and sometimes your willingness to do homework ;-)
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Sometimes a couple of sessions is enough to give you some insight and tools, and sometimes more complex experiences might take a little more time to unpack.
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Counselling can be a journey.
When you first reach out, please let us know if there is something that makes you feel uncomfortable so we can try to match you with the right sort of counsellor for you.
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During your initial session, your counsellor will work to understand needs and build a safe space for you to work within.
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If you dont feel comfortable, feel free to reach out and ask to see a different counsellor.
Yes, we do have counsellors who offer couples counselling.
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This is different to working with an individual, so please let us know if this is something you're interested in. Both parties must confirm with us prior to booking in a session.
Please note we can not work with active orders but we can work with you individually in those cases.
MISA is bound by law to protect your confidential information, which is stored in a secure system. On very rare occasions, where someone is at risk of harm there may need to be an intervention to protect your safety, which we will discuss with you first.
In your first session, we will discuss “confidentiality” with you and what this means for you.We also face some requirements around Subpoenas but will also discuss this with you.
While face to face is our preferred method of working, we can offer phone to video call sessions.
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If booking for a phone or video call we request you treat it as you would a normal counselling session by making sure you are in a confidential, private space where you feel safe, and wont be interrupted, or end up in a dangerous situation (like driving). You can be inside or outside.
Counselling is a place for you to process what has happened, learn skills to manage your emotions and experiences, and if you are open to it - change your behaviours moving forward.
Your counsellor will create an environment where you can feel safe to discuss your experiences. Counselling is a non-judgmental place. We understand life is complex and things happen. If you're willing to work through it, we're here for you.
About group workshops
The 12 week workshop costs $460.
We can offer payment plans. Please give us a call to discuss your requirements.
No it isn’t, this workshop covers a lot of personal skills, and encourages you to gain a greater awareness of yourself. Most men say they got to know themselves better, they were better at understanding what “triggers” them, and that they felt like a better person after doing the workshop.
All participants that finish the program receive a certificate.
The group runs for 12 weeks and each week we meet for 2 hours.
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This is a closed group so once the group starts, you wont have new people coming and going.
Our facilitators will create an environment where open discussion can take place. Group guidelines are developed on the first week in order to promote confidentiality and appropriate disclosure. If anything comes up in the group that you wish to discuss in more depth the facilitators will support you to book a counselling session.
Prior to commencement of a workshop you participate in an intake session to make sure this is the right group for you, and you are ready to participate.
The is also about assessing your personal situation to ensure we are aware of any particular needs.
The group guidelines help ensure group members feel safe with the facilitators and with each other - it often ends up being a very supportive environment where we grow and develop together.
This is not a DFV program.
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This is a voluntary behaviour change workshop providing psychoeducation in a supportive space. This can be a helpful program for anyone who needs some support in understanding themselves and their identity, navigating interpersonal relationships, understanding their emotions and managing themselves better.
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If you are required to do a specific course, please check with your lawyer, or probation and parole to check if this meets your specific situation.