Frequently asked questions
Discover answers to our frequently asked questions (FAQs).
We have a comprehensive list of FAQs available for families here. We answer questions about what you can expect from a family therapy session, completing questionnaires, what you need for telehealth sessions, and how you can access your records.
We also have a list of FAQs available for referrers here. We encourage referrers to read the FAQs for families above, as we may answer some of your questions there.
Families most common questions about our service
Select the plus ( + ) button to find answers to some of our most commonly asked questions.
You can access and download our Terms of Service here.
The Bouverie Centre sees Victorian families seeking support for their well-being and relationships, in light of challenges related to a member’s diagnosed 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.
More information about who we can and can't see can be found on our Family Services page and our Terms of Service.
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 .
The Bouverie Centre does not have a waitlist. Our intention is to respond in a rapid and accessible way by seeing families within three weeks of contact. We can only see up to 6 new families per week, however, we open new sessions each week. If we do not have any appointments available when you call, we will invite you to call us back the next week.
Before you attend a family therapy session, you will speak to our Family Care Coordinator who is an experienced clinician. They will ask some questions about you and your family to check whether Bouverie is the right service for you at this time. If it looks like Bouverie may be a good fit for your family, we will then help to prepare you for your first session with us.
If it doesn’t look like Bouverie is the right fit right now, the Family Care Coordinator will provide alternative referral options for you that fits your family’s needs at this time.
Families are generally seen by one or two qualified family therapists, depending on the number of family members attending and the nature of their concerns. If you or someone in your family identifies as First Nations and you choose to see a First Nations worker, you would be seen by our Workin' with the Mob Team.
Families coming through our Masters Program Clinic are seen by an experienced professional undertaking specialised postgraduate training in family therapy.
In-person family therapy sessions are held at The Bouverie Centre, 8 Gardiner Street, Brunswick VIC 3056 between the hours of 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.
We can arrange an interpreter to assist with communication during all sessions and phone calls. We will need a week's notice for sessions and phone calls to do this, so please let us know when you contact us.
Before we schedule an appointment, at least two family members need to agree to attend sessions together. Our Family Care Coordinator will check this with you when they speak with you. As long as it is safe to do so, families are more likely to achieve better outcomes if all affected family members attend together.
We ask that all family members answer some questions at different times during their care with us. We ask everyone to complete them on their own before and after their first session, then again when you finish family therapy with The Bouverie Centre.
The questionnaires help with three things:
- They give everyone a voice about how things are in the family at the moment, and what positive change would look like.
- They help our therapist/s get a sense of how your whole family is travelling.
- They give the Bouverie Centre information on the needs of families who come to us.
Your answers are only used for these purposes and remain private. If you need help to complete this questionnaire, your Family Care Coordinator can assist with this.
The primary contact for your family will need to complete and return the pre-session questionnaire before we can confirm your first appointment. We will also send a shorter version of the questionnaire to each member of the family attending Bouverie’s family therapy service.
We see children of all ages in the context of family difficulties. We do not see children individually. If you have concerns, it’s good to talk through what might be a constraint for your child attending first with our Family Care Coordinator or with a therapist.
Only one attending family member is required to be living in Victoria. Some or all family members can attend remotely from rural/regional areas or interstate via Telehealth.
No, we do not reach out to other family members to participate in Family Therapy. There may be some exceptions to this. You and your Family Care Coordinator can discuss this during your first phone call.
Before we schedule an appointment, at least two family members need to agree to attend sessions together.