Counselling and Psychological support
Person centred support for daily wellbeing
About This Service
Counselling Support That Meets People Where They Are
Program Overview
The CLA Counselling Service provides short to medium term, person centred counselling to individuals experiencing psychosocial challenges that impact their mental health, wellbeing, and daily functioning. The service is delivered by two experienced Accredited Mental Health Social Workers with expertise in working with trauma and psychosocial distress. The program is particularly responsive to individuals from marginalised communities and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as those who experience barriers accessing traditional mental health services.
The program aims to enhance participants’ emotional wellbeing, coping capacity, and sense of agency by offering a safe, supportive, and reflective therapeutic space. Counselling is grounded in respect, collaboration, and responsiveness to each individual’s lived experience.
Target Group
The service supports individuals who may be experiencing:
- Anxiety, stress, and emotional overwhelm
- Difficulties with emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships
- Impacts of trauma
- Psychosocial stressors related to disability, health conditions, housing instability, or social isolation
- Dual diagnosis and multiple life stressors that significantly impact mental health and wellbeing
The service offers bulk billed counselling for eligible clients. Accessibility and equity are core values of the program, with a strong commitment to ensuring mental health counselling remains available to individuals who may otherwise face financial or systemic barriers.
The program aims to enhance participants’ emotional wellbeing, coping capacity, and sense of agency by offering a safe, supportive, and reflective therapeutic space. Counselling is grounded in respect, collaboration, and responsiveness to each individual’s lived experience.
Service Delivery
Counselling is provided through individual sessions, typically up to ten sessions under the Medicare mental health programs, with flexibility based on client needs, goals, and clinical considerations. Sessions may be delivered face to face, by telephone, or via telehealth, depending on client preference and accessibility requirements.
Participation is voluntary and client led, with a strong emphasis on informed consent, collaboration, and shared goal setting. The service also accepts alternative funding sources, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme and other relevant programs where appropriate.
Therapeutic Approach
The counselling approach integrates:
- Trauma informed practice, prioritising safety, trust, and choice
- Recovery oriented principles that foster hope, meaning, and self determination
- Strengths based and person centred frameworks that recognise individual resilience and capacity
- Psychoeducation to support emotional literacy, insight, and practical coping strategies
- Reflective and supportive counselling to explore and process lived experience.
MEET OUR Mental Health workers
Michael Wong
Michael is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW), holding a Bachelor of Social Work (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from the University of Queensland. He has over a decade of experience providing counselling and mental health support to individuals with and without cognitive and intellectual disabilities.
Michael specialises in working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including refugees and migrants. He offers counselling in both English and Cantonese, ensuring accessible support for diverse communities. Alongside his clinical work, Michael is a PhD researcher focused on improving the wellbeing of health professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds, bringing both practice expertise and research insight to his role.
Megumi Hassan
Megumi is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW), holding a Bachelor of Arts ( University of the Sunshine Coast) and a Master of Social Work (University of Queensland). She has extensive experience providing counselling and mental health support to individuals with complex needs, including intellectual disability, mental health conditions, trauma, and involvement in the justice system.
Megumi works with people from diverse backgrounds and offers counselling in both English and Japanese. Alongside clinical practice, she also serves as a Court Intermediary (Queensland Intermediary Scheme), supporting children and vulnerable witnesses to communicate effectively in legal settings. She brings together therapeutic expertise and practical systems knowledge to offer safe, responsive, and empowering support to individuals and families.