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Mental Health Counselling

ACT offers free and confidential mental health counselling along with HIV testing services on Wednesdays 4-8pm. Counselling services are available to everyone who receives an HIV test, regardless of the test result.

What is Mental Health Counselling?

Counselling is a type of mental health treatment used to relieve emotional distress, such as low mood, anxiety, nervousness, fear, mood swings, anger, substance dependence, and grief. Counselling helps people make meaningful changes in their life or work towards achieving personal goals. Overall, mental health counselling supports people to live healthier, happier, and productive lives. 

 

 

Our counsellors come from a variety of mental health disciplines, including social work, psychoeducation, and psychology. They help service users explore and understand the challenges they face in life and the feelings and emotions they experience. This is accomplished mainly through talking with someone who offers an unbiased, third-party perspective in a safe, non-judgemental, and confidential environment. 

This interactive process should be an insightful experience that leads to self-discovery, offering you new perspectives on the self, the people around you, and the world we live in. With greater self-awareness, service users are often more prepared to manage their emotions, attitudes and behaviours. Counsellors may introduce emotional coping strategies, help you develop new habits that align with your goals and values, or help improve feelings of optimism and self-worth.

ACT's approach to mental health counselling

Confidentiality

ACT employees and volunteers are trained to provide you with safe, professional, and confidential services. Feel free to ask about how we keep your information protected.

You are in control

Many folks feel nervous at first – this is normal! You do not have to talk about anything you don’t want to. We have no agenda except to support you.

Your identity matters

We celebrate the diversity within our communities and we acknowledge the ways that our various identities impact our lives. Our counsellors may invite you to explore the ways identity and stigma affect you and your life.

You are an expert on yourself

Share with us what’s important to you: your goals, your perspectives, your basic needs. Our priority is to help you accomplish these things. You will not be shamed for being you, your life circumstances, or your decision making.

Let’s talk about sex (if you want)

You don’t have to talk about sex in counselling, but it’s something we do a lot! Most importantly, share what you are comfortable with.

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