Wesley Mission Services
Wesley Counselling Services
Wesley Counselling Services is a vital, key service of Wesley Mission. The Service includes:
- Wesley Gambling Counselling Services
- Creditline Financial Counselling Services
- Wesley Community Legal Service, and
- Lifeline Sydney and Sutherland.
The service began more than 40 years ago with the birth of the telephone counselling service Lifeline. It has continued to grow and develop, by providing vital services to people in crisis.
Wesley Counselling Services provides an extensive service to the community, and quality of service delivery is an important aspect of the work.
All services are accredited under ISO 9001 and operate within a program of continuous improvement.
The team is dedicated, professional and continues to strive to provide the best service for the client.
Wesley Gambling Counselling Services
Wesley Gambling Counselling Services (WGCS) provides services in the Sydney suburbs of Surry Hills, Penrith and Sutherland. The service supports people struggling with a gambling addiction by assisting them to overcome their gambling problem through person-centred techniques.
The service also provides financial counselling support to people as they overcome debt problems as a result of gambling, through personal empowerment and if necessary, direct negotiation, mediation or advocacy with finance or credit providers.
Statistics
- It is estimated that 1172 clients approached Wesley Gambling Counselling Services in the 12 months from January 2004 to December 2004.
- It is estimated that clients approaching Wesley Gambling Clubsafe Telephone Counselling Services in the year from January 2004 to December 2004 made 252 calls.
| Wesley Gambling Counselling Services | TOTAL |
|---|---|
| New Clients | 1,775 |
Wesley Mission Annual Report 200431
Issues & Recommendations
- People who have a gambling problem and seek counselling are usually in crisis. However due to the sheer demand for counselling services, they often find they must wait two to three weeks before they can see a WGCS counsellor. This has an unfortunate consequence of having some clients not receiving help during a time when their lives are often too chaotic for them to wait calmly for that period.
- New submissions have gone into Casino Community Benefit Fund (CCBF) for refunding of our expanded services. If the submissions are unsuccessful, services will close.
- WGCS is a vital service but reliance on full government funding has its own in-built insecurities and restrictions, which do not help flexibility, planning and better service delivery.
- Funding bodies should encourage greater agency cooperation and partnerships, but the funding and tendering process that is competitive, creating a climate of secrecy and mistrust within the sector, undermines this.
A review of the funding process would be helpful. The New Zealand model places problem gambling under the auspices of Health rather than Gaming and Racing.
Creditline Financial Counselling Services
Established in 1980, Creditline provides a confidential financial counselling service to help them work through their debt problems. The services are located at Penrith, Fairfield, Surry Hills and Sutherland.
The organisation provides a professional and comprehensive, sufficiently funded, specialist financial counselling service for individuals and their families.
This service targets individuals and families who are suffering financial difficulties with the consequential emotional trauma and distress. The service aims to enhance financial independence and assist clients to deal with their own financial situations. This is achieved through face-to-face financial counselling, consumer education, allocation of financial counsellors throughout Australia, a toll free advice and referral service and access to a comprehensive community legal service.
Creditline participates in the process to bring about social change through legislative reform and encouraging ethical finance industry practices.32
Statistics
| Wesley Creditline | TOTAL |
|---|---|
| No. of phone calls | 8,558 |
| No. of clients | 2,586 |
| Services provided | 11,144 |
Wesley Mission Annual Report 200431
- Wesley Creditline would like the organisation to be in the position to do more preventative counselling, as Creditline is currently used primarily as a crisis hotline.
- More financial counsellors are required to meet demand for Creditline service as currently appointments are booked months in advance. This prevents new clients from receiving immediate support.
Wesley Community Legal Service
This service provides free and confidential support for clients in need of legal support arising from financial and/or gambling issues. The support includes legal and court support, along with advocacy.
Wesley Community Legal Service (WCLS) is a unique community legal centre that fills an important need in the provision of legal services in NSW and Australia. WCLS was established in 1994 to resource financial and gambling counsellors and their clients. WCLS seeks to work in a multidisciplinary manner with counsellors and has particular expertise in the following areas:
- Debt recovery and insolvency
- Consumer credit
- Criminal law
- Family law
Wesley Community Legal Service refers clients to:
- G-Line
- Gamblers Anonymous
- Other gambling counselling agencies (free and private)
- Doctors (General Practitioners and psychiatrists)
- Mental health agencies
- Welfare agencies
- Accommodation services
- Alcohol treatment agencies, such as Wesley Rehabilitation Services.32
Statistics
| Wesley Gambling Legal Service 2003–04 | TOTAL |
|---|---|
| Services Provided | 802 |
Wesley Mission Annual Report 200431
WCLS requires more financial support to train counsellors to meet the growing demand for the legal service.
Lifeline Sydney and Sutherland
Lifeline Sydney and Lifeline Sutherland are two of 42 Lifeline Centres across Australia, providing a 24-hour network of telephone counselling and support for people in crisis.
Lifeline Sydney also provides face-to-face counselling support. In addition to their staff, Lifeline Sydney has upwards of 250 volunteers providing counselling, office and fundraising support. Twice a year Lifeline Sydney provides training in telephone counselling and currently has 86 trainees ready to begin their courses.
Lifeline Sutherland has up to 70 trained volunteer phone counsellors who are meeting an increasing demand in southern Sydney.
In response to the crisis amongst our young people, Lifeline is now implementing a number of strategies for youth suicide prevention.
These include:
- Suicide awareness and intervention workshops for those in the community involved with young people.
- Increased profile and relevance of Lifeline to young people and making it an option for young people in distress.
- The development of new programs to provide real practical support for young people at risk and their families. 33
Statistics
| Lifeline Sydney | TOTAL |
|---|---|
| Phone calls | 18,788 |
| Face-to-face sessions | 300 |
| Volunteer hours | 27,000 |
Wesley Mission Annual Report 200431
Statistics
| Lifeline Sutherland | TOTAL |
|---|---|
| Phone calls | 2,336 |
Wesley Mission Annual Report 200431
Lifeline offers a service with strong characteristics of a mental health service without being recognised as one.
However, funding is not on parity with other mental health providers.
Many Lifeline clients suffer depression, alcohol addiction or drug dependency.
Most clients contact Lifeline about relationship and/or lifestyle issues and do not mention other problems such as alcoholism or drug dependency.
However, follow up counselling often reveals underlying drug, alcohol or gambling problems.
- More funding is required to provide improved supervision and training of Lifeline staff.
- Lifeline requires more volunteers to manage the increasing number of people who present with mental health issues.
- Lifeline needs more staff members to have more coordination and links with State health services.
Wesley Rehabilitation Services
Wesley Rehabilitation Services is an innovative abstinence-based program initiative of Homeless Persons’ Services of Wesley Mission, providing safe and secure accommodation based on the Therapeutic Community model of long-term residential rehabilitation.
Wesley Rehabilitation Services offer accommodation in the City of Liverpool for 26 male and 4 female residents who are homeless and committed to recovery from addictions to alcohol, illicit drugs and gambling, and the associated underlying issues.
The program is for 10 months with a transition period of two months. An optional second phase of 12 months duration is available for graduates who wish to advance themselves as Servant Leaders, being peers and mentors to new residents.
Residents assume responsibilities and participate in the daily operations of the community.
The community promotes self-help and mutual support.
Wesley Rehabilitation Services focus on social, psychological and behavioural dimensions of substance abuse, seeking emotional well-being through encouraging development of behaviour and attitude change and instilling values of a healthy lifestyle in a substitute family setting, in the progression toward independent living.
Services
Grace Manor accommodates up to 12 homeless women in a program featuring a block of four, three-bedroom units in south west Sydney.
Turnaround program has two blocks of bedsitters; one block of 10 units at Cartwright, accommodating 10 men; one block of 16 units at Ashcroft accommodating 15 men, with one unit used as an office and group room.
Breaking the Cycle has a group counselling room and counselling office at Cartwright. Wesley Rehabilitation Services has two full- time and two part-time staff and did not receive external funding this year. Breaking the Cycle has two part-time staff and is funded by the NSW Casino Community Benefit Fund.
The program was bolstered by eight regular volunteers a month and nine students on placement.
Program elements
The Wesley Rehabilitation Services program consists of the following core elements:
- Weekly Chapel Service.
- Group therapy/education (2 hours per day for 4 days a week).
- Counselling (fortnight or weekly depending upon available resources).
- Development of living skills (fortnightly supervision of the accommodation cleanliness).
- Vocational experience activities (16 hours per week).
- Daily moral inventory and daily journalising clients’ emotions, progress or regression (unsupervised).
- Weekly regeneration meeting (all addictions).
- Attendance at AA/NA/GA meetings.
- Social and recreational activities.
In the future Wesley Rehabilitation Services would like to:
- Establish a rural therapeutic community for homeless men, women and families.
- Establish innovative business activities that provide vocational experience opportunities for the men and women who are undertaking rehabilitation.
- Establish a specialised rehabilitation program for Dual Diagnosis Clients. (Clients in recovery from both addiction and mental health issues).
- Secure sufficient funds to continue to develop current Rehabilitation programs and future initiatives.
Issues & Recommendations
- Some crisis centres are a bad environment and a negative influence on Community Housing clients.
- Mental Health Services are reluctant to treat clients with alcohol and other drug use.
- Lack of rehabilitation beds for men. Most clients who contact Wesley Rehabilitation Services are referred to other rehabilitation providers because of the sheer demand on Wesley Rehabilitation Services. Feedback from other providers is always the same — “all full with waiting lists”.
- Limited or no vacancies at crisis centres Detox and Rehabilitations. Inner city closures, Basement 82 and very recently Gorman House (St Vincent’s Hosp) now closed on weekends due to poor funding.
- Lack of rehabilitation beds for women — even less beds than those allocated to men.
- Three staff redundancies for current financial year means the same programs are run with decreased staff numbers.
- Lack of rehabilitation beds for families, single mums with children and single dads. Parents will not enter rehabilitation, as there is no one to care for their children. The NSW Department of Community Services (DOCS) or Wesley Dalmar can become involved in providing alternate care.
- Children follow in the behavioural patterns of their parents.
- Some clients are denied services if they are on a methadone program.
- Some clients need to be intoxicated and some sober to enter into an appropriate service.
- Sometimes dual diagnosis clients are not accepted.
- Some clients are not accepted if they are on a particular type of medication.
- Lack of adequate staff due to lack of resources thus unable to meet client needs.
- Clients told to ring every day to see if a bed is available.
- Very limited exit points available after detox and/or rehabilitation.
- Service providers will often not take clients who are out of their catchment area.
Statistics
- Estimated number of “potential” clients in 2004 who approached Wesley Rehabilitation Services for alcohol or other drug (AOD) rehabilitation but were turned away because the service was fully utilised and unable to take on more clients at that point of time: 112 clients
- Estimated number of actual clients in 2004 who were denied some service (for example evicted temporarily, or permanently, or banned from some activity) because of AOD reasons (for example drug affected, drunk and violent): 69 clients
- Estimated number of actual clients in 2004 who tried to get treatment at another service for an AOD condition/illness, but couldn’t get help (for example because they were unsuitable for that treatment program, or it was full): 45 clients
| Wesley Rehabilitation Services | |
|---|---|
| Rehabilitation clients | 109 |
| Average length of stay | 135 days |
| Occupancy rate | 95% |
| Clients securing employment | 9 |
| Clients overcoming addiction and moving to independent living | 30 |
Homeless Persons’ Services
Wesley Mission’s Homeless Persons’ Services has three programs that are capable of meeting the needs of people suffering addictions, at various points along the road to recovery.
Very often a person’s addiction sneaks up on them and it takes a crisis in their lives for them to become fully aware of the destructive effects their drug and/or alcohol consumption, or problem gambling, is having on their lives.
The crisis may be precipitated by:
- A long-suffering partner excluding them from the family home;
- Rent payments cannot be met and they are evicted from their home;
- They become unemployed, move to Sydney and seek work without success.
Either way, people become homeless. This is where Wesley’s Homeless Persons’ Services can provide valuable housing and other support at a critical time of homelessness.
Without secure, safe, adequate, and affordable housing — even for a short period — an already traumatic situation can become life threatening.
Physical ill health quickly arrives if people have to live out in the wind, rain, and cold, usually without sufficient nutritious food.
Edward Eagar Lodge
Edward Eagar Lodge (EEL) is at the front line when an addiction leads to a personal crisis and homelessness.
EEL is a 76-bed crisis accommodation service for the homeless of inner Sydney. Clients can stay for up to three months - sufficient time to see them through the crisis and to access services that will help them address the addictions that have contributed to their homelessness.
EEL also conducts a Freedom from Addiction Group, but in the main EEL specialises in providing critical shelter and food, and allows residents some housing stability during a sometimes traumatic and disturbing time.
Residents have time to reassess their lives during which they will hopefully access rehabilitation and addiction treatment services.
Community Housing and Wesley Rehabilitation Programs
These programs meet the housing needs of clients who no longer need emergency accommodation. The programs aim to help clients move to independent living by providing medium term accommodation and personal support from staff.
Residents can stay for up to 18 months while they are encouraged and supported as they master their addictions or whatever other factors may have caused their homelessness. Community Housing provides a wide range of supported accommodation for homeless persons over 18.
These clients generally have drug, alcohol, gambling and/or mental health issues.
A number of short-term properties also accommodate families. Support is provided for up to two years to enable clients to move successfully into independent living at the end of this period.
Through a case management process, clients are assisted in developing a Personal Futures Plan which meets their needs. Dedicated Christian staff develop caring relationships and provide innovative, holistic services of quality care and support, which empower clients to achieve their potential.
Community Housing receive government funding through the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program.
Noreen Towers Community
The Noreen Towers Community provides intensive support to families at risk of homelessness and disadvantage by providing housing, personal support and the opportunity for skills development directed towards recovery and independent living.
The service carefully and professionally assesses potential participants, provides accommodation in a safe environment and addresses the major issues that have prevented these families from enjoying a productive and independent life within the general community.
The program selects, provides and coordinates the many resources available through Wesley Mission and beyond to assist families meet their needs.
Multiple resources can be made available to cover particular areas of disadvantage.
The Noreen Towers Community is located in southwest Sydney. Leased from the Department of Housing, the community comprises four two-storey blocks of three bedroom accommodation units, set in lawns and gardens. One of the units has been converted to offices to accommodate Family Support Workers, Child Focused Worker and administration, and another to house an on-site caretaker.
There is accommodation capacity for up to 14 families at a time to take advantage of this intensive program.
The families will stay for up to nine months paying NSW Department of Housing rates to rent the three bedroom properties. These rates are a fixed percentage of the income of the family.
Issues & Recommendations
Funding for innovative projects at the Noreen Towers Community ends on 30 June, 2005 and it will not be able to continue the Family Make-Over Project, which funds the following:
- Educational support including homework classes for school and TAFE students.
- Music lessons, sporting groups, dance classes for children.
- A number of additional programs run by other competent trained personnel, for example, counselling and courses (for example anger management training, self esteem, managing change, communication skills, assertiveness training, massage and relaxation).
- Other programs offered as required, are gambling counselling, and parenting skills training, using the resources of Wesley Counselling Services and Wesley Dalmar Child and Family Services.
- Encouragement for families to attend and adhere to their agreed intensive program over nine months by the introduction of an incentive/reward system, where both children and parents can earn credit points by attendance, participation and achievement, which can be redeemed towards family holidays, excursions and leisure activities in which such families would not ordinarily be able to participate.
Actions that would help improve access to homeless services for clients include:
- More beds
- More staff
- Better training for staff
Statistics
Addictions are frequently the result of peoples’ attempts to cope with psychic pain/mental anguish of mental disorders. The recent EEL Review notes that there is a very high prevalence of “mental disorders amongst homeless people using inner Sydney hostels”. For instance, the percentage of clients of the hostels with the following disorders was documented34:
| Schizophrenia | 29% |
|---|---|
| Depressive disorder/Bipolar & other mood disorders | 33% |
| Anxiety disorders (for example PTSD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Attacks, Social Phobias etc) | 26% |
The Review quotes Hodder research showing Alcohol and Other Drug Use disorders at around 35–40% of clients in hostels (i.e. severe prolonged drug dependency becomes itself a “mental disorder”).
It makes the point that the three groupings of mental disorders above and the Alcohol and Other Drug Use disorders are related.
The drug use disorders appear to follow mental illness in many cases.
The Review notes how many people who are homeless are “using alcohol instead of seeking help from mental services… alcohol masks the effects of mental illness”.35
Of the 746 individuals who stayed at EEL last year, 628 (84.2%) admitted to substance use. In the year before (2003) 771 residents (85.3% of the total 904 who stayed in the Lodge that year) admitted to substance use.
From data presented to The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, to assist in the assessment of unmet needs for Alcohol and Other Drug Use (AOD), in 2004:
- 156 were evicted from accommodation for AOD use on premises.
- 208 referrals were made to Intoxicated Persons’ Unit in the evening (50% EEL residents, 50% other).
- Ambulances were called 52 times to attend for AOD related matters.
- Police were called 260 times to respond to AOD related issues including drinking in alcohol-free zones and aggressive behaviour.
- 260 people were removed from the day centre for disturbances related to AOD use.
- Without denying a service, workers are subjected to harassment, abuse and threats almost constantly from AOD affected clients.
| Edward Eagar Lodge | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distinct individuals accommodated at EEL | 698 | 129 | 827 |
| Average length of stays of clients (in days) | 32 | 35 | 34 |
| Total no. of days of accommodation provided | 22,456 | 4,597 | 27,053 |
| Homeless turned away (no beds available) | 1,109 | 497 | 1,606 |
| Assessments for Wesley Community Housing | 116 | 63 | 179 |
| Day Centre lunches provided | 19509 |
Wesley Mission Annual Report 200431
Community Housing
From data presented to The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, to assist in the assessment of unmet needs for Alcohol and Other Drug Use (AOD), in 2004:
- Estimated number of clients in 2004 who were denied some service by HPS (for example evicted temporarily, or permanently, or banned from some activity) because of AOD reasons (for example drug affected, drunk and violent): 8 clients
- Estimated number of actual clients in 2004 who tried to get treatment at another service for an AOD condition/ illness, but couldn’t get help (for example because they were unsuitable for that treatment program, or it was full): 3 clients
| No. of properties | 28 |
|---|---|
| Occupancy rate | 67% |
| No. of distinct individuals accommodated | 230 |
| Clients attending training courses | 44 |
| Clients moving to independent living | 38 |
| No. of beds | 145 |
| Average length of stay | 22 weeks |
| Total days of accommodation provided | 35,359 days |
| Clients securing employment | 60 |
| Families accommodated | 9 |
Wesley Mission Annual Report 200431
Newcastle City Mission
Gambling Recovery Project
Newcastle City Mission manages the Gambling Recovery Project, through its counselling service.
Newcastle City Mission provides support for people affected by problem gambling — including the person with the gambling problem, friends and/ or family members who have been affected by problem gambling.
The service has a team of qualified counsellors, intake officers and psychologists.
The Gambling Recovery Project provides a free service in the following areas:
- Counselling for problem gamblers.
- Counselling for friends and/or families of problem gamblers.
- Referrals to financial counsellors and other services.
- Assistance with self exclusion from the club.
- Training and educational workshops.
- Support groups.
The service conducted 591 face-to-face counselling sessions with problem gamblers, or family members of problem gamblers. The service has also assisted 60 clients with self-exclusion schemes in clubs and hotels. Requests for assistance have come directly from clients and clubs and hotels, which require assistance in the self exclusion process and ongoing support for their patrons.
Issues & Recommendations
- While the Gambling Recovery Project has endeavoured to see clients within a week of the client making contact, this aim has not been met as the demand surpasses available resources. To cope with the demand, a waiting/cancellation list is utilised whereby clients’ names are recorded and contacted when vacancies arise.
- During the past year the program has recorded an increase in referrals. With a population of more than 523,400, a projected population growth of 20 per cent by 2006, demands on the project will continue to rise.
- In 1999, The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) suggested around 1.5 to 2.5 per cent of the population are at risk of problem gambling. Based on this estimate the Hunter area is currently looking at between 7,851 and 13,085 potential clients who may require some kind of assistance, with a possibility of this figure increasing to anywhere between 9,421 and 15,702 by 2006. Thus it is expected that the noted increase in numbers throughout the past year will continue to climb.
- Clubs and hotels undertake social impact statements when considering the introduction or an increase in the number of poker machines. This is a much welcomed move which has led to the funding of gambling counselling services by clubs and hotels and an increase in the number of referrals through the self exclusion process and G-Line.
Newcastle Youth Service
Newcastle Youth Service (NYS) joined Newcastle City Mission in July 2004 after operating as a Uniting Church generalist youth service since 1965.
Today it provides a wide range of professional and holistic services to young people, aged 12–24 years of age, and their families who live within the Hunter region. Services include counselling, alcohol and other drug education, family mediation and accommodation support — with up to 200 young people assisted each month.
During 2004 the service recorded 691 phone enquiries and 1169 visits by young people and/or their family members. These enquiries and visits relate to a number of youth issues such as alcohol and other drugs, homelessness and mental health.
Newcastle Youth Service reported an increase in drug and alcohol clients presenting for assistance and support throughout 2004. The number of clients increased from an average of 16 clients per month in early 2004 to 24 clients per month towards the end of 2004 — all presenting with issues relating to alcohol and other drugs.
Issues & Recommendations
- Clients using the services of NYS are constantly reporting difficulty with accommodation, especially those clients affected by alcohol and other drugs. Youth Service staff find it difficult to find young people crisis and more stable accommodation. Unstable living arrangements make it very difficult to help a young person with other variables in their life. The Hunter is in dire need of emergency accommodation for people of all ages. The NSW Government needs to make a full assessment of emergency accommodation services in the Hunter and a re-evaluation of how current housing stock is used, based on accessibility and equity.
- To make the service more accessible the Youth Service has opened a drop-in centre called The Kage. The centre is providing an informal and comfortable setting upon entry to encourage young people to utilise the service and on current assessments the service is working well.
- Mental Health issues are also a major issue. Many clients present with dual diagnoses (a mental health disorder and an alcohol or other drug addiction). These clients provide challenges to staff and there are a limited number of support agencies the service can call on for assistance. The Commonwealth and NSW Governments must make a full reassessment of the delivery and accessibility of mental health services. There is also a need to integrate mental health and accommodation support services at the point of initial assessment. If these issues are addressed then it may go part of the way in solving the current dilemma of high demand, under-funded and over-stretched services.
- Government funding bodies need to appreciate the infrastructure that is required in running a successful service for the community. Funding packages need to take into consideration the increasing need for administration support in service provision.
Counselling The Whole Person
An interview with the Rev. Chester Carter*
“When someone comes in for counselling, they are not just treated as a physical being… but as a whole person.”
- What would you define as the spiritual component of counselling?
- For me as the manager of a counselling service that helps people with gambling and financial problems, I try to model Christian attitudes and viewpoints in all that I do.
- Some of the counsellors may not be Christians but some are, so to be a model as Christ was, means that a Christian attitude permeates the service. When a person comes in for counselling, they are not just treated as a physical being with problems but as a whole person and that’s our approach — holistic.
- They may have a physical need or an emotional need but we also recognise they have a spiritual need. We try to minister through our counselling skills and expertise to the areas of that person’s life.
- Are you saying that people with addictions are more open to spiritual truth than non-addictive people?
- Yes. We live in a materialistic and consumer-driven world. These people may have come to the end of their rope because they’ve tried to run things their way and failed.
- They’ve tried to control their addiction their way and all the things they’ve relied on, such as money, position and influence, have been stripped away. They end up realising that their addiction has robbed them of all they relied on and they have lost control. When they look at the spiritual aspect in their search they ask, “Is there a chance for me?” We can say, “Yes. You’re not just a physical being but a spiritual one as well and there’s been damage to your spirit.”
- You’ve talked about a consumer-driven society. How does a Christian focus make a difference?
- The Christian focus is an awareness of the spiritual side of life that is different from a person who operates in a non-Christian counselling service or a psychotherapist. Even Carl Jung, the father of psychology as we know it today, had over his doorway the words “God is present.” I heard the story of a man addicted to alcohol who could not be cured by anyone in the US so he went to see Carl Jung in Switzerland. Jung tried everything he knew in psychology and in the end said, “There’s no hope for you outside of a spiritual program.” Through such a program this person’s life was turned around.
- Is there a paradigm, structure or distinctly Christian process that you follow when counselling someone? How do you go about introducing the spiritual aspect?
- For the Christian everything should be spiritual service. That’s what life is all about. It doesn’t matter where the counsellor has studied, what theories are held etc. There is a basic line running through all counselling which begins with empathy and listening to someone’s pain to help them through. These are qualities that Jesus modelled and have been introduced in all secular counselling institutions.
- In all aspects of psychology that I’ve looked at, they’re all reaching out to lift somebody up and give them a hand, walking with someone to help them overcome an area of their life that is hurting and destroying them. The basic philosophy is Christian because of Jesus’ model that is right throughout our society. “Why do we care for people?” because we are basically a Christian country. We are not judgmental but walk with them in their pain and equip them with skills to become their own counsellor so they’ll no longer need us but can help themselves and eventually reach out and help others. The whole basis of counselling has its roots in the teachings of Jesus, whether you believe them or not. Carl Jung said, “Whether you believe it or not, God’s in it.”
- So there are various disciplines in psychiatry and psychology that are all operating within universal grace that God has bestowed on human kind in a Christian way, even though they may not know it.
- Yes. If I see someone counselling and they’re not a Christian, I still see the same values being presented such as learning to treat others as you want to be treated. The terms may be couched in a new language and seen as a different theory, but they’re not.
- Do you have different approaches for the different addictions?
- There are similarities but differences as well. It is really important for those people working in the field to be able to recognise addiction. One size doesn’t fit all. Your training as a counsellor will help you see the need a person has and you can tailor your response to that need rather than put everyone in the same basket. There are some specialties that have to be brought in with gambling because it’s not a substance but a person and the addiction has become an entity in their life. You have to understand that. You can’t assume they need detox or medication. There are trials that are putting gamblers on Naltrexone to look at the inhibitors that are there in someone’s mind. They looked at what excites a person, and it was the action of standing in front of a poker machine that releases endorphins and produces this euphoric feeling which starts the escape process. They are looking at how they can treat that.
- Is renewing your mind important in the spiritual aspect of counselling?
- Cognitive behaviour therapy is simply changing how you think and feel about yourself. Wrong perceptions have to be changed but if you remove an addiction from someone’s life, you leave a great big hole so you must put things back in, reprogram if you like. People become so de-motivated by their addiction that they lose confidence in going for jobs and simple things like dress have to be re-taught.
- Does Australia have a high rate of gambling addiction compared to other countries?
- No. Even though we are seen as the best gambling nation in the world, we are relatively small in population compared to the rest of the world. We take a lot of chances and are a nation that embraces technology more than America and more than Japan, as evidenced by the number of mobile phones sold here. We seem to embrace new things more readily. There is a cultural issue with our heritage as a penal colony where gambling was banned except in the officer’s quarters. But that didn’t stop people from having a wager on a horse or betting on a jump over a river. There is that propensity to do something by taking a chance. That is gambling, hoping to gain from it.
- It has only exploded in NSW because of the access to gambling and gambling devices such as poker machines which have proliferated throughout the state. The combination of someone trying to escape past issues in their life, gambling being a pastime and easy access to money through ATMs, fuels the habit and keeps it growing and accelerating beyond where it would go if those things weren’t there.
* Rev. Chester Carter is Manager, Wesley Gambling Counselling Services.
