When you come to Relate Therapy, you can expect a warm, relational and professional approach. Our clinic is set in a semi-rural location which offers privacy and calm and is also wheelchair accessible. We have a comfortable waiting area with a range of magazines, books and toys for children.
Relate Therapy offers a range of therapies, some of which are discussed below:
Claire writes: having completed a Masters in Gestalt Psychotherapy in 2021, this style of therapy is infused into all of my work at Relate Therapy. The quality of the relationship between therapist and client is important in gestalt therapy as it strives to create conditions of safety in which the client can explore challenges and experiment with new ways of being. It is a humanistic and non-pathologising approach that supports people to gain awareness of patterns and ways of being that do not serve them and to make changes in a supported way.
Expressive therapies include using modalities such as symbols, drawing, writing and movement to gain better understanding of emotions, as well as express and release a range of feelings that may not be possible through words. Sandtray therapy is a beautiful exploratory modality that can be helpful in a range of clinical presentations. Using a sandbox and symbols and the support of a therapist, a range of issues, traumas, conflicts and inner-world challenges can be worked through and made sense of using these tools. These therapies can be used by all age ranges.
Also known as the Maudsley Method, Family Based Therapy (FBT) is an evidence-based therapy for children and adolescents with eating disorders. It involves the young person AND their family and supports parents/caregivers to take charge of refeeding their young person to support recovery. This can be a challenging process and lots of support and guidance is provided to caregivers through this process. Food restriction causes significant health complications as well as impacts on the brain such as Starved Brain (this is reversable with adequate nutrition). A starved brain impacts a person’s thought processes as well as their perception, judgement and insight. Once health is restored, autonomy can be gradually handed back to the young person and other underlying factors that have given rise to the eating disorder, in addition to the starved brain, can be addressed.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Enhanced is an evidence-based approach to a range of eating disorders for adolescents as well as adults. It supports people to stabilise their eating, as well as addressing underlying thoughts, feelings and behaviours, as well as body image concerns.
Relate Therapy offers parenting workshops such as Circle of Security, a relational and attachment-based parenting model, as well as 1,2,3 Magic which offers practical behavioural techniques that are rooted in neuroscience and child development theories. Both are evidence-based, supportive and non-judgemental. Please see the Resources section for more background information about these models.
It is important to Relate Therapy that your personal information is treated with respect and care. Relate Therapy is strictly compliant with Medicare requirements regarding the handling of your sensitive information and does not disclose any of your information to others without your explicit permission. When working with people with eating disorders, a team approach is best and it is recommended that professionals involved in your care discuss treatment regularly to ensure you receive the best outcomes. This process will always be discussed with you to ensure you are providing informed consent. If in a session you share information that indicates there is risk of you harming yourself or others, Relate Therapy may need to break confidentiality to ensure safety and care is taken to include you in this process, where possible.
Please feel free to get in touch if you need any further information, or to discuss your needs further. You can email us here, or via the contact details below.