Our services

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a complex social issue that has significant social, psychological and economic impact on men, women, families and communities. Domestic violence may involve a range of behaviours including physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, social, or economic and spiritual abuse.

Domestic violence is across all demographics, regardless of age, gender, sexual identity, cultural background, ability, religion, wealth, status or location. There is no one type of perpetrator of domestic violence as there are also different types of violence.

Many people are not aware they are living in domestically violent situations. People who perpetrate abuse and violence in their intimate relationships can tend to minimise, justify or blame their partner for their violence. The reality is that the perpetrator is always responsible for acts of violence and abuse.

Domestic violence counselling is a highly complex and specialised field of counselling. At all times the safety of all concerned is prioritised above all else. We provide counselling for those involved in domestic violence relationships and are involved in researching the most effective therapeutic approaches to working with perpetrators.

Coaching

Coaching focuses on clarifying values and visions, setting goals and putting successful actions into place. Whether it is seeking clarity about what you want from life, setting and achieving goals, or just wondering how life can be any better, coaching can assist you. Coaching can help develop and improve virtually any aspect of life you care to nominate.

Personal coaching can help you clarify what you want from life by focusing on key questions:

·  Do you know what you want?

·  What might be operating that might be stopping you 

   from achieving what you want?

The answers to these and other questions help to identify and change old patterns of behaviour and beliefs to create new possibilities for change to occur.

Personal coaching 

·  Provides the tools, support, awareness, and

   structure that allow you to accomplish more

·  Helps you take more effective and focused actions  

   immediately

·  Helps identify what drags you down

·  Clarifies what your values are

·  Helps develop better relationships

·  Helps balance your lifestyle

·  Looks at your life from a fresh perspective

Executive and leadership coaching fosters the development of skills and strategies to help improve individual, team and overall performance. 

The capacity for effective management and leadership relies on the ability to gain insight and self-awareness. 

This style of coaching offers executives and leaders the opportunity to integrate their roles with organisational strategic directions. Coaching is tailored to suit the executive’s or leader’s unique context and style of operating. The process builds on the capacities and skills you already possess, enhancing the potential for more effective and efficient outcomes across all levels.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) assist both businesses and employees by helping to resolve personal and work-related problems which can otherwise lead to higher absenteeism, high staff turnover, declining productivity, and work-related injuries. An EAP is a proactive approach adopted by organisations and businesses that value their staff and who are committed to excellence in service.

The program utilises systemic, solution-focused approaches in order to reach the most effective outcome while minimising cost and ensuring client confidentiality. Some of the services offered by an EAP may include:

• Short-term solution-focused counselling
• Critical incident debriefing and/or counselling
• Management/Supervisor support and training in organisational issues e.g., conflict resolution, performance management, continuous improvement systems
• Assessments
• Organisational structural reviews
• Monitoring and reporting of EAP utilisation and outcome

Psychometric assessments are used to assess abilities relating to emotional, social, behavioural or educational difficulties. However, they will not decide for people what they should do. The results generated from assessments are normally used alongside other methods of assessment e.g., interviews, resumes, and other exercises to allow people to make fully informed decisions.

A psychological assessment will typically involve:

• An initial intake interview where the psychologist will gather information from the client and/or family members.
• Correspondence with third parties, including schools or workplaces.
• Psychological testing of the client.
• Discussion of the test results with the client and/or family members.
• A psychometric report.

In addition to information gathered from relevant parties, assessments can identify:

• Learning difficulties, such as literacy and numeracy problems, and dyslexia
• Intellectual abilities, including intellectual impairment and giftedness
• Attention difficulties
• Memory problems
• Social and communication skills
• Emotional difficulties
• Behavioural problems

Following the psychometric assessment, the psychologist will work with the client and relevant parties to implement recommendations and develop a treatment plan.

Mediation is a process that assists people in negotiating their decisions with the help of a third party. Family mediation is used in situations of family breakdown to help those involved to communicate better and reach decisions around some of the issues arising from separation and divorce, e.g., children, property, and finance. Those entering family mediation do so voluntarily and find that not only is it a cost-effective way of resolving disputes and conflicts but it also imparts skills that can minimize risks of escalating conflicts in the future. Family mediation may prevent the need to engage in lengthy and costly legal proceedings. Once people enter mediation they will be encouraged to talk openly and to exchange information, ideas, and feelings constructively. 

The family mediator is impartial and will not advise about what they think the best option is for either party. The process supports each party in reaching informed decisions that are best for all concerned. Family mediation may not be appropriate in situations where there has been, or there is a current risk of, family violence/abuse. An initial assessment is carried out with each party to ascertain whether family mediation is the best option.

The Australian Psychological Society’s (APS) Code of Ethics outlines the importance for all psychologists to maintain a competent level of practice and professionalism. Supervision of practitioners is one of the most important processes in the development and maintenance of quality service to clients.

We are committed to the highest professional standards in providing supervision to other psychologists and practitioners. Our aim is to help other professionals expand their practice and professional competence through: ·  

• Skill development · 
• Reflective practices·  
• Assessing professional development needs·  
• Maintaining their practice is ethical, safe and evidence based  

Our principal counselling psychologist is a Board Approved Supervisor and registrar program principal supervisor in the area of counselling psychology. 

Misso Psychology delivers a range of workshops and seminars for both professionals and the general public focusing on the development of practical skills that can be applied from day one.

Our workshops for professionals are aimed at contemporary issues in both psychology and medicine in relation to mental health and wellbeing. Each workshop focuses on the practical application of skills-based learning that helps increase awareness and effectiveness across a range of issues. We are committed to the personal development and growth of each professional and believe that as we grow as individuals, so does our practice. We see this as being integral to professional development.

Our workshops and seminars for the general public bring together the latest research and developments in psychology, medicine, and other related disciplines. These workshops are aimed at providing you with the necessary skills and awareness that can be applied across all areas of your life. The focus is on identifying what restrains us from moving forward and developing new patterns that support change and growth.