Parent Support & Famlily Counselling

To refer a client to ASeTTS, please fill in and return the Referral Form.

ASeTTS can work with Parents and Families to address the effects of trauma. Trauma can affect families in some of the following ways:

  • Parents feel unable to nurture their children.
  • Communication breaks down as each family member struggles to come to terms with what has happened.
  • The parents may fear for each other's safety and the safety of their children outside the home.
  • Family members may have nightmares about the event.
  • Family members may be fearful of another trauma happening to them.
  • Family members may be angry at whoever they believe was at fault for the trauma. Sometimes this includes feeling angry with the affected loved one or anger at the family in general.
  • Family members may feel overwhelmed by feelings of insecurity and lack of control.
  • Family members may not know how to talk to each other, because each person is struggling to understand what has happened and how they feel about it. Arguments can occur.
  • Family members may be short-tempered or irritable with each other, which leads to arguments and friction.
  • Family members may lose interest in activities and perform less well at work or school.
  • Children may be clingy, grizzly, demanding or naughty.
  • Teenagers may become argumentative, demanding or rebellious.
  • Some family members may work so hard to help their loved ones, they neglect to look after themselves.
  • Family members may feel less attached or involved with one another.
  • Family members may relive the trauma when faced with a fresh crisis.
  • Fresh crises may be more difficult to handle.
  • Changes to family dynamics that occurred in the days, weeks or months after the traumatic event could become permanent habits.
  • Family members may cope differently with reminders of the event. For example, some may want to commemorate the anniversary or revisit the scene of the traumatic event, while others may want to forget about it. A conflict in coping styles can lead to arguments and misunderstandings if the family members aren't sensitive to each other's needs.


ASeTTS offers Family Counselling through the ‘Strength to Strength’ Program. At a ‘Strength to Strength’ session families can work through their relationships to improve family communication. The family looks at how to solve ‘problems’ or to adjust to new situations. The whole family goes can attend the appointment with a counsellor.