Support

MND Counselling Service

Living with motor neurone disease (MND) can be overwhelming, affecting not only those diagnosed but also family members, friends, and carers. Our registered clients in Victoria and Tasmania impacted by MND can access compassionate and professional counselling for essential emotional adjustment support. MND Victoria’s Counselling Service is here to provide a safe, confidential, and supportive space for anyone affected by  MND.

Free, Confidential, and Compassionate

MND Victoria’s Counselling Service provides free and confidential sessions to help people process their emotions, develop coping strategies, and clarify personal goals and values in a supportive environment. Whether you are living with MND or supporting someone who is, MND Victoria’s Counselling Service offers a safe space to talk about your challenges without fear of judgement.

What to Expect

Counselling through MND Victoria is flexible. Sessions are available Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm, and can be held in a variety of formats for maximum accessibility:

  • Zoom and Phone Sessions: For those who prefer to access counselling from home, sessions are available via Zoom or phone, providing a convenient option for people across Victoria.
  • Face-to-Face Counselling: For those who prefer in-person sessions, counselling is offered at MND Victoria’s Canterbury office. The environment is welcoming and comfortable, allowing clients to feel at ease during their sessions.

Each session offers a place to express difficult thoughts and feelings, find new ways to cope or simply share your experience. Confidential, counselling support can be a powerful tool in reducing distress and managing feelings of anxiety, depression or overwhelm.

Why Counselling is Important

Living with MND can bring a wide range of emotional difficulties, from adjusting to the diagnosis, to the impact of physical changes to coping with uncertainty. Feelings of grief, frustration, and anxiety are common and understandable. While friends and family members can offer comfort, a trained counsellor can provide objective, professional guidance to help people navigate these complex emotions. Through MND Victoria’s Counselling Service, clients can explore new ways of coping, freely express their fears and hopes, and find validation in a non-judgmental setting.

How Counselling Can Help

The benefits of counselling extend to both those living with MND and their support network.  MND Victoria’s Counselling Service can support people with MND and their families in the following ways:

  • For people with MND: Counselling can help people living with MND process the physical and emotional impacts of the disease. It provides strategies for managing stress and finding ways to stay engaged with loved ones and activities they enjoy. It also offers a supportive place to  find clarity, set realistic goals, and discover new ways of maintaining a sense of purpose and self-worth.
  • For Carers and Family Members: The emotional demands on carers and family members can be considerable. Counselling offers  an opportunity for carers and family members to explore  feelings, develop coping mechanisms, and learn effective ways to care for their own wellbeing as they  support their loved one.  It can provide a place to reflect on the  meaningful aspects of caring and ways to balance responsibilities with personal needs.

How to Access our Counselling Service

Accessing counselling is simple, and we encourage anyone who  needs counselling to reach out.

1. Referral from Your MND Advisor

To access counselling services, simply speak to your MND Advisor /Support Coordinator. They will  help you set up your first session based on your preferences.

2. Flexible Appointments

Once referred tot he service, appointments can be scheduled according to your convenience. MND Victoria’s Counsellor offers flexible, responsive support.

3. Choose Your Preferred Format

Whether you prefer to meet over Zoom, via phone, or in person at our Canterbury office, MND Victoria’s team ensures that counselling is accessible to everyone, regardless of location or mobility challenges.

Counselling FAQs

Yes, MND Victoria’s Counselling Service is provided at no cost to people with MND and their families or carers, ensuring accessible support for everyone affected.

The Counselling Service is available to anyone living with MND as well as family members,  and carers who need support. Our service  is designed to  support  people with MND and their support network.

You can start by  contacting your MND Advisor / Support Coordinator, who will assist with a referral and help you schedule your first session.

MND Victoria offers counselling sessions via Zoom or phone for those who prefer remote support. This allows clients across Victoria to access counselling from the comfort of their own homes.

Until there's a cure, there's care

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