Narangba service celebrating 20 years

Pictured: Tricia Novak and Diana Clift from Carinity Youth and Families Narangba counselling service

A youth and family counselling centre, which has supported hundreds of children and adolescents, is celebrating a milestone.

Carinity Youth and Families Narangba began providing its specialist counselling services 20 years ago.

The not-for-profit service helps people across the Moreton Bay region, from such as Narangba, Burpengary, Upper Caboolture, Dakabin and Deception Bay.

Program Coordinator and counsellor Diana Clift said Carinity Narangba helps children and young people understand their behaviours, develop coping skills and strengthen self-esteem.

Safe environment

Counselling resources at the centre include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; art therapy; child-centred play therapy; and psychoeducation, providing information about how the brain works and building problem-solving, communication, and coping skills.

“We offer a variety of client-centred counselling which is tailored to the needs and age of each child,” Ms Clift said.

“It can take a while to build trust and rapport, using tools such as games to create a safe environment where children can share their thoughts and fears.”

Services such as Carinity Narangba are vital for many young people in the Moreton Bay region.

Rising demand

“There is an increasing demand for counselling services in the district due to the rise in the cost of living, increase in homelessness, domestic and family violence, and mental illness,” Ms Clift said.

“Services in the area are limited and are struggling to keep up with the demand.”

The declining mental health of some young people – and their parents – has been exacerbated by pressures such as the rising cost of living and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While the children may not understand any of it, they’re picking up on their parents’ negative energy,” Ms Swift added.

Strategies and skills

“Parents tend to not want to overload their children with adult issues, but it seeps into the child’s world and all of a sudden, they can’t focus while at school or make friends.

“My goal is to make sure we reach positive outcomes with each client so when they’re ready to exit our service they’re in a better place mentally – and they have the strategies, skills and tools to be resilient.”

Carinity, which started in 1949 as an outreach of Queensland Baptists, also runs counselling services for young people in Beaudesert, Brisbane and Rockhampton.

For more about Carinity Youth and Families Narangba and its services click here or phone 3886 8100.