by Jo de Riva O'Phelan

Is your relationship feeling the pinch too?

With increasing reports of local businesses under financial strain, the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre is definitely seeing a ripple effect into family life in our local community.

Often a family’s coping mechanisms for managing existing relationships and family dynamics can be pushed to the limit when faced with additional financial pressures.

When feeling overwhelmed, taking time out to talk things over with someone outside your personal circle can help.    

The Centre encourages any community member feeling the pinch to contact them for support Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm on 4099 5518. 

Support can take many different forms. Centre staff are trained to provide confidential one on one support ensuring that people are listened to, can offload and can identify their current situation, immediate needs and future goals. 

Managing stress on your own is not necessary. The Centre can provide information and referral to local services and pathways for assistance on a range of issues, be they financial or personal.

The Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre’s Family Support Program, which commenced in 2006, offers support to all couples and families experiencing the strain.

Since 2008, the Centre has funded a one day a week free family counselling service, meaning that locals no longer have to travel to Cairns for family support.

In recent weeks there has been a noticeable increase in requests for couple counselling. 

The Family Counsellor’s role is to assist couples to explore issues together and to work towards developing skills and approaches necessary to sustain each other through difficult and challenging times. 

These may include communication skills, problem solving skills, approaches to parenting and conflict resolution strategies.  Individuals can also seek the assistance of family counselling to develop effective stress management techniques to reduce the health impacts of financial strain. 

Feedback from counselling clients in recent times has certainly indicated a high level of satisfaction with the service provided. 

The Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre’s Family Counselling service operates each Wednesday with hourly appointments available at 9am, 11am 1pm and 3pm. Appointments can be made by phoning 4099 5518. 

Appointment times are generally available within two weeks. If these times are not suitable Centre staff will work to identify an alternative support service.  

The Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre will be closed from 26 December and reopen on Monday 9 of January 2012.

For more information about the range of services and activities available at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre see their website.

Jo de Riva O'Phelan is the Family Support Team Leader at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre.

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