Counselling Online

Melody took what she learned as an AOD counsellor and used it to make positive changes to her own drinking and eating habits.

Read more about Melody's story here:

I learned how to change my life — Meet the counsellor: Melody Melody took what she learned as an AOD counsellor and used it to make positive changes to her own drinking and eating habits.

Are you taking care of yourself? There are many forms self-care can take – one is yoga. Yoga can be a helpful tool when making changes to your drinking or drug use, as it can reduce stress. Here is a short exercise you can try.

Love Wins Yoga Join me for this 21 minute practice designed for those days when you are feeling a little down, or in the mood to lean into love and remember how fabulous yo...

Do you want to connect with people who understand what you’re going through when making changes to your drinking or drug use? Our forum is a great place to start and connect with others.

Join our forum here: https://community.counsellingonline.org.au/s/online-forum

This Week is National Reconciliation Week – a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, & achievements, & to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Find out more: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/

This years theme, Now More Than Ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue.

Wanting to make changes to your drinking or drug use? Our service is free, confidential and 24/7. Chat with one of our qualified online drug and alcohol counsellors, anywhere and anytime.

Chat to a counsellor Section Title Why chat to a counsellor online? Body Why chat to a counsellor online? Sometimes it can be tricky to ask for help when you’re feeling ashamed about substance use. Speaking to someone online can make that step feel less daunting. Our service is open to anyone affected by alcohol and o...

Today is Day! Stand against LGBTQIA+ discrimination with us. At Counselling Online we are committed to ensuring an inclusive workplace and community for all and proudly celebrate love, diversity and acceptance.

Check out the queer-led services ending discrimination with inclusive care for LGBTQIA+ people who want to change their substance use:

IDAHOBIT 2024: Find LGBTQIA+-inclusive alcohol and drug support Check out the queer-led services ending discrimination with inclusive care for LGBTQIA+ people who want to change their substance use

Head to our peer support forum and join the conversation tonight from 8pm-10pm AEST where you can connect with our peer support workers and others in the community who understand what you’re going through when making changes to your drinking or drug use!

Monday Meet-ups are a safe and anonymous space to:
- Ask questions to your peers
- Chat about your week/what's on your mind
- Discuss a topic of interest

Join here: https://community.counsellingonline.org.au/s/group/0F9980000002gnECAQ/monday-meetup?viewMore=2

Today is International Nurses Day – a day to celebrate all nurses. We recognise and thank all the incredible nurses who provide excellent care and for all their contributions and dedication to caring for our community every day.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone in our community! If you are finding today difficult, you're not alone and support is available. Our professional counsellors are available to chat 24/7. Our service is free, confidential and anonymous. www.counsellingonline.org.au

Yoga can be a great tool to incorporate into your day when making changes to your drinking or drug use.

Sometimes it can be stressful when you are making changes to your drinking or drug use, but putting strategies into place to help relieve stress such as yoga exercises can be really helpful.

Here is one you could start with!

10 Minute Full Body Stretch From foot to crown we take ten minutes on the mat to stretch, connect, and release tension. This is your new go to yoga practice for when you are short on ti...

Do you want to connect with people who understand what you’re going through when making changes to your drinking or drug use?

Head to our peer support forum and join the conversation tonight from 8pm-10pm AEST to chat live with our peer support workers and others in the community.

https://community.counsellingonline.org.au/s/group/0F9980000002gnECAQ/monday-meetup?viewMore=1

It is Patient Experience Week, an annual international event to celebrate the healthcare staff who dedicate themselves to improving the experience, outcomes and wellbeing of people in their care.

This year we want to highlight our peer workers who use their lived experience to help other people who are struggling with problems related to substances. You can connect with them and other people who understand in our community forum.

Ask a peer worker: What happens in residential rehab? We share tips to help families who are dealing with addiction to minimise conflict this Christmas.

This , we remember all who have bravely served and given their lives in our armed forces. This can be a difficult day for some people. If you are finding it hard, support is available.

Our service is free, confidential and anonymous – www.counsellingonline.org.au

Our forums are the perfect place to connect with people who also have experience making changes to their substance use.

There are a number of different topics on the forums such as:
- Letter to your addiction: Write a goodbye a letter to your addiction, which serves as a ther**eutic tool to help process your experience and express your feelings.
- Trivia: new questions weekly
- What are you grateful for: write down three things you are grateful for this week.

Connect, be inspired, motivate others. Share your experience & strategies here: https://community.counsellingonline.org.au/s/

Online Forum Discussion GroupsView All GroupsLived ExperienceIceLetter to your addiction3 things to be grateful forAsk our Peer WorkersTriviaMonday Meet-upFamily and Friends

For some people, an admission to detox is part of the journey, but what happens?

Our Peer Worker shares what to expect from residential detox programs.

Wanting to make changes to your drinking or drug use? Our service is free, confidential and 24/7. Chat with one of our qualified online drug and alcohol counsellors, anywhere and anytime.

https://www.counsellingonline.org.au/find-support/chat-to-a-counsellor

There are many forms of self-care – one is meditation. Meditation can be a helpful tool when making changes to your drinking or drug use, as it can reduce stress. Here is an exercise you could try.

Free Five Minute Guided Meditation with Eve How can I make time to meditate if I’m so busy with daily responsibilities? How do I practice self-care if my schedule is too hectic for meditation? In this ...

Finding new activities and can be a great way to keep you occupied when making changes to your drinking. can be an ideal hobby you can try. From delicious soups to healthy pasta ideas, here are some to get you started!

Healthy dinner recipes Discover our best ever healthy dinner ideas. Get inspired by our nutritious, triple-tested recipes including healthy curries, pies, pasta and rice dishes

Jeremy from Counselling Online explains why he became an alcohol and drug counsellor after a very varied career.

I want to see change — Meet the counsellor: Jeremy We share tips to help families who are dealing with addiction to minimise conflict this Christmas.

to everyone in our community! We hope you enjoy the day but if you're feeling overwhelmed, Counselling Online is available 24/7. It's free, confidential & anonymous.

Visit our website: http://counsellingonline.org.au

Happy International Women's Day from all of us at Counselling Online. We recognise and celebrate all the wonderful women and their amazing achievements. We will continue to improve outcomes for women living with addiction and provide support.

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, we spoke to Turning Point's Head of Research and Workforce Development, Professor Victoria Manning, about the importance of capturing all women’s perspectives in our research.

“Research with people in alcohol and other drug treatment has traditionally drawn from predominantly male participants,” Professor Manning explained.

“This is because women face additional barriers when it comes to seeking treatment.”

Examples of these additional barriers include social stigma and discrimination, as well as caregiving responsibilities that limit their ability to attend on-site treatment services.

“Listening to and capturing women's unique perspectives and experiences of alcohol and other drug issues is critical when it comes to developing safe and effective treatment approaches and responses,” Professor Manning said.

This International Women’s Day, Turning Point stands with all who are working towards women receiving safe and inclusive access to effective treatment for any alcohol or other drug harms they face.

Read more about our research into the barriers that women face accessing treatment: https://www.turningpoint.org.au/about-us/news/Barriers-to-accessing-addiction-treatment-for-women-at-risk-of-homelessness

Having trouble switching off and getting a good night sleep?

To wind down, calm the mind, and prepare for sleep, try taking a warm bath, reading by a soft light, listening to soothing music, or practicing a relaxation technique before bed.

Relaxation Techniques for Stress Relief - HelpGuide.org Learn how to relieve stress and boost your mood with powerful relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, visualization, and yoga.

When making changes to your drinking or drug use, it is common to feel anxious about it. There are anxiety breathing exercises you could try to help relieve feelings of anxiety and stress.

Learn some breathing techniques here:

Need a Breather? Try These 9 Breathing Exercises to Relieve Anxiety Quickly Breathing exercises can help reduce anxiety, stress, panic attacks, and fatigue. Learn how to use breathing exercise techniques for relaxation.

Self-assessments can be helpful in helping you understand your drinking or drug use and determine whether you need to seek help. Our self-complete assessments are adapted from existing evidence-based tools used to screen for risky behaviour or distress.

https://www.counsellingonline.org.au/find-support/self-assessment

Are you worried about your alcohol consumption? Counselling Online acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land upon which our health service is built, the Wurundjeri people, and pays our respects to their elders past and present.

Yoga can be a helpful tool when making changes to your drinking or drug use, as it can help reduce anxiety. Here is a short exercise to support those who may be experiencing anxiety and to soften a busy mind and body. You are not alone. Let us know how you feel afterwards!

Yoga For Panic And Anxiety | 15 Minute Yoga Practice Created with love and consciousness, this practice is here to support you in times of nervous system imbalance and neurological distress. This trauma-informe...

Want to make changes to your drinking or drug use but don’t know where to start? One of our professional counsellors is available to speak to you online - free and 24/7.

Chat to a counsellor Section Title Why chat? Body Why chat? The stigma associated with alcohol and other drug use might make it difficult to seek help, but speaking to a professional anonymously online can make that step feel less daunting. Our service is free, confidential and available 24/7.  Section Title Advantages...

Engaging in activities that support self-care may help reduce stress and anxiety. These can include exercise and mindfulness practices. Here are 16 different way to help relieve stress to get you started.

16 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress and Anxiety Excess stress is a common problem. Learn effective ways to relieve stress and anxiety.

Sometimes we make goals for the new year but have trouble sticking to them. One popular one is exercising but it can be hard to get motivated. Mindfulness can help us with how to get motivated to workout, as well as offering other proven benefits like increased resilience to help us towards our health goals.

To make sure our minds and bodies are in tune, and to help us stick to our health and fitness resolutions, try these 5 components of mindful exercise from Headspace

Tips For Keeping Fitness New Year’s Resolutions - Headspace Meditation can help put us in the best mental shape to make a physical change. Learn how to keep fitness New Year’s resolutions and move mindfully with Headspace.

Do you want to connect with people who understand what you’re going through when making changes to your drinking or drug use?

Head to our peer support forum and join the conversation tonight from 8pm-10pm AEST to chat live with our peer support workers and others in the community.
https://community.counsellingonline.org.au/s/group/0F9980000002gnECAQ/monday-meetup?viewMore=4