Tara's Story

"A few years ago, I struggled deeply with my mental health. My mum noticed and suggested I speak with my GP about support options. I’d seen a few psychologists in the past, but none worked for me. So, I was cautious when the GP suggested speaking to someone. Because of my concerns, they suggested contacting the local council’s youth counselling service. I had no idea there was a support service so close to my home.

"I remember my first experience with the youth counsellor being very daunting. But I decided to fight my anxiety and attend the session. My counsellor made me feel comforted, accepted, and understood, and I left the session feeling a lot better. I would suggest anyone who is struggling with their mental health to seek support through counselling. It may be difficult at first, but the more you do it, the easier it will become and the stronger you will feel.

"The more you prioritise your mental health the better the outcomes will be. Counselling gave me multiple tools to address how I was feeling. But the most helpful aspect was having someone I could talk to about anything, without judgement. I was able to learn a lot about myself and the insight I gained through counselling was priceless."

*Hobsons Bay Youth Services, as part of Hobsons Bay City Council, is a child-safe organisation. To protect the young person’s identity, their name has been changed and a stock image used. Their story has been shared with permission.

Counselling support