A Dad's story

Roadworthy for Dads support fathers to develop tools to improve family communication, handle conflict, as well as understand the different stages of children’s development. It aims to strengthen the bond between dads and their kids.
Relationship Matters has farewelled another group of dads who are enjoying closer relationships with their children as a result of participating in a Roadworthy for Dads program.
At the end of the 9-week program, the participants shared stories of their growth as fathers and have learned to remain calm and to look at different situations through the eyes of their children, where once they may have responded with anger or aggression.  
We thought we would share one of their stories.

*Roger said his parenting style was based on that of his own father who was often unavailable and ruled by creating fear. Prior to coming on the program, he said he responded to problems as though they were personal attacks, where he now looks for opportunities to gain a positive emotional connection with his children.  He learned to see himself through his children’s eyes and could understand (and remember) the fear that he generated with his responses to them. He said that after learning about how to manage his own emotions and thinking as well as the experience of his own children, practising the tools that had been provided throughout the program, things were much calmer at home. 
He said his partner could rely on him much more that everyone was calmer and his children now regularly came to him when they needed help and comfort.

Find out more and register

*Please note: Names have been changed

Introducing the Rainbow Door Consortium.

The Rainbow Door consortium, led by Switchboard delivers phone and video link support, referral and counselling to LGBTIQA+ people, couples and families.  The service provides an immediate source of direct referrals to specialist support services, Callers are supported to find new services such as counselling, family violence and other specialist support services to better support the LGBTIQA+ community.

Relationship Matters’ experienced family relationship counsellors provide phone, face to face, or video link counselling to clients referred by Switchboard following initial intake and assessment. Relationship Matters is Rainbow Tick endorsed. Clients of the service are offered existing Relationship Matters family relationships counselling, couples and communication skills education programs and many more tailored to LGBTIQA+ communities.

The program has been designed to be highly flexible to reflect areas of greatest demand ensuring maximum coverage for all Victorians.
Contact Rainbow Dooron 1800 729 367 Website https://www.switchboard.org.au/rainbow-door

What makes our counsellors tick...a heartfelt message from a client

"Thanks so much for all your help, Tina (counsellor).  Quite a lot has happened since we last spoke.  My husband has agreed to seek independent counselling, and this morning we are seeing his doctor with a view to getting a referral to a geriatrician. My sister suggested this as his behaviour is similar to early-onset dementia.  
 
Charlie and I have talked a lot and he has agreed that things must change. His son too is also on board and has been very helpful and supportive.
 
So thanks again, Tina....you have been a real blessing.  When I called you I was a bit of a mess, but you were able to calmly and kindly sort me and allow me to see the wood through the trees....
 
I think I’ll be okay now thanks to you.
 

Introduction to Positive Psychology at the Workplace 

 
Coming soon – Introduction to Positive Psychology. This three-part course follows Martin Seligman’s PERMA model to improve quality of life and wellbeing in work, play and relationships.  Through work in the classroom and take-home exercises, the course teaches practical exercises to increase:
 

• Positive emotion
• Engagement and using one’s strengths
• Quality of relationships
• Resilience
• Sense of meaning in life and work
• Achievement.

 
The course incorporates pre-and-post measures of wellbeing for your workgroup. The course has been highly rated in early pilots. The course will be more broadly available from June 2021. 

We offer a range of workplace training and business services. Find out more
Please contact info@relationshipmatters.com.au

Gottman Relationship Checkup

Get your relationship checkup at Relationship Matters. 

The Gottman Relationship Check-up is an evidence-based, comprehensive assessment tool developed by the Gottman Institute. 
The Gottman Institute began designing many of these assessment scales in 1980 and the current assessment framework is based on decades of diligent research and review to harness this knowledge into a streamlined used friendly online assessment tool.

The assessment cost per couple is just $55. 
 
Tp find out more please email aharris@relationshipmatters.com.au