Ben* was hesitant about joining the program and only agreed because he was worried about being court-ordered. But his Senior Child and Family Counsellor built a strong rapport, creating a foundation of safety, stability, and unconditional positive regard.

After the first few sessions, Ben started to enjoy the program and said it “got him out of his comfort zone.” Young people like Ben often carry a large amount of shame. The experience of being genuinely seen, heard, and valued can be life-altering.

Upon completing therapy, Ben felt confident in his capacity to make safe decisions. His mum saw ‘amazing changes,’ especially in his interactions with his siblings, his ability to express his emotions, and the way he spoke about relationships.

“I have been noticing my emotions more, though I’m still learning. It’s better to be still learning than not learning,” Ben said.

Many young people in out-of-home care engage in harmful sexual behaviours. They need specialist support to stop the behaviour and learn healthier ways of connecting with others. The Harmful Sexual Behaviour Consultation and Support program, operating in Victoria’s north, provides clinical guidance, consultation, training, and support to residential care teams. These teams also need expert support to respond in therapeutic, non-shaming ways, fostering safe and supportive connections.