Over many years many clients and trainees have used the services of the WILLIAM STREET FAMILY THERAPY CENTRE. We welcome feedback from our clients and as standard practice we ask for objective feedback from any professionals who attend short or long-term training courses at WSFTC. Below is a sample of the regular feedback we have received:
CLIENT FEEDBACK of their experience of therapy at William Street Family Therapy Centre:
Client A: “’The therapist demonstrated just listening…when someone was incredibly emotional’ and his responses to such situations ‘were reassuring and kept everything calm, whereas perhaps as a family we had a tendency to get really panicked and implode at those points’”.
Client B: “As an individual he (the therapist) is just great, he’s got great listening skills and he’s got that way of soothing things down and putting things into perspective and giving you a different way of looking at things.” Client C: “The therapist really supported and nurtured the idea of the family as a unit and how it operated is so important and I think that really clicked with us as a family and immediately we trusted that…it could only have happened on the back of the fact that we had a space where there was so much trust and it was such a safe space and it was a neutral space for the whole family it was our whole family’s space and I knew that the therapist knew just as much and cared just as much and valued just as much the other three individuals as well as my experience.”
Client C: “The therapist really supported and nurtured the idea of the family as a unit and how it operated is so important and I think that really clicked with us as a family and immediately we trusted that…it could only have happened on the back of the fact that we had a space where there was so much trust and it was such a safe space and it was a neutral space for the whole family it was our whole familys’ space and I knew that the therapist knew just as much and cared just as much and valued just as much the other three individuals as well as my experience.”
Client D: “The therapist was very fair at allowing space for whatever it is you needed to say…facilitating a space that is safe for both of us to be able to express whatever it is we need to express and that that’s going to be ok and it’s going to be accepted and validated by him and also he allows it to be safe for our partner to hear as well.”
Client D: “The therapist was very fair at allowing space for whatever it is you needed to say…facilitating a space that is safe for both of us to be able to express whatever it is we need to express and that that’s going to be ok and it’s going to be accepted and validated by him and also he allows it to be safe for our partner to hear as well.”
Client E: “The therapist gave us some guidance and tips on how to find common ground. For instance one of the things he got us to do was write a list of all the things we would like to do together, that we could do together…we had to come to a compromise…he got us to come up with our own individual list…These things were not mutually exclusive, just because there were things I wanted to do, doesn’t mean that Audrey can’t partake or vice a versa.”
Client F: “…for me, the therapist helped me to find a way to use the stone to help me calm down…because sometimes I fly off the handle a little bit, as probably most blokes do when things frustrate them or it doesn’t go the right way, and he said to use the stone, hold the stone and think for five seconds. That made a world of difference.”
Client G: “…the therapist knew which issues to direct us towards without us really knowing where we were going…we’d go in thinking that we’d talk about one thing, thinking that it was the most important thing ever that we had to talk about you know and he would kind of direct us in another way, um and it turned out that that was more important than the initial thing that we went for.
Client H: “It wasn’t like the therapist was in charge of the whole thing…any instances we did talk about usually ended up in something that was worth talking about”.
TRAINING PARTICIPANTS’ FEEDBACK of their experience of training at William Street Family Therapy Centre:
“I loved the course… I loved the humour and it was very nourishing for me”
“Very intense….exceptional opportunity to learn”
“Really enjoyed watching work being done. It was a wonderful experience to watch you work and to participate in my own work.”
“So many high spots…I am still processing all that I have learnt.”
“I would highly recommend this course as it provides an excellent hands-on experience way of learning and developing skills.”
TRAINEE FEEDBACK ON GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN FAMILY & RELATIONSHIP THERAPY COURSE at William Street Family Therapy Centre:
“At an educational level I have learnt so much…the group debates … so many different perspectives … very enriching and stimulating. …allowed each of us to find our own way of working and this was actively encouraged and supported in the work.
In both years I found the notes that trainers and trainees provided were good reference material and excellent pointers for further work … there was real learning by everyone in our group regardless of the level of their experience.
As our group shared our experiences and differences we supported each other and became more competent and grew in our practice. I liked the way that no particular modality or approach other than a general systemic outlook was pushed, and how we were each encouraged to find our own way. I also felt that there was a genuine interest in me and my development as a Family Therapist that often went outside the standard requirements of the course – a simple thing that I valued highly.
Most of all I really valued the opportunity to work with real families I also remember the laughter and humour that so many families brought with them despite their hardships and I experienced the quiet pleasure and affirmation that comes when things change, when people start to value and respect themselves, and those they love. I think that these families taught me far more than I ever taught them and I thank them for that.
In my opinion the Training at WSFTC is challenging, but well worth the effort, and a good preparation and beginning for those who wish to engage in the many challenges and rewards of working with families.”