BY DAKOTA TAIT
Jenny's Place is partnering with the University of Newcastle for a new clinic connecting crisis accommodation residents with weekly psychology services.
The Sunshine Hut program is being staffed by provisional psychologists and postgraduate students in the School of Psychology.
Jenny's Place Executive Manager Marcia Chapman says women and children fleeing violence often struggle with their mental health.
"Some kids can have learning difficulties at school, they can act out, they can have trouble having relationships," she said.
"They can have low self-esteem, or suffering mental issues such as anxiety, depression. Drug and alcohol dependencies.
"Some may become abusers themselves, or get into domestic violence relationships and the cycle repeats."
The program's been made possible by an anonymous philanthropic grant to Jenny's Place, who is also funding preliminary research to further develop the initiative.
The psychologists initially work with mothers to examine their personal history and understand their needs, before focusing on individual therapy and referrals to other services.
It's also being welcomed as a valuable hands-on experience for psychology students, with hope the program will be expanded over the next four years.
"They're going to learn so much, being able to come in and be part of this," Ms Chapman said.
"They've been involved in it from the get-go, so they're the ones who are designing it, putting it together, and doing the research and building the program as they go.
"It's a very exciting time for the clients, for the students, and for us."
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| Clinical Supervisor Saskia Behan, Jenny's Place Operations Manager Stacey Gately, and Master of Clinical Psychology student Rebecca Fellowes. |
