Consultation Services
Family Services provides a variety of support services to assist church leaders as they help members to pursue a life consistent with eternal gospel principles.
Church leaders may contact Family Services to seek advice about individual members who are experiencing social, emotional, and mental health challenges. Possible interventions and solutions may be discussed.
Church leaders may invite Family Services to participate in Stake Self-Reliance Committee meetings, Bishops Welfare Committee meetings, trainings, workshops or devotionals to educate and assist members and/or leaders to better understand and support members dealing with any social, emotional, behavioural and relationship challenges.
Church leaders may invite Family Services to identify and develop church, professional or community resources to assist church leaders and members with specific local challenges.
Church leaders are encouraged to refer to the resources in the Gospel Library app. These resources provide valuable information and resources to assist church leaders helping members with specific challenges. For more information on Counselling Resources.
Counselling Services
The Brisbane Family Services office maintains a Community Resource (CR) Directory to help church leaders and members access accredited and vetted Church member counselling professionals who work in private practice in the community. When assisting members who could benefit from counselling services for issues such as depression, anxiety, grief and loss, marriage, infidelity, divorce, parenting, autistic spectrum, sexual abuse, domestic violence, addictions (drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography, food), eating disorders, self-harm, suicide, self-esteem, relationship difficulties and other mental illnesses, church leaders may refer members to the list of counselling professionals listed in the CR Directory.
Counselling needs for Missionary Services (pre-mission assessment, early release), current sexual abuse, complex or sensitive sexual/gender matters, church leader and member training, presentations, firesides and consultation (advice to church leaders) should be referred direct to the Brisbane Family Services office.
Missionary Services
Pre-Mission Assessments: Priesthood leaders may request a Pre-Mission Assessment (PMA) to assist them in determining the emotional or psychological readiness or suitability of a prospective missionary candidate before they recommend that candidate for missionary service. PMAs gather detailed information through relevant testing and interview of the missionary candidate. The PMA may highlight the need for further specific preparation to be made or for more time to be taken to minimise the risk of mental health complications arising in the mission field.
Early Release (ER) Missionaries: Full-time proselyting missionaries who return home early due to psychological or emotional challenges, may be assessed by Family Services to determine their treatment needs and assist the ER missionary, their family and leaders to access appropriate services for them. When referred to an appropriate community resource, the first six sessions should be paid for by local unit fast offering funds or by the Missionary Department insurer when authorised by the Missionary Department.
Emergency Mental Health
Family Services provides specialized services following a disaster or critical incident at the request of, and in consultation with, Church leaders. Services may include consultation and assessment, crisis intervention and counseling, and resource development and referral. All services are designed to build emotional self-reliance in those affected by the disaster or critical incident.