The Family Counselling Centre (TFCC) was founded in response to the overwhelming need for counselling support to assist with a myriad of social issues (family related trauma, sexual trauma, addiction, domestic violence, gang violence, et al.).
Based in Fish Hoek, it aims to encourage and facilitate healthy relationships through the provision of a safe space for individuals and families who are struggling to cope with life’s challenges. TFCC is based on a Christian ethos and operates on biblical principles.
“Our overriding purpose is to be a ‘family centre’ within the community – providing professional, affordable and accessible mental health and other complementary services to families, couples, individuals and organisations within a safe, confidential and empowering space,” says Andrea Nettel, founding director and counsellor, TFCC.
Founded in 2015, TFCC has an established and credible track record in the communities in which it operates and is one of the only organisations in the South Peninsula providing such a systemic approach.
“We need to focus on the family as a whole,” continues Nettel. “Whilst our core service is that of counselling, so often a family in crisis – or one of its family members, requires support and assistance across other areas. These can include access to family related legal services, child assessments, therapeutic social work, mediation, or parental guidance. Our goal, as a ‘family centre’ within the community, is that of a comprehensive approach tailored to the specific needs of each individual.”
With a strong ethos of community upliftment and empowerment, TFCC seeks to make its services as readily available as possible to support the dire need present in our communities.
To this end, TFCC offers a very affordable fee-based structure with below average rates in addition to a donation-based counselling clinic on Saturday mornings. Its vision – to build on this with a physical presence in under resourced communities. This will see it taking these services ‘into’ the actual areas where they are so needed, but often unavailable or financially not possible.
A full overview of its services includes individual counselling, relationship counselling, family counselling, Christian-based counselling, child counselling, child assessments, therapeutic social work, mediation, family related legal services and parental guidance.
“We are also available to run workshops and/ or presentations focusing on a core range of mental health and family related topics as part of our efforts to provide this much needed assistance and support,” concludes Nettel.
