Behavioural Support

HELP ADDRESSING CHALLENGING OR CONCERNING BEHAVIOUR

Get help managing your emotions, so you can overcome anything life throws at you.

As a registered NDIS provider with over 25 years of experience in the community services sector, our behavioural support services are all about understanding why you or a loved one might use inappropriate or challenging behaviour, and what can be done to build capacity in a safe, enjoyable environment.

When receiving behavioural support, you’ll have 1-on-1 access to one of our friendly and highly qualified behavioural therapists to ensure you’re getting the attention you need. We understand that everyone likes to communicate differently, which is why we like to conduct an initial assessment to understand how you or your loved one like to communicate through behaviour, and how this could be affecting others.

Once we have an idea of communication and behaviour, we then typically conduct an assessment on the person’s environment (i.e. where they live, where/if they work) to determine if this meets their everyday needs and wants, and how this could be influencing their communication or behaviour.

After the initial meeting and assessment has taken place, we then move to implement a positive behaviour support plan or skill development plan to ensure the person has a clear road map towards further building confidence, capacity and general well being.

Please note this service is only available to customers aged 12 years and older.

Why choose breakthru?

When you work with breakthru, you can be confident that each and every one of our therapists have your best interests at heart. When it comes to behavioural therapy, you’ll find out therapists are:

Experienced & Qualified

All of our therapists and counsellors hold a relevant tertiary qualification in psychology, psychiatry or counselling.

Trained & Accredited

Each of our behavioural therapists undertake regular professional development each year, ensuring their skills are refined and that their accreditation is maintained.

Professionally Registered

All of our behavioural support staff are required to pass their registration for the relevant industry organisation in their state or territory.

Private & Confidential

When it comes to their patients, our therapists place privacy & confidentiality at the forefront of everything they do.

Our Behavioural Supports

If you have an existing NDIS plan, then you may be eligible to access our behavioural supports under Improved Relationships.

If you don’t have a plan, we also offer fee for service and payment plan options to ensure you can get the help you need when you need it.

Behavioural Assessments

When you or a loved one are on the receiving end of a complex or seemingly negative behaviour, it can be hard to know where to even begin approaching the issue.

At breakthru, our friendly staff will work closely with you to conduct a behavioural assessment, which is one of the first steps we take toward creating a behavioural support plan. Once the assessment is completed, we’ll have a better idea of the behaviour, the causes and the effects on the surrounding environment so we can put together an effective action plan.

Positive Support Planning

Once we’ve gained some insight into a person’s behaviour, the next step is to develop strategies to encourage appropriate behaviour through a positive, person-centered approach.

When developing a Positive Behaviour Support Plan, we aim to observe any known behaviour, identify what causes or contributes to this behaviour and then devise a range of possible approaches and strategies for change that can be used by both therapists, family members and/or carers.

Skill Development Planning

Depending on the person and their individual needs, we can devise a range of Skill Development strategies to help the invdividual cope with different situations both at home, work or in the community.

With a Skills Development Plan, we’ll help to provide training to ensure a person no longer needs to use behaviour that could have adverse affects on the environment around them. We’ll also help to develop skills and coping mechanisms to ensure any behavioural response is safe and respectful.

Education & Training

In most cases it’s extremely beneficial for not only the individual to undergo education & training, but also for family members and carers to develop an understanding of the behaviour and its related causes as well.

As an experienced disability services provider, breakthru can help educate family, friends and carers on how to implement our recommended behavioural strategies, and can help to ensure that everyone understands the behaviour to ensure the plan is effective.

Peer Support & Counselling

Sometimes the best form of therapy or support comes from your peers, or those that have lived through a similar experience. To ensure our customers have access to a full range of supports, breakthru host regular group therapy sessions and peer support groups to ensure there is an adequate support network available.

Each of our support groups are very inclusive and built around the shared personal experience and empathy of each individual attending. Our support groups are focused on positive reinforcement – focused on strengths rather than weaknesses, and working towards building capacity.

Our Locations

We offer Behavioural Supports in the following locations

Tuggerah (Central Coast NSW)

Western Sydney & Surrounds (NSW)

Western Melbourne & Surrounds (VIC)

Cairns (North QLD)

Our Behaviour Support Clinicians

Sarah Edwards

MPsychPro, GradDipPsychAdv, BPsychSc

Sarah joined the breakthru team in May 2020 after moving to Melbourne from Perth. Sarah has over 7 years experience in the disability sector in which she has worked with NDIS participants across the lifespan. Sarah has her Masters degree in Professional Psychology and has a strong background in working with customers on the Autism Spectrum with mental health concerns. She is passionate about empowering others and supporting them to achieve their goals.

Sarah’s role at breakthru is Senior Clinician in the Positive Behaviour Support team and she is based across sites in Victoria. When Sarah is not working, you can find her exploring Melbourne or at home cooking for family and friends. She has strong values in equality and a love for animals.

Linda Spollen

MScAppPsych, BPsych

Linda started working as a behaviour support practitioner with breakthru in August 2020. With a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Applied Psychology, Linda specialises in working with both adults and young people with disabilities.

As part of her work at breakthru, Linda helps people identify their goals, learn new skills and overcome life challenges. Outside of work her interests include: reading, travelling and trying new adventure sports with family and friends. Linda also has strong values in equality and a love for animals.

Jarin Tasnim

MScPsychChDev , BPsych

Jarin started with breakthru in July 2020. As a qualified person-centered counsellor, Jarin has completed both a Masters in Psychology of Child Development and a Bachelors in Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire in England.

As an AHPRA registered Provisional Psychologist, Jarin works at breakthru as a Behaviour Support Practitioner. Having worked as a high school counsellor for two years in England, Jarin prides herself on providing high-quality, person-centered supports and particularly enjoys working with youth and adolescents.

When she’s not at work, you can find Jarin singing, dancing or catching a good horror movie with friends or family.

Brigeth Balhon

MSocWk , BPsych

Brigeth joined the breakthru behaviour support team in November 2019. With just over 4 years of experience as a Behavioural Therapist, Brigeth applies her knowledge to help her clients achieve their goals.

Holding a Master in Social Work from Monash University and a Bachelor of Psychology from Manila Central University, Brigeth works with her clients on a daily basis by conducting assessments, implementing behavioural strategies and helping her clients to identify their goals.

Outside of work, you’ll find Brigeth spending time with her daughter, reading, travelling or organising her home.