Family Therapy – CONNECT Zimbabwe Institute Of Systemic Therapy

FAMILY THERAPY at connect ZIST

CONNECT provides counselling services that seek to develop and maintain positive relationships between individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities. This creates a safe environment for people to explore ways of improving communication and fostering understanding. The philosophy guiding our Family Therapists is primarily based on systemic ideas. However, we also have Therapists who specialize in narrative therapy, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and Pastoral therapy, which are available upon request. Therapy sessions are conducted by appointment at our centre, located at Stand 18149 Ganges Road, Harare, between 08:00hrs and 16:00hrs Monday to Friday. Home counselling can be arranged under special circumstances. Our clients present with a wide range of social, emotional, and behavioral issues, with referrals coming from medical practitioners, hospitals, psychologists, social workers, employers, and friends, while others refer themselves.

The issues we regularly deal with include the following:

Marital and couple difficulties

HIV and AIDS

Divorce, separation, absent parenting, grand parenting, child parenting, step parenting and lone parenting

Child marriages

Coping with effects of traumatic events, sexual abuse, gender based violence or emotional violence in the family.

Rebuilding relationships

Issues arising out of illness, disability, death and dying.

Alcohol and substance abuse

Coping with effects of stress

Meeting challenges of life cycle stages

Parenting issues with all age groups

Issues related to Spirituality

counselling

We are offering counselling through creative online services. If you need urgent help and support, CONNECT can assist.
1. If you are a frontline worker, CONNECT is part of help for frontline workers
2. Advice for families
3. Support for communities
Requests for support can be directed to:

consultanncy

CONNECT offers consultancy services based on systemic principles for organisations working with specific problem areas such as bereavement, trauma, stress, retrenchments and retirements. Services can be provided at the workplace or at the CONNECT premises.

community based counselling

Zimbabwean low income communities, both urban and rural, are riddled with challenges that require psychosocial support. This has seen CONNECT partnering with donors in taking counselling to the communities. Initially we were supported by GTZ and TDH, giving counselling capacity to Community Home Based Caregivers (CHBC) in Hatcliffe and Epworth peri-urban areas. to respond to the challenge of HIV and AIDS. This proved to be cost effective and sustainable caring approach for communities. Currently we are working with Bikita and Mutasa Districts with support from Troicare and Hivos to provide Community based counselling in partnership with community based counsellors. These projects target girls and omen survivors of child marriages and all forms of gender based violence. Through this approach, communities are skilled to provide psychological first aid counselling. We continue to seek funding to scale up these community empowering activities. Programming is guided by the CONNECT community programming handbook.

HOW COUNSELLING IS DONE

step 1: JOINING-SOCIAL STAGE

The counselor ensures the client feels comfortable, introduces a structured approach to the process, and collects necessary information for records such as client's name, address, next of kin and support network.

step 3: WIDENING THE VIEW OF THE PROBLEM

The counselor and the client explore how other systems are contributing to the problem and how the problem is being managed by those systems.

step 2: DEFINING THE PROBLEM

The counselor and client explore the problematic behaviour patterns, the belief systems that support these behaviours and the goals of the counseling process.

step 4: SOLUTIONS

The counselor and the client work together to come up with solutions. During this process, the counselor seeks evidence of the client's strengths.

Frequently asked questions

How much do I pay for counselling?

Counselling sessions are currently $20.00 USD or its equivalent in ZIG per session . However, we do not turn away individuals who may not able to afford to pay for Counselling services.

How long is the counselling session?

A session ranges from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Will the session be confidential?

Confidentiality is assured, and it is one of our core values as an organisation.

Do I have a choice of the Therapist?

We have a team of capable therapists; however a client is free to specify the counselor they prefer in terms of gender, language and other preferences.

Which language can I use in the counselling session?

Client is free to choose their language.

Is there a facility for Online Counselling?

Yes Online Counselling is available.

Testimonials from clients
(Please note, for confidentiality purposes, we are using pseudonyms )

"After going through a major life transition, the counselors at CONNECT ZIST guided me towards healthier coping mechanisms. I now feel more in control of my emotions and better equipped to handle stress in my daily life."

"CONNECT ZIST's mental health services have been truly transformative for me. The compassionate support I received has helped me develop healthier habits, sleep better, and approach challenges with a more positive mindset."

"I was hesitant to try counseling at first, but the team at CONNECT ZIST made me feel comfortable and validated. Their non-judgmental approach helped me improve my relationships and find a better balance in my life."

"Ndakanga ndichiri mune nguva yakaoma pandakatanga counseling neCONNECT ZIST. Asi, chikwata chavo chakandiratidza rudo uye kunzwira tsitsi. Ndakawana nzira dzakanaka dzekugadzirisa matambudziko angu uye ndakatanga kuona shanduko muupenyu hwangu."