Butterfly House Counselling Service Takes Flight

The Butterfly House founder Jennie Wilson has opened a new counselling service in Deloraine.

Ms Wilson, who has lived in the Meander Valley area since 2001, said she had the advantage of knowing her local community and the type of counselling people need.

Ms Wilson said: “I am compelled to use my hard-earned qualifications and past life experiences to help clients with substance addictions and other life issues that need to be faced.

“The counselling service is going to provide clients with a prompt, professional, non-religious service, using holistic, evidence based methods and relaxation techniques,” she said.

The opening of a new counselling service in the Meander Valley region is a newsworthy event given the former Rural Primary Health Services program, managed by Primary Health Tasmania, ended on 31 December 2016.

A long-term social worker, mental health worker and youth worker lost their positions as a result of the changes.

A new program with a focus on chronic illness, such as type 2 diabetes, started on 1 January 2017 after a tender process.

Primary Health Tasmania’s Communications and Marketing Manager, Jenny Denholm said the rural health program represents one small part of the funding for health services.

“There needs to be a shared responsibility for addressing broader gaps that may exist after this tender process ends,” Ms Denholm said.

Ms Wilson hoped the opening of her counselling service would eventually lead her closer to realising her dream of providing a drug and alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation centre in Northern Tasmania.
Hayley Manning