This paper describes what good practice looks like in community-based group counselling for building resilience in children and young people aged 7–20 years. It defines resilience as a dynamic process that draws on both personal and external resources, and outlines how counselling interventions aim to strengthen these personal and external resources. 

It details three types of effective community-based group counselling interventions: psychoeducation, relaxation and mindfulness, and counselling with art. 

The paper also provides a comprehensive table of personal, family, community and cultural resources that contribute to resilience.

Key messages

• Engagement can be enhanced by:
  • running an intervention or program for a longer period and with more than one session a week
  • increasing opportunities for clients to interact with counsellors and peers 
  • providing digital resources and other activities (such as physical activities) alongside the counselling.
• Counsellors and program coordinators can enhance the effectiveness of counselling interventions by focusing on the counsellor’s ability to build strong collaborative relationships with clients from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Counsellors should focus on the client’s perception of the therapeutic relationship. 
• There is strong justification for delivering universal non-clinical counselling programs in community settings.
• A community-based workforce may help to reduce long waitlists for counselling services by increasing access to a wider range of engaging therapeutic services.