Spiritus Amend is a voluntary home-based relapse prevention and management program which offers specialised, confidential counselling from qualified professionals. Services are available free of charge to women who live

• within the greater Brisbane region - from Burpengary to Waterford and from Wynnum West to Ferny Grove,
• and on the Gold Coast, from Runaway Bay to Coolangatta.

Supporting parent and child

In addition we offer:

• Counselling and support to children affected by parental substance use;
• Information about the impacts of substance use during pregnancy, breastfeeding and parenting;
• Information and education on building a positive relationship  between parent and child.

Harm minimisation

We also deliver individual and group-based harm minimisation education and information sessions to women who:

• Are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant;
• Are receiving services at other agencies;
• Are returning to the community following incarceration;
• Or just need some information to help them make decisions about substance use.

Pregnant and parenting women

We're here to help you, if you:

• Are attempting to reduce or stop their use of substances
• Are concerned about relapse or needing support following a recent relapse
• Have children in care or at risk of being placed in care, due to substance use
• Are dealing with family and relationship problems relating to substance use, including parenting issued and relationships with children
• Are experiencing depression, anxiety, stress or other symptoms and who are using substances to cope

The Amend program covers

• Information about the impacts of substance use during pregnancy, breastfeeding and parenting
• Knowing what to do when cravings, triggers and high-risk situations make you want to use substances
• How to manage difficult thinking styles and beliefs that lead to substance use
• How to manage stress, depression, anxiety and other symptoms
• Ways to improve interpersonal relationships, communication and assertion skills
• Creating social and community supports and finding substance-free fun, relaxing and creative things to do with your time
• Managing your money and making wise goals for the future
• Learning to cope with difficult changes and losses in your life

At a glance

The Amend program

• is a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) based relapse prevention program
• offers 18 one-hour counselling sessions in the child-friendly setting of the woman's own home
• is entirely voluntary and free of charge.