Our Adolescent Service

All client information is treated as confidential, except in the following circumstances:

• When a client provides consent for information to be shared with a specific organization or individual
• When disclosure is required by law. When care and protection concern about a young person are raised.
• When there is a threat to harm oneself or another person

Yes. Our Adolescent Service is funded by Oranga Tamariki and Te Whatu Ora Health ensuring there is no cost to clients for accessing support.

In some cases, sessions may be done online. This is considered on a case-by-case basis and dependent on individual client circumstances. This is usually only considered following face-to-face meetings.

Family/whanau involvement is a crucial part of our work in the Adolescent service. There may be times that we offer parent/caregiver-only sessions with a Stop Clinician and when required, onward referrals to support agencies for parents/guardians.

Certainly not. While harmful sexual behaviour is very serious and must be addressed due to its impact on those who have been harmed, it has a much lower rate of recidivism than other offences such as burglary or physical assault. Research indicates that adolescents who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour, and who then complete specialized therapeutic interventions, have a very low likelihood of reoffending. In fact, after five years with no further concerns, their rate of harmful sexual behaviour is comparable to that of the general population.

At Stop, we see adolescents make significant and lasting changes in their lives, whether that involves healing from past victimization, improving their relationships and communication, or becoming more accountable and skilled at managing their behaviour. These changes play an important role in supporting them to lead safe and positive lives.

No, not necessarily, there is an array of factors relevant to someone's decision to engage in harmful sexual behaviour. Importantly, most people who have been sexually harmed do not go on to harm others. That said, sexual victimization is in the background of several of our clients and addressing the impacts of that can be part of someone becoming safer with their own behaviors.

Yes. Increasingly, harmful or concerning sexual behaviours also occur in online spaces. Exposure to pornography, sharing sexual images, or engaging with peers through digital platforms can influence how young people understand consent, relationships, and sexuality.
Stop supports rangatahi, whānau, and professionals to navigate these complex online influences safely, promoting healthy digital boundaries, respectful online behaviour, and informed conversations about pornography and consent.

Referrals are most often made by Oranga Tamariki or other third parties, including police, GPs, or social service professionals. In some instances, we can consider self-referrals, through whanau or community to our service.

Professionals are encouraged to contact Stop directly to discuss the most appropriate referral pathway for each client.

Yes. Stop recognizes and celebrates the diversity of our clients’ needs, providing culturally responsive, accessible and inclusive services that meet the needs of all communities – including tangata whaikaha(intellectual , physical disability, neurodiversity and learning difficulties) , LGBTQIA+, Māori and Pasifika Refugee, faith based , migrant and multi-cultural communities.

Stop has taken the Pride Pledge, a values-based commitment that demonstrates our dedication to the safety, visibility, and inclusion of rainbow members of our community and workforce.

We aspire to integrate the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi within our practice, through the integration of Māori frameworks and models, ensuring our ongoing commitment to safe cultural practice. We prioritize safe, evidence-based care, recognizing the importance of whānau, community, and cultural context in supporting positive change and wellbeing for all clients.

Talk therapy  

We understand that starting intervention can feel uncertain, and it’s natural to have questions about what to expect. Our intervention process involves talk therapy with a designated clinician, whānau sessions, and, where appropriate, group therapy. These sessions provide a safe, supportive space to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in ways that promote growth and positive change. Each intervention is grounded in evidence-based practice and tailored to meet the individual needs of each rangatahi and their whānau. 

Clinicians 

Our compassionate and highly skilled team of clinicians come from diverse professional backgrounds, including social work, counselling, and psychology. They bring specialist expertise in working with rangatahi, their whānau, and wider support systems, and are committed to creating a safe, supportive, and empowering therapeutic environment. 

Therapeutic approaches 

Stop draws on a range of evidence-based approaches and diverse clinical and cultural practices, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), the Good Lives Model, Psychoeducation, Motivational Interviewing, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), and Māori cultural models of practice. All interventions are strengths-based, trauma-informed, and tailored to support rangatahi with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and complex needs.