Counselling · Sydney & online
When commitment leaves little room to question.
Your values remain yours to consider and revise.
Counselling around ideological pressure and concerns described as radicalisation. Support with your own choices and relationships, not a programme to change your beliefs.
A strong political, religious or philosophical commitment is not a diagnosis.
What has become difficult for you?
You may have found meaning in a movement or worldview but feel less able to disagree, seek other perspectives or maintain relationships beyond it. You may be dealing with guilt about doubts, pressure to prove loyalty, or loss of belonging after stepping back.
We begin with those specific experiences. We do not classify a belief as harmful because it is unpopular, unconventional or strongly held, and do not tell you which political or religious position to adopt.
Commitment and pressure are different questions.
It may be possible to keep values or beliefs that matter to you while reconsidering a group, a leader or the terms of participation. Alternatively, you may be unsure what you now believe. You do not need to decide the outcome in advance.
We can examine who sets expectations, how contrary evidence is handled, what happens to disagreement and what practical alternatives are available. We also consider other explanations for distress, conflict or change.
What counselling can focus on.
Make room for reflection
Explore questions without being required to agree with TEC or abandon your commitments.
Work through the effects
Attend to fear, grief, damaged relationships, uncertainty and the practical consequences of changing involvement.
Develop alternatives you can actually use
Consider information, relationships and support beyond a single source, while respecting the commitments you choose to retain.
Radicalisation concerns need careful boundaries.
People use the word radicalisation in different ways. A concern about intense involvement or less freedom to disagree is not the same as evidence of a risk of violence. We do not use this page as a screening test or make those assessments from a belief label.
If you are concerned about involvement in violent extremism, Step Together offers specialist support and referral information. TEC does not provide formal violence-risk assessment, counter-terrorism work or a deradicalisation programme. In immediate danger in Australia, call 000; do not wait for an enquiry response.
Common questions.
Will you try to change my political or religious beliefs?
No. The work is about your experience, ability to reflect and practical choices. TEC does not prescribe a political, religious or philosophical position.
Is this a deradicalisation service?
No. TEC does not advertise specialist deradicalisation, counter-terrorism or violence-risk assessment services. We can consider counselling suitability and identify where specialist referral is needed.
What if most of this happens online?
The online radicalisation page considers the additional role of feeds, creators and digital communities without assuming the technology caused the concern.
Further information.
- Step Together — support and advice
A specialist starting point for concerns about involvement in violent extremism; not an emergency service.
- ICSA — resources for survivors and families
Information about high-control-group experiences and support. It does not establish the facts of a particular case.
Service information from The Exit Clinic. These pages are not an assessment of you, another person or a group. External resources offer other perspectives; they do not establish the facts of your situation.
The Exit Clinic
Founded by JT Kua, Counsellor, and Isabel Pham, Social Worker.