Centacare’s Mary of the Cross Centre provides counselling services free of charge to the families of individuals suffering from abuse of alcohol and other drugs (AOD). This is a unique service aimed at assisting families to cope with the feelings of shame and isolation as a consequence of a family member’s substance abuse. It provides families with strength and support needed to go on with their lives while their loved one faces the challenges associated with addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

Centacare's Mary of the Cross counsellors are professionally trained and highly qualified with experience in AOD counselling practice. The counselling approach is client-centred and flexible, working with each family on the issues that they identify as being problematic. Long-term goals are set, which take into consideration the whole family including the member with the substance abuse problem. Client needs range from requests for information to in depth emotional work that utilises new behavioural strategies and in some cases longer term psychotherapy.