Counselling to cease at Imaginif
August 18, 2008 by Megan · 11 Comments
It is with great regret that we announce the cessation of counselling, child and adult, at Imaginif’s 30 James St new premises, as of October 31st, 2008. Remember the personal crisis in July that had me off air for three weeks? That personal crisis has now moved into a business model restructure and change in service provision at Imaginif.
The purchase of our James Street premises was going to be a commercial investment, with a 20% stake held by a third party, so as to provide sufficient capital resources to settle the property, have the premises rezoned to business facilities and undertake all of the required structural and parking renovations to achieve this, including telephone systems, air conditioning units and other ancillary works.
Five working days before settlement, our partner pulled out of the deal, the consequence of which is that we had to raise substantial short term borrowings for the purpose of settling on the property. These funds were raised through the wonderful support of family and friends as there was no time to renegotiate loan contracts and financing arrangements.
We now need to settle these debts and in the short to medium term, are in no position to fund the growth of services we had hoped to provide through Imaginif. Accordingly, we are unable to provide James Street premises suitable for these purposes and we are down scaling to what I operated prior to joining with talk doctors Rebekah and Fran.
I will retain the front office and still do supervision, consultancy and case management outreach to Innisfail and Atherton. I will also do training tours and outreach to Cape York Peninsula and hire external premises for training in Cairns. I will offer the services I did prior to expanding the practice to counselling provision for children and adults.
Rebekah Allen is now out looking for a job as she has decided not to do private practice alone (I can thoroughly recommend Rebekah to anyone who wants a dedicated and fantastic worker and therapist). Having to shift Rebekah’s child counselling skill base from Imaginif is one of the hardest things I have had to endure. This has made my heart heavy and my head hang low. I hope that Rebekah changes her mind and stays in private practice so that the families of Cairns retain Rebekah as a counselling option. I have nothing but glowing reports about Rebekah’s abilities as a child therapist.
Fran Burke is searching for another office and intends to continue doing counselling and massage. Of course I will continue to work in conjunction with Fran and refer adults for counselling and massage requests to her. I have worked with Fran for years and I just adore her. Her counselling and commitment to women affected by sexual violence is worthy of an AM (Order of Australia).
The embarrassment and shame of business downscaling is toxic for me. I am devastated, flat and bewildered. We found and purchased the perfect property to run the extended Imaginif practice from. The circumstances described above have prevented us from doing this, at least for the moment.
All bookings up until October 31st will remain the same. After that, there will be no counselling available at Imaginif. Megan Bayliss will still be available for supervision and consultation so please do ring for brain storming, recommendation and external referral information.
About Megan
Oh Megan. I am so sorry. What a heart wrenching decision to be forced into.
I wish I had words to dilute the toxicity.
My love and thoughts are with you xxx
Thanks A. You will remember how hard we fought to get it across the line when the investor pulled out. To now have to downscale is an insult against all that we do for child protection and child safety. Never mind, I have faced much worse in my life and perhaps this regrouping is a sign of something stronger coming up. Ever the optimist, I can be bent but never broken. Mxxxxxx. PS: In his final lecture, M would have said how much he loved you guys. Mxxx
Oh Megan I am so so sorry ((((((((((hugs)))))))))))) Its so unfair when our dreams and planning can be crushed with one foul swoop. I hate it when people let down others at the death knock hour. Unless they had absolutely 100% good reason to do so they should be the ones feeling lousy not you.
Why people make promises only to break them I do not know. If they weren’t 100percent committed they should never have agreed to it.
((((((((((hugs to all))))))))))
OMG Megan. So very sorry to hear about this. It is a loss for the community as well as a set back for you. I look forward to seeing you back up and running full pelt in the not too distance future. You can do it. Chin up and smile still on!
Jane thanks so much for your words of comfort. You are so right, it should be that investor who feels lousy! I feel dreadful for Fran, Rebekah and Amanda…I will go on and I will pay back each of my friends and family. The girls will also go on, albeit in a different capacity, but we are losing a very special and strong child protection bond. Mxxx
Megan, I’m really sorry to hear this. Hopefully there is something stronger coming up for you.
My Treasure, I am here and if I can off you any assistance in anyway CALL me. Please remember that in every crisis is the opportunity to GROW!
Love and Light Louise Maree
Dear Megan
I am so sorry for this outcome. You must be so disappointed. Yes, you may be bent, but I’m sure you’ll be put back together being the eternal optimist. I was going to use a quote by Billy Connelly, but thought I’d better not. You catch my drift?
I wish you all the best for your future plans and it’s good to see that you’re being philosophical about it. When one door closes another one opens, right?
Warm regards
Marianne
Megan, I’m so sorry the deal fell through. It was obvious how excited you were to begin this new phase of counseling and I was excited for you too. The property is perfect for what you envisioned, and I looked forward to hearing about all the great things being provided to those needing help. Hugs!
Jen, Louise Marie, Marianne and Lin – thanks so much for your words of encouragement and support. I am feeling awful for the other two talk doctors and miserable in general. Cognitively I know that this is far from the end – just a reshuffle so that I can quickly pay back all of the people who gave money to get us across the line when the investor pulled out.
While my work will not change, I will miss Fran and Rebekah being here with me. As an ex child therapist, I lived vicariously through their creative work.
Onwards….it is done and we are all getting on with it.
All my love and gratitude. Mxxx
Megan – just read this as have been absent with my own business stuff taking precedence. So sorry you have had to pull back because of this and I am sure a lot of your feeling of toxicity is because of your feeling of responsibility for something that you had no control over. You obviously tried very hard to have it all still move forward, and it would be disappointing – but perhaps it is pronoia and the universe has something yet to give in relation to either yours or one of the others circumstances. Good luck!!