- The Story​

23 years ago a small seed was planted in the mind. It began as a dream for Director Louise Johnson to create something unique and different in the approach of helping people seeking support. Not only concentrating on the therapy itself, but incorporating the whole experience of going to a psychology practice. She wanted to create a place where people would feel calm and at peace when entering the premise. A place that, when you enter through the door, the body relaxes and the mind tells you that you have come to the right place. Throughout Louise’s career, she was shocked with the environments which help and support operated from. The settings were clinical and sterile which was traumatic and scary for children. Adults found the experience as overwhelming, cold or de-personalised. ​

Louise wanted to create a practice and environment that honoured the vulnerability and sensitivity that is needed to those brave enough to face their problems and seek help.

In 2006, Louise moved to 351 Nepean Highway and 4thought came into itself. Work started straight away on making the premise into a paradise and 4thought opened its new doors on the 14 of January 2007. Since then, the backyard has been transformed to create a haven for different people with different needs to relax and feel at ease. We have a veggie patch garden and fruit trees for people to facilitate therapy with children with food or eating aversions and phobias, or promote healthy eating and body image with children (putting a rainbow of colours in their bodies). Its amazing what children will eat when they grow, pick, or collect from our little farm.  ​

Our rabbit and guinea pig support children and adults with traumatic experiences develop trusting attachments. Our furry friends are living metaphors for trust, unconditional love and acceptance. Animal therapy has endless therapeutic opportunities to create live, non-threatening experiential learning. These small little creatures and their behaviours can teach us humans a lot.

The enclosed outdoor area has chairs and table to sit and interact with the animals amongst a little forest of corn, fruit trees and lush grass. We have created a decking, pond and running water for people who just want to sit and relax., after their session or while waiting for their children.

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​A basketball court provides many opportunities for teens to gain therapeutic insight without the intensity of one on one adult therapy in a room.  Our garden also has a small playground area for younger children and a cubby house. The Garden is used as a complimentary instrument in our therapeutic work.

4thought was created so that clients have a safe place where they can access the best possible personal care. We like to assess each client's needs and match them with the most appropriate practitioner, not only therapeutically but for rapport and style of therapy. We all know that the fundamental essence for therapy to work is that there must be trust between client and therapist. Rapport is also paramount; especially with small children, adolescence and clients that feel especially vulnerable. Louise Johnson has spent much time over the years finding the right practitioners with the same passion and values in the way they care for clients as she herself does.

4thought today, we believe, has become a practice second to none. 4thought offers excellence in its practitioners and its therapies. We also utilise nature and technology to enhance the outcome to reach a larger community of people. 4thought believes that a persons’ journey to increased well-being should start as soon as they enter through the gate.
 
We believe that the dream has become reality. When you enter through the door, your body relaxes and your mind tells you that...