CounterPunch · FAQ
Questions, Answered Honestly.
No vague language. No marketing fluff. If something isn't right for your family or your situation, we'll say so.
Yes, safety is built into the program design, not bolted on. CounterPunch is not a contact sport. The boxing element is used as a physical and psychological tool, pads, bags, and structured drills, not competitive fighting.
Every session is run by a trained facilitator who maintains a structured, respectful environment. Participants are never pressured beyond their comfort level, and the program specifically avoids the kind of confrontational dynamics that cause harm in other settings.
CounterPunch has been delivered with hundreds of young people, including those with anxiety, trauma histories, and behavioural challenges. It has been the subject of a 2-year government study. No serious incidents have been recorded.
Talk to us about your teenager →Initial resistance is completely normal, and expected. Most of the teenagers who have had the biggest outcomes in CounterPunch came in with crossed arms and no intention of participating. That's exactly who the program is designed for.
The environment does the work that conversation can't. Young people don't have to want to be there on day one. They just have to show up. The structure, the physical engagement, and the facilitator relationship typically shift resistance within the first session or two.
We never force participation. If a young person is genuinely unable to engage after a fair attempt, we'll have an honest conversation with you about what might be a better fit. We'd rather tell you that upfront than take your money and your hope.
Book a free call to discuss →The program is designed for adolescents, broadly 9 to 16. The sweet spot is typically 12 to 15, old enough to engage with the psychological framework, young enough that the intervention can genuinely reshape trajectory.
Younger adolescents (9 to 11) can participate depending on maturity and specific circumstances. This is something we discuss in the initial call.
The program caters for both male and female participants, run as gender-specific groups rather than mixed. Gender-specific groups work better for this age range and are a deliberate part of how the program is structured.
It is designed to work across a wide range of backgrounds, social situations, and challenge types. You don't need a diagnosis. You don't need a referral. You just need a young person who is struggling and a parent willing to give something different a shot.
Fundamentally different, in method, in environment, and in who it reaches. Therapy and counselling are conversation-based. CounterPunch is environment-based.
That distinction matters. Therapy requires a young person to be ready to talk, to reflect, and to be vulnerable in a clinical or semi-clinical setting. Many teenagers, especially those who are disengaged, angry, or shut down, will never get there. CounterPunch creates change through physical challenge, structure, and mentorship rather than conversation.
- Therapy works best when the young person is ready to engage verbally
- CounterPunch works best when they're not, and reaches them first
- The two aren't mutually exclusive, many families use both
- CounterPunch is not a clinical service and does not replace professional mental health care where that's needed
If your teenager is already in therapy and it's working, CounterPunch can complement that. If therapy hasn't worked, this is often the thing that finally does.
Each session follows a structured sequence, it's not a free-for-all and it's not just boxing. A typical session includes a warm-up, a physical training component (bag work, pad work, drills), group challenge activities, and a brief debrief.
The debrief is where the psychological work happens, but it emerges naturally from what just happened in the session, rather than being imposed as a separate "talk time." Young people process what they experienced because they want to, not because they're asked to sit in a circle and share feelings.
Sessions run approximately 60 minutes. The program runs over 20 to 24 weeks, once per week, or it can be run twice per week over 12 weeks depending on the cohort and context.
See if this is right for your teen →Parents almost always notice it before the teenager mentions it. The most common early signs aren't dramatic. It's a slightly less defensive tone at dinner, making eye contact more, talking about the session unprompted.
The program uses structured outcome measurement so changes aren't just anecdotal. You'll be invited to provide feedback at key points during the program, and the facilitator will maintain regular communication with you throughout.
By the end of one rollout (20 to 24 sessions), the change is typically visible to teachers, family members, and the young person themselves. Confidence, emotional regulation, and connection are the most commonly reported shifts.
A 2-year government research study of CounterPunch conducted in 2012/13 measured these outcomes formally. Its recommendations helped shape the future development of CounterPunch into the program it is today.
No boxing experience is required. Relevant backgrounds are helpful, not mandatory. CounterPunch facilitators come from a wide range of backgrounds, youth work, teaching, coaching, allied health, community service, and fitness.
What we're looking for isn't a credential. It's a combination of character, commitment, and the right kind of drive. The training system teaches you how to deliver the program. It can't teach you to care about young people. You either do or you don't.
- Boxing technique is taught as part of facilitator training
- The psychological framework is trained, you don't need a psychology degree
- Working with challenging young people is something we assess for, not assume
If you're unsure whether your background is relevant, apply and tell us about it. We'd rather have that conversation than have the right person not apply.
Apply to see if you're a fit →Training is structured in phases. You won't be thrown in cold, and you won't be waiting indefinitely. The facilitator training covers the full program delivery system and is completed before you run your first independent session.
The timeline depends on your starting point, schedule, and how quickly you progress through each phase. Most facilitators complete initial training and run their first supported session within the first few months.
You won't be running sessions alone from day one. The model involves supported delivery. You work alongside an experienced facilitator before running independently. Cluster supervision continues after you're operating independently.
This is not a weekend course. The depth of training reflects the responsibility involved. If you're looking for a quick certification, this isn't it. If you want to actually be good at this, the training is what makes that possible.
You're placed inside a facilitator cluster, a small group of CounterPunch operators who meet regularly and support each other's work. This is the part of the model most facilitators say matters most.
The cluster isn't a Slack channel or a quarterly check-in. It's a structured peer network with regular sessions, shared problem-solving, and senior facilitator supervision built in.
- Regular cluster sessions with other facilitators in your region
- Direct access to senior CounterPunch facilitators for complex situations
- Ongoing access to the CounterPunch team, not a ticket system
- Updates and iterations to the program as the model develops
The support isn't optional. It's a condition of operating as a CounterPunch facilitator. This protects the standard of every program and ensures no facilitator is ever working through hard situations alone.
Read more about the model →You deliver a proven session structure. You don't design it from scratch. The program guide gives you every session in sequence, including the physical component, the psychological touchpoints, and how to handle common dynamics.
This is the key distinction between CounterPunch and "just running boxing with teenagers." The program has a deliberate internal logic. Each session builds on the last, the physical and psychological elements are connected, and the facilitator role is clearly defined.
- A full session-by-session program guide covering the complete 8-week structure
- Drill library and physical curriculum, no improvisation required
- Behaviour and engagement protocols for common challenges
- Intake, consent, and measurement documentation
- Parent communication templates
You're not expected to invent anything. You're trained to deliver something that already works, and supported to keep delivering it well.
Many facilitators do, but it depends on your situation and we'll be honest about whether it's realistic for you. CounterPunch is designed to be deliverable by people who have other professional commitments, not just full-time youth workers.
Sessions are typically run in the afternoons or evenings to accommodate school schedules. The cluster commitment adds a regular group session on top of your delivery. Training has a time requirement upfront.
What we're looking for isn't someone who has endless spare time. It's someone who will prioritise this properly. Running the program badly because you're stretched too thin is worse than not running it at all. We'd rather you tell us your constraints than discover them mid-program.
Apply and tell us about your situation →It's an application, not an open enrolment. Every facilitator is reviewed individually before being accepted. This isn't gatekeeping for its own sake. It's how we maintain the quality of every CounterPunch program that runs anywhere in the world.
When you submit an application, we read it. We respond personally. If there's a fit, we'll set up a conversation. If there isn't, for you or for us, we'll be direct about that rather than stringing you along.
Not every applicant is accepted into the current cohort. Cohorts are kept small deliberately. If you're not accepted now, we'll tell you why and whether it makes sense to apply in a future intake.
Submit your application →Still unsure?
The Fastest Way To Get Answers Is A Conversation.
Every family is different. Every situation is different. If your question isn't answered here, talk to us, we won't push you toward anything that isn't right.
or
Real change for young people doesn't
come from talking.
It comes from environment.
CONTACT
Mt Barker, South Australia
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