FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

You may want help to get your relationship back on track or find support in working through the pain of a separation. You may have lost a loved one and need comfort in your grieving. Perhaps you have been diagnosed with a difficult illness and seek guidance on the road to healing. Or you have been struggling with anxiety and depression and want to re-discover joy and happiness in your life. These are just some of life’s challenges that take people into counselling.

No matter what you are faced with counselling and psychotherapy offer confidential, safe, friendly and expert support to help you come into balance and wellbeing, able to make good choices for your life and feel confident to move forward.

With the help of a good therapist you are able to identify issues that are problematic and get a clearer idea of the changes you want. This enables you to address any challenges directly and with lasting outcomes. With good professional help you are more likely to achieve desired long term changes through a clear and well-considered approach. Most importantly, you won’t have to go it alone- a counsellor or psychotherapist offers a warm, empathic and validating yet professional presence.

How long is each session? Sessions are normally 60 minutes in length. There are some exceptions when a longer session of 90 minutes may be negotiated. Skype or telephone sessions usually are 30-60 minutes depending on the circumstances.

In the first session counsellor and client decided together the frequency of the sessions. Initially it is most common to have one session per week. However, sessions can also be scheduled every fortnight or more if appropriate and/or necessary for financial, geographical or other reasons.

The length of the counselling relationship depends on a number of variables. These variables include: the type and severity of the problem, the motivation and resources of the client and the general life circumstances of the client. Some people need short term support to address specific issues, others require a longer term commitment.

Yes, phone and online (Zoom/Skype) consultations are part of my overall client work. People who life locally, around Australia or overseas utilize Telehealth. The fees are the same as for an in-person consultation.

No, you can make an appointment with me directly and have as many sessions as required. You have the freedom to choose you own therapeutic journey.

No, Medicare, at this point in time, does not cover counselling and psychotherapy.

Maybe, it depends on your provider and level of cover. If in doubt, check with your provider. Below is a list of private health insurance providers that cover counselling.

While some couples come to therapy to make better what is already good, most couples reach out at a time of life and/or relationship crisis. The initial consultation is an individual session with each partner. From then on, we only meet together as a unit. Generally speaking, the initial phase is about unpacking and understanding history and context, interaction cycles and the places in your relationship that are causing pain and disconnect. Over time, as the therapy deepens, the work we do becomes transformational as perspectives shift, understanding of each other grows and relational wounds are healed. The last phase is a consolidation of what you have both learned and a plan for moving forward.

Throughout, the focus is on couple resilience, skillful communication especially in conflict situations and rekindling and vitalizing love and connection.

Some couples already know that want to separate and seek support in doing this as respectful and kind as possible.

Yes, from time to time I work with family issues most commonly with mother-adult daughter relationships. Friends who are experiencing a rough patch in their relationship also reach out for mediation and support and sometimes it is work colleagues who seek professional help to navigate their relationship.

The poet Rumi’s quote: “Out beyond the ideas of right-doing and wrongdoing, there is a field I will meet you there. It’s the world full of things to talk about’ captures my sentiment for clinical supervision. I offer decades worth of skill and knowledge as well as

a safe and kind space for exploration; I have many hundreds of hours supervision experience in supervising emerging and experienced therapists, individually and in group settings. My supervisees tend to stay with me for many years. We collaboratively discuss your clinical work, your career path and anything that arises out of your work and, we keep your wellbeing firmly front and centre. I am your wing woman on this delightful, challenging and enriching path that is therapy.

All of the above questions are discussed in the first sessions and then re-visited from time to time. Both counsellor and client are active participants in the decision making process.

You may have questions about counselling and psychotherapy, about how I work, whether I have experience working with the particular issue you are facing, fee structure and more. Get in touch to have an initial free 10-minute conversation and to make an appointment.

Confidentiality

All personal details and information discussed inside and outside sessions are kept strictly confidential though there are a few exceptions set down by the law. Further aspects of this will be discussed in the first session.

Medicare rebates are not available for my services. A proportion of your fees may be redeemable from your private health insurance, depending on your health plan. Please contact your private health fund for more information.

I am accredited with the following health funds:

'The mouth tastes food, the heart tastes words.' - Hmong Proverb