FAQ
Counselling offers the opportunity for you to talk about the issues that led to you to reach out for support. Our relationship begins with an enquiry for support and from there if you wish to book an appointment time, I will ask you to complete a simple form to enable me to understand a bit more about you.
Many people are nervous at the first session, it's normal to feel this way. You are trying to figure out if you can trust me to support you with the challenges you are experiencing. At the beginning of the first session, I will explain to you about my counselling style and we will complete a client consent form together that indicates you understand the work we are doing together.
I aim to provide a safe and non-judgemental space for you to “tell your story” in whatever way makes sense to you. My hope is to get to know you as a person and to discover not only your challenges but also your strengths. Along the way I may ask questions to clarify what you hope to achieve from counselling and if you are unsure what you are aiming for, no problem, we will figure it out together.
During the session I encourage you to let me know if there is anything I say or do that makes you feel unsupported. Questions are encouraged at any time during counselling. At the end of our first session, I will ask how the session was for you and if there was anything that you felt needed to be different. From there we will plan for future support depending on your needs.
Unfortunately my fees are not eligible for a Medicare rebate. In the Medicare rebate scheme, after gaining a GP referral to a psychologist for your diagnosed mental illness, you can gain 6 sessions for specific psychological therapies (such as CBT) with a psychologist and those sessions may entitle you to a rebate. Additional sessions may be accessed after revisiting your doctor but after those are completed, you may be charged higher psychologist fees to continue counselling with that provider. Ensure you are aware of any gap fee (the fee between what the psychologist charges and what the Medicare rebate is) that you may be charged by a psychologist as occasionally the gap fee equates to a similar cost to what you might pay for counselling without a Medicare rebate.
I hold Provider Numbers with the following private health insurers:
Medibank
Bupa
ahm
HCF
ARHG - which includes the following providers: Australian Defence Force Family Program, Doctor’s Health, HBF, ST Luke's Health, Police Health, GMHBA, Westfund, Emergency Services Health, Phoenix Health, see-u by HBF, AIA Health, Mildura Health, Teachers Union Health, Teachers Health, Nurses and Midwives Health and UniHealth.
Please check with your provider to ensure that your policy covers “counselling sessions”, not just sessions with a psychologist, and the format of the service in person and/or telehealth that is approved. If your private health provider is not on this list, it is still worth contacting them to see if your level of cover provides a rebate on counselling as many do without requiring a specific provider number.
Yes. If you have NDIS funding approved and are self-managed, you may be able to access counselling via your plan’s funding. In order to access funded counselling, support your NDIS plan would need to have the following line item approved:
Therapeutic Supports 15 Improved daily living skills 15_043_0128_1_3 Individual Counselling Facilitating self-knowledge, emotional acceptance and growth and the optimal development of personal resources on a one-to-one basis. Assist participants to work towards their personal goals and gain greater insight into their lives.
We would set up a service agreement that would detail the amount of money/number of sessions you want to spend on counselling. Progress reports can also be written for an
hourly fee. If sessions are required in person and home visits are required, then a fee for travel can be negotiated. Please call and we can sort through the paperwork!
Everyone is different and so are their issues. Most often people require at least 3 – 6 sessions however sometimes individuals or families find one session is enough to help them with the challenges that they are experiencing. Counselling may occur over several months if problems are related to longstanding trauma. We will work together to determine the best level of support for you. I will be clear and honest about what support I think is needed to enable you to reach your goals. Ultimately it is your choice how we structure counselling to help you reach a level of comfort you are happy with.
Yes. You may not be able to see me in person due to where you live or you may be time poor. You may be in a caring role, be medically unwell or have a disability and find it difficult to leave the house. Maybe you are fearful due to your mental or physical health condition and receiving support in your own environment is safest as most convenient for you.
In these circumstances online video or phone sessions are wonderful alternatives. So many first-time online clients are surprised and comment on how convenient and supportive counselling felt via video. So face to face, online video and phone counselling are all possible and a mix is offered depending on your ever changing life situation.
Please be aware that I do not offer a crisis service and that if you need urgent support please refer to my resources page where I have listed Crisis/Emergency supports that are available.
These include the following:
Lifeline 13 11 14 24 hour support Suicide Line – Counselling 1300 651 251 24 hour support Crisis Assessment Team (CATT) 1300 369 012 Grief Line (12 midday – 3.00am) 1300 845 745 Kids Help Line 1800 551 800 Men’s Help Line 1300 789 978 1800 Respect (Domestic Violence Helpline) 1800 737 732
I am available to support you as my work schedule permits on my next work day – so for any non-urgent issues please feel free to call, e-mail or text me a message and we will plan to talk as soon as practical.
This is a really important question. Counselling needs to professionally and ethically meet your needs. I regularly check on your wellbeing and will directly ask you what you liked, and also, what you didn’t like about your session. I welcome any negative feedback, because it allows me to provide the best counselling I can, to suit your needs. Giving negative feedback face to face can be challenging so please feel free to e-mail or text me if that is easier for you.
Your rights are protected and you can contact the Health Complaints Commissioner via email http://www.vic.gov.au or via phone 1300582113, if you want to lodge a complaint.
You can also contact Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia at https://pacfa.org.au/ or 03 9046 2270 to discuss your issue/s.
Of course I’m really hoping you will feel comfortable and safe enough to talk to me to ensure you get your needs met. I encourage questions and feedback at all points during our work together.