Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy

No. You do not need a referral, Mental Health Care Plan or other medical referral to make an appointment.

You can call or book online directly to arrange therapy. I am also happy to work with your GP or other health professionals where this is helpful and, with your consent, can incorporate information from a Mental Health Care Plan or referral into your therapy.

I am not a Medicare provider, so sessions are not eligible for a Medicare rebate, including where a Mental Health Care Plan is in place.

You don’t need to know exactly what you need from therapy before your first appointment.

The first session is an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to therapy, understand what is happening for you and explore what you would like to change.

Together, we can identify and agree on the goals that will guide the therapy and consider what approach is likely to be most helpful.

Your goals can also change as therapy progresses.

Session length depends on the type of therapy and what is most appropriate for your needs.

Individual therapy
Sessions are 50 minutes, with 80-minute sessions available where additional time would be helpful.

Couples therapy
The first session is 80 minutes. Following sessions are generally 50 minutes, unless additional time is requested or arranged.

Family therapy
The first session is 80 minutes. The length of following sessions will depend on the needs of the family and the number of people involved, and can be discussed as therapy progresses.

NDIS therapy
NDIS sessions are 60 minutes.

Session length can be discussed when booking and adjusted where appropriate as therapy progresses.

There is no set number of sessions or required frequency. The appropriate frequency will depend on your needs, the goals of therapy and the type of work being undertaken.

Individual therapy may be weekly, fortnightly or less frequently, depending on your needs, goals and circumstances. Frequency can change as your needs change and progress is made.

For couples therapy, sessions during the initial assessment stage are generally scheduled regularly to allow sufficient continuity to understand the relationship, identify patterns and establish goals for therapy. Following the assessment stage, sessions may be weekly, fortnightly or spaced further apart depending on your goals, progress and circumstances.

For family therapy, session frequency will depend on the needs of the family and the work being undertaken.

Session frequency will be discussed and reviewed together as therapy progresses.

Yes. Telehealth appointments are available for individual, couples and family therapy where appropriate.

Telehealth can be a convenient option if you are unable to attend in person, live outside the Geelong area or prefer to have your sessions online.

Telehealth sessions are conducted using a secure online platform. You will need a suitable device, a reliable internet connection and a private space where you can participate comfortably.

The suitability of Telehealth will be discussed as part of your initial appointment and may depend on your individual circumstances and the type of therapy required.

Information you share during therapy is treated as confidential. Information will generally not be disclosed without your consent, except where disclosure is required by law or where not disclosing information would place you or another person at risk.

Information may also be discussed as part of clinical supervision. With your consent, information may be shared with another health professional or relevant person involved in your care.

In couples therapy, the relationship is the client. Partners are encouraged to bring relevant information, concerns and experiences into the therapy and to be open with one another about what they are discussing with me. This supports transparency and allows the therapy to focus on the needs of the relationship.

If safety concerns are identified that make couples therapy unsafe or counterproductive, safety will be prioritised over disclosure to the other partner. This is considered on an individual basis, and conflict or safety concerns do not automatically mean couples therapy is unsuitable.

Where couples therapy is considered not appropriate, individual therapy and other appropriate supports will be recommended.

Yes, you can raise something privately with me. However, I cannot promise that information shared privately will remain confidential from other people participating in the therapy.

In couples therapy, partners are encouraged to be open with one another about information relevant to the relationship and the therapy. In family therapy, how privately shared information is managed will depend on the circumstances and the purpose of the therapy.

If you share information privately that is relevant to the therapy, I will work with you to consider how and when it should be brought into the therapy. I will not agree to keep information secret where doing so would interfere with the therapeutic work or raise safety concerns.

It is not unusual for partners to have different levels of readiness for therapy.

If both partners are willing to participate, couples therapy can provide an opportunity to work together on the relationship.

If your partner is not ready to attend, you can still come to the first appointment on your own. This provides an opportunity to talk about what is happening in your relationship and explore what may be helpful.

The first appointment can help clarify next steps, with or without your partner’s future participation.

Couples therapy can be helpful when partners are experiencing conflict, communication difficulties, disconnection or recurring patterns that are affecting their relationship.

The initial sessions provide an opportunity to understand the relationship, identify patterns and consider what each person wants to work towards.

If concerns about safety arise, these will be considered carefully when determining whether couples therapy is appropriate and how therapy should proceed.

Premarital counselling can be tailored to suit each couple and may focus on areas such as communication, conflict, expectations, finances, intimacy, family life and future goals.

Sessions can be arranged as a series of appointments over several weeks, or as a more intensive personalised package with sessions grouped together over a shorter period.

If more than one couple is preparing for marriage, such as friends planning their weddings together, I can also offer a personalised group program. Each couple can complete an individualised relationship assessment and receive feedback, followed by group sessions covering essential relationship maintenance skills to help couples build and maintain healthy relationships.

Not necessarily. Who attends a family therapy session will depend on the goals of therapy, the needs of the family and the issues being addressed.

At different stages, sessions may involve the whole family, particular family members, parents or caregivers, or individual family members.

The appropriate combination of attendees can be discussed and reviewed as therapy progresses.

Yes. I work with families experiencing separation, changes in parenting arrangements, blended family relationships and other significant changes in family life.

Therapy can focus on improving communication, understanding family relationships and supporting children and young people through changes in their family circumstances.

Where parents are separated, the focus of therapy will depend on the needs of the family and the goals of the therapeutic work. Therapy is not a substitute for legal advice or decisions about parenting arrangements.

I work with families where a child or young person’s needs are part of the concerns being addressed. 

My preference is generally to work with parents or caregivers to understand and respond to the young person’s needs, rather than providing individual therapy directly to the child or young person.

Depending on the circumstances, a child or young person may participate in family sessions where this is appropriate and helpful to the therapeutic goals.

Where individual therapy for a child or young person is more appropriate, I can discuss suitable referral options.

I take an individualised approach that recognises and respects the diversity of how people think, communicate, relate and experience the world.

Therapy is not about changing who you are. It is about understanding yourself and your relationships, recognising your strengths and uniqueness, and finding ways to navigate challenges that may be getting in the way of living the life you want.

Therapy may also include developing individual strategies to support emotional regulation, communication, relationships, managing stress and navigating everyday challenges.

Where appropriate, therapy can also help partners and family members better understand and support different ways of thinking, communicating and experiencing the world.

Fees depend on the length of the session and whether it is held during office hours or outside those hours.

Office hours

50-minute session: $203

80-minute session: $304.50

Concession rate: $180 for 50 minutes or $263 for 80 minutes, where applicable.

After hours

Appointments starting before 9:00am or after 5:00pm.

50-minute session: $263

80-minute session: $394.50

NDIS

NDIS sessions are 60 minutes and are charged at the current NDIS price limit for the applicable support item.

Medicare and Private Health Insurance

Medicare rebates are not available for my services.

Private health insurance policies vary.

I do not have a private health insurance provider number.

Please contact your health insurer directly to determine whether your policy provides a rebate for services provided by a Clinical Family Therapist.

Yes. Concession rates may be available for people who hold a concession card or are experiencing financial hardship.

Concession rates are currently available for appointments during office hours.

If you would like to discuss whether a concession rate may be available to you, please contact me when booking or raise this during your first appointment.

With your consent, I can communicate with relevant health professionals, schools, support services or other people involved in your care where this is appropriate and helpful to the therapeutic work.

Written reports, professional correspondence, telephone discussions, case consultation and liaison with other involved parties may incur a fee.

Brief communication of up to 10 minutes is provided without additional charge.

Communication exceeding 10 minutes is charged at the applicable session rate, depending on the time required and complexity of the matter.

If you require a report or communication with another professional, this can be discussed with me so that the purpose, information required and applicable fees can be clarified.

At least 24 hours’ notice is required to cancel or change an appointment.

A $90 cancellation fee applies if you do not attend a booked appointment or cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice.

This fee may be waived in exceptional circumstances.