Q & A

Everything you say in counselling is confidential. I am required by law to treat your confidentiality with the utmost importance and respect.

Your confidentiality can be legally broken when you or somebody else is likely to be facing serious safety issues that cannot be reduced or resolved in the session.

Another time when confidentiality can be broken is during professional supervision. Professional supervision is something that all therapists and counsellors should undertake as best practice. It is also a strict requirement of professional registration designed to keep a therapists conduct accountable. I discuss my work with my supervisor who is also required by law to keep what I talk about confidential. To respect your privacy, even though I trust my supervisor totally, I never use surnames and generally do not provide names when discussing my work.

If you have questions about confidentiality or its limits, I am happy to answer them.

Counselling sessions are normally scheduled on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis depending upon the nature of the problem.

A referral is not required. Simply book your appointment using any of the methods available as mentioned on this website.

After hours fees (5.00pm onwards) and Saturday (8.30am – 4.00pm):
– $220 Initial 90 minute consultation
– $220 extended 90 minute consultation
– $155 per regular 60 minute consultation
– $130 concession 60 minute consultation

Office hours fees (8.00am to 3.30pm):
– $195 Initial 90 minute consultation
– $195 extended 90 minute consultation
– $130 regular 60 minute consultation
– $110 concession 60 minute consultation

$220 Standard Report
Payment options are eftpos, cash, direct bank deposit or internet transfer

Medicare rebates are not available. You will need to speak with your particular private health insurer regarding eligibility to ancillary cover and how to claim back benefits.

This really varies depending on what’s going on for you. But you can expect to feel a bit better about the problem each week. Some people come for single session therapy and others come for 18 months or more. Lots of people have about 8 sessions before they end counselling.

Once you feel that the issues that brought you in for counselling are no longer of major concern, we will talk about how and when to end counselling.  I will always be guided by what you think is best for you and will raise a discussion about anything that may need to be considered. We will explore strategies you can use to ensure if the problem re-emerges in the future you have a plan and strategies to manage it.

No.  Counselling involves the concerns and problems of all types of people who are dealing with the stresses of life and relationships.  The fact that you are looking for a way to overcome your problems shows a willingness to thrive .

Counselling is an interaction between a person who is “stuck” in some way and in need of help, and another person who is trained in helping people get “unstuck.”   Reasons for coming to counselling are extremely varied, and the counselling strategies I use vary depending on your unique circumstances and the problem you are dealing with. The one constant is that my focuses is always on using strategies that will be most meaningful for you.

The first session is all about finding out what you would like out of the therapy. I will ask you why you came to counselling and what you are hoping to get out of the counselling. Not everyone has clear answers for these questions and that is okay. I can help you explore this.  You will also be most welcome to ask questions of me.

The fact that a counsellor is not a friend or a family member actually makes it easier to help you.  Unlike friends or family members whose advice is often colored by biases and preconceptions, my training and continued professional development includes a focus on being non-judgmental and objective.  My job is to be working to understand you, your situation, and your goals.

Maybe, especially in the beginning.  You may feel anxious or shy, perhaps even a bit self-conscious or weak. You only need to talk about as much as you are comfortable with. As trust begins to develop, you’ll probably find that you can be more relaxed and open.

It’s okay to feel and express intense emotions in counselling; in fact, doing so is often one of the most helpful parts of the process.  Counselling is a safe place to talk about how you are feeling. And paying close attention to these feelings can also teach you a lot about yourself.

The benefits of counselling can be invaluable—to be truly understood, to experience trust and openness with someone, and to learn how to manage difficult issues in life.  Seeing a counsellor won’t make all of your problems magically disappear.  But, if you have the desire to understand yourself and to change, then you’ve taken a powerful step towards that goal.

The initial consultation will go for 90 minutes. I will want to hear from each of you, your own perspective of why you have come to counselling and what you hope to get out of it.  The first session will be used for me to get an understanding of what is going on for each of you and for us to develop a shared goal of what needs to be happening to reach your goals. You will also be encouraged to ask any questions you have of me.

It is ideal when both people attend the first session together but I understand that this is not always possible.  Quite frequently one person is unwilling to come to counselling; they believe there is nothing wrong or that the couple should be able to work it out on their own.  Sometimes a person feels unable to talk about the particular issue to their partner and wants to sound out an independent third party.  Under any of these circumstances I am happy to see one party to the relationship on their own and help them work out what they need to do.

Yes. After-hours and Saturday mornings appointments are available.

We will need to discuss what is going on in your relationship without your child/ren being involved so it will depend on the age of your child and the emotional loading of the issue. It is best to attend your first session without any children present if it is possible, however I recognise there are times when some people do not have access to suitable childcare and we can discuss this on an individual basis to work out a way forward.

One of the common services I provide to couples with young children is evening appointments in your home. If you have any questions about this please ask me and we can discuss it further.

Gay and lesbian couples are most welcome. I have had plenty of experience working with same sex couples

All types of people who want to make change come to counselling. Some families all live in one house, others have members living in different homes or even cities. I see multigenerational families, blended families, separated families and extended families as well as long term friends who consider themselves as family.

The initial consultation will go for 90 minutes. I will want to hear each member of the family’s  own perspective of why they have come to counselling and what each person hopes to get out of it.  The first session will be used for me to get an understanding of what is going on for each of you and for us to all develop a shared goal of what needs to be happening to satisfy your goals. You will also be encouraged to ask any questions you have of me.

Counselling is about understanding what’s going on for each person and exploring new ways of doing things. Nobody wants to be blamed and I do not join in on any blaming. My focus is on what’s helpful and what is not helpful.