A large portion of the first therapy session is usually spent discussing the issues that have brought you into therapy. As well as developing a thorough understanding of your concerns, together we will explore relevant background history, for example, information about your family, social relationships, work history and any past counselling that you have done. Based on this information we will begin to help you to understand more about what might be triggering and maintaining your current issues.

Yes. Everything you share in therapy is private and protected by law. The only exceptions occur when there is a concern about the safety of yourself or others, or if required by legal mandate. Your therapist will explain confidentiality (and its exceptions) with you at your first appointment.

Session length is typically 50 minutes. The overall duration of therapy varies depending on your goals—some clients benefit from short-term support, while others prefer longer-term work. Sessions will generally be scheduled weekly to fortnightly initially, with ongoing frequency being determined by your needs and availability.

Some people come to therapy to develop coping strategies to reduce or manage symptoms of mental illness. This type of work can be short to medium term, but might also involve checking in less frequently over the longer-term to deal with setbacks or prevent relapse.

Other people come to therapy to understand long-standing patterns (such as relationship issues) that stem from experiences during their childhood, or to receive ongoing support. This type of work tends to happen over an extended period of time, although again, this is dependent on client preferences.

Sometimes people come to therapy for just a handful of sessions to speak about a specific issue in their life or to talk through a particular concern.

Yes. I provide secure online therapy sessions through a HIPAA-compliant video platform (Coviu) or simply over the phone, allowing you to access support from the comfort of your home.

Medicare
If you have a referral from a GP or psychiatrist (with a Mental Health Care Plan) you will be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate for each session, up to 10 sessions per calendar year.

Private Health Insurance
If you have private health insurance that includes psychological counselling as extras cover you may be eligible for a partial rebate. It is recommended that you contact your individual insurance provider for further information about your individual coverage.

Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice will be subject to the full session fee.

Cancellations made within 48 hours will also incur an administration fee.