General FAQs

Counselling for individuals and couples, plus specialist work in trauma recovery, relationships, anger management, anxiety, depression, grief and stress. Sessions are available online by secure video anywhere in Australia and New Zealand, by telephone, or in person in Melbourne by arrangement.

No. I am a counsellor and psychotherapist, not a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. I do not provide diagnoses, clinical assessments, medication or insurance and claims reports. Where any of those are needed, I will say so and point you to the right professional.

No. You can book directly. A GP referral or mental health plan is not required to see a counsellor, which means there is no waiting for paperwork before you start.

Yes. What you say in session stays in session. The narrow exceptions are a subpoena from a court, a serious and immediate risk to someone’s safety, or your own written permission to share information.

No. The Government Mental Health Care Plan is not available for counsellors, and private health funds do not cover these sessions. Clients work with me privately for the flexibility, the privacy and the depth of the work rather than the rebate.

All sessions run 50 minutes. We map a counselling plan in the first session so the work is not open-ended, and you are always welcome to come back later for one-off sessions as life requires.

48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule. Less notice than that may incur a 50% fee; cancellations on the day and missed appointments incur the full session fee. The full policy is on the cancellation policy page.

For most concerns, research says yes. You get the same professional support with the added benefit of accessing it from a space where you already feel comfortable, without travel.

Yes, from age 16, with the consent of a parent or guardian for anyone under 18. Younger children are better served by a specialist child and adolescent service.

Many clients do, from a parked car, an empty meeting room or a quiet office. The only real requirement is privacy — being overheard changes what you allow yourself to say.

Tuesday until 6.30pm are available on weekdays. This is not a crisis or after-hours service: outside appointment times, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency.

A short letter confirming you are engaged in counselling can be provided with your written consent. Medical certificates, insurance reports, NDIS documentation and medico-legal or court assessments are outside a counsellor’s scope — those come from a GP, psychologist or psychiatrist.

A calm conversation about what brought you here, what you have already tried, and what you want to be different. You will have room to ask questions, and we finish with two or three clear goals and a plan for how to approach them.