Therapy with Me
What you can expect
I provide a safe, empathic, private and confidential space to overcome your symptoms of anxiety, depression or trauma. You can talk about things that are currently happening, decisions you need to make, and any problems that are troubling you – whether recent or longstanding.
Together, through therapy, we will work at a pace that feels right for you. My goal is to help you feel better and free yourself from the grip of anxiety, depression and emotional pain. I will help you build new skills and capacities – creating a stronger ‘you’ in the ways you want. Many people think of this as developing a stronger ‘sense of self’. Clients finishing therapy have told me things like they: feel freedom, have a sense of being whole, are relieved to not be still struggling, feel much stronger, have a much greater sense of who they are and that they are more present in their life.
But will seeing a counsellor/psychotherapist really help me?
Many people feel an expectation that they should be able to handle things themselves or that others don’t struggle with things the way they do. So it can be a big step to seek outside help.
You may also wonder whether ‘talking’ is really going to do any good. Let me assure you that there is now ample evidence to show working with a skilled therapist in a trusting relationship can help bring about deep, lasting results. Therapy has turned many people’s lives around.
Far from being a sign of weakness, seeing a therapist involves courage to look at sometimes painful issues in order to overcome them. Choosing to see a therapist / counsellor can help you sort out what’s troubling you or holding you back. Therapy can help you develop new capacities and become stronger in yourself.
My Therapy Approach
My primary therapy approach is drawn from the “Conversational Model” – an approach integrating modern understanding of psychodynamics, and neuroscience. Research has shown this model to be effective with people with depression as well as other psychological and emotional problems – including those previously thought to be too difficult to improve. It has both professional and academic credibility both in Australia and the UK. The Conversational Model incorporates contemporary understanding of human psychological growth and healing. I work from a synthesis of ‘best practice’ counselling and psychotherapeutic principles and knowledge. As well as symptom-relief strategies, this includes areas such as attachment, trauma, relationship dynamics, intersubjectivity, verbal and non-verbal interaction processes, and cognitive and affective experience, as well as the latest research into brain functioning and development. This guides the kind of talking, listening and relating that can best help clients feel safe to talk, to eliminate or minimise their symptoms, and feel a stronger sense of self.
I have also completed part 1 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy training, and can incorporate somatic processes (working with your bodily sensations and feelings) where this can assist your therapy. It can be a valuable approach to complement a focus on your more cognitive and emotional experiences. I also draw on other forms of therapy as is best suited to your particular difficulties and what works for you. This primarily includes addressing beliefs and thoughts, strategies to assist behaviour change, grounding and relaxation strategies, and developing strengths you already have.
I am committed to working ethically which includes abiding by my professional bodies’ codes of ethics as well as maintaining supervision and my own professional and personal development.
Frequency and Length of Counselling Sessions
Your counselling or psychotherapy sessions with me are for 50 minutes and are normally held weekly, but can be held more frequently if required. The length of therapy varies for each person. It can be short or longer term – for several months or over a year or more. It depends on the issues you wish to address and the depth to which you wish to go in resolving them. You may be exploring counselling for the first time or be actively looking to engage in a longer-term psychotherapy. Whilst it is not possible to give specific time-frames for how long therapy might take, the duration of therapy is something we can discuss together and reevaluate as needed.
Getting Started with Therapy
I suggest we meet for between 1 and 3 therapy sessions initially to give us an opportunity to explore what you are needing and how we can best work together. We can then decide ‘where to from here’ depending on your goals and needs.
How much does it cost?
I can provide details of fees on request. Medicare Rebates (currently $74.80 per session) are available where you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a Referral from your GP. I maintain a few places for clients requiring therapy at lower cost (such as people on low incomes, students, and pension recipients). If you require this, please make contact to advise me of your situation and enquire about current availability and fees.
I can accept payment by cash, credit card (Mastercard or Visa) or EFTPOS. For sessions for which you are claiming a Medicare rebate, I can implement immediate rebate payment into your Savings or Cheque account if you provide your Medicare card.
What if I need to change or cancel my appointment?
Please note that booking an appointment involves reservation of time specifically for you. Sessions cancelled or missed with less than 24 hours notice will normally be charged for unless we have agreed a prior alternative arrangement. Cancellation would generally be expected to be infrequent, as engaging in a therapy process effectively involves commitment by both of us to keeping to regular sessions. I am very happy, however, to negotiate arrangements which suit your circumstances and meet therapeutic needs.
If you need to cancel or change your appointment at short notice I will try to arrange an alternative one within the same week if you wish.
If you want to alleviate your symptoms and emotional pain consider psychotherapy or counselling with me.
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What you can do now is:
Email me directly with questions or for an appointment
or
Phone me for a counselling appointment, or to discuss your needs.
Medicare Rebates available
