For Clients

You.

If you’ve landed here, I’m assuming it’s because you’re thinking about therapy. The purpose of sharing the information on this page, is so you can see if I’m likely to be a good fit for you. I’m not for everyone and that’s okay.

I’ve had a pretty long career (close to 30 years) and have worked in many different settings and supported clients with a wide range of challenges. The clients that seem to most enjoy working with me (and benefit, because that’s important too) tend to have a lot going on. And by that I mean, they’ve had some really tough experiences but somehow they keep on keeping on. Sure .. they don’t look chaotic from the outside. They are ‘functional’ after all and that’s a credit to them. But they are at the point where they are fed up with having to grit their teeth and keep going. They want ‘things’ to be different.

So for the people I work with ... what’s gone on for them?

Trauma.

They want the trauma they experienced as a kid or teen to stop impacting their lives, particularly their relationships. They want the trauma from the work they do (1st responders) to stop playing on their mind. They’re sick of being irritable and angry with their loved ones, hyper-vigilant and feeling dread as they head into their next shift. Or they want to be able to come to terms with the traumatic birth they experienced that has cast such a big shadow over their transition into motherhood.

I know all these sound like SUCH different people. And they are. Even those who’ve seemingly experienced the ‘same’ thing … well, they’re still unique. But the common threads are this. They are ready to heal the trauma they’ve experienced. They want to feel better. They want to like themselves. They want their relationships to be easier and more fulfilling. Heck, they want their lives to be more ‘something’.

AND

They’re ready to look at the easy stuff, the hard stuff and the stuff in between so they can make the changes needed. They just need someone to witness their lives, hear their stories, acknowledge their pain, help them make sense of it all, support them to learn new ways of ‘being’, cheer them on or, with compassion and strength, hold them to account when that’s needed.

If this lands with you, then feel free to book a time to see me. (Maybe also read the next bit first too though because it will give you more of an idea of how I work).

Me.

If you’ve had therapy before … welcome ‘back’ to the process (that applies even if your prior therapy wasn’t with me).

If you haven’t seen a psychologist before, I’m so glad you’re reaching out. I know it can feel a little daunting. I get it. The first time I saw a psychologist was nerve-wracking! But it was helpful. And it’s continued to be helpful at different points in my life when the rug has been pulled out from under me and I’ve needed a helping hand to find my feet again (which can happen to all of us).

I mention my own therapy so that you know I practice what I preach … well most of the time. I don’t journal (wish I did). I don’t meditate daily (wish I did). I don’t tend to do the homework that my own therapists have set me. Particularly if it involves writing anything down. (I probably should).

I do exercise quite a bit (I hear it’s good for your mental health ;-)) try to get a good night’s sleep, spend time with people who I love and intentionally seek ‘joy’ by doing things that make me happy. These are some of the ‘basics’ that help me ‘adult’ and stay on the right side of ‘okay’.

Now I’m going to cut to the chase because after 28 odd years of doing this gig, I know myself as a therapist pretty well. Here goes.

If you’re someone who only wants strategies, I’m not your person. Yep, strategies WILL be part of therapy. But most people I work with have SOME idea of what ‘good’ strategies are. They just don’t use them. Me included. Why?

Well, change is hard.

We all spend however many years old we are, creating and then reinforcing ‘ways of living’. The way we think about ourselves, others, heck even the world, along with how we feel, behave, relate to others, respond to certain situations and cope (or not cope), are like our own special blueprints. Some are useful. Some aren’t.

Even if you are seeking therapy because of something ‘current’ or ‘new’, I’m pretty sure that either the ‘problem’ itself OR the reason you’re stuck in trying to ‘solve’ or ‘get over’ the problem is related to your blueprints. Therapy helps you see them, understand the function they serve and begin to change them. That’s where the magic happens. But it takes time. This is the space where you and I will spend quite a lot if you see me.

If you’re up for that, click the link and book in with me.

FAQ’s

Fees

Each financial year The Australian Psychological Society provides an indication of what private psychology fees should be. These fees reflect an income commensurate with what most psychologists would earn in a government setting. They also must take into account the costs associated with maintaining our registration (we must continue to engage in supervision, professional development, be insured etc…), cover things like our Superannuation, personal leave and annual leave and the costs of operating a private practice. The APS recommended fee for the 2024-2025 financial year is $313. The fee I charge for sessions is $280. Fees must be paid on the day.

Rebates

You may be eligible for private health fund rebates depending on your policy. They differ so much that I can’t even begin to be more specific than that. Should you have a compliant a referral from your GP and a Mental Health Care Plan, you will be eligible for Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions in a calendar year. If you’ve received any for sessions with another psychologist within the same year, the amount remaining is what you can use for sessions with me. Any left over at the end of the calendar year DO roll over into the next year BUT are not added to the 10. i.e. if you have 2 left this year, you will not have 12 next year (2 plus the 10 for 2025). Rebates will be processed once you have attended your session. You are only eligible for rebates for sessions attended.

Compliant Referrals and Mental Health Care Plans

A referral that allows you to have your psychology sessions attract a Medicare rebate must meet the following criteria;

  1. Your full name

  2. Date of birth

  3. Address

  4. Date referral has been completed

  5. Symptoms OR diagnosis

  6. Stating that the referral is under a mental health care plan or an eating disorder plan

  7. The GP's name, provider number and signature

  8. GP's provider number

  9. A request to treat the client and with the number of sessions the referral is for clearly stated (6 for the first referral)

Most GP’s provide this information across a Referral Letter AND a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). The essential part is that ALL the information listed above, is included. If even one piece of information is listed, then you cannot receive a Medicare Rebate.

Cancellation Fees

Engaging in regular therapy positively impacts the outcomes. As such, it’s important to attend your appointments. It’s one of the reasons we book you in on the same day and at the same time either weekly or fortnightly and for many sessions ahead. Apart from minimising confusion around appointment time, it maintains therapeutic momentum. The other reason is that we don’t want another client slotted into what is typically your regular time-slot. This will happen if aren’t booked in far enough ahead.

We do understand that sometimes you need to cancel. If you typically attend in person, in these instances we will ask whether you could attend via Telehealth. If that’s not possible, we will make every effort to fill your cancelled appointment time with another client. If we have success with that, your cancellation fee will be waived. However, if you are cancelling with less than 2 full business days (Mon-Fri) before your appointment and we cannot fill your time-slot, you will be charged a cancellation fee.

We understand that no one likes cancellation fees. But this is necessary to operate a sustainable business this is necessary. So please make every effort to attend. You gain far more, if you attend regularly.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

I’m not fobbing you off when I answer, ‘how long is a piece of string'?’ Because it really depends on what you want to try to sort out. I can tell you that in my experience, people tend to get the most benefit out of a number of weekly sessions first (to get the ball rolling) and then fortnightly sessions thereafter and in the vicinity of 10-12 months. Funnily enough, the research also shows that most people need about 20 sessions to benefit and SUSTAIN that benefit. It’s one of the reasons us psychologists are so livid that the number of rebate-able sessions dropped from 20 to 10. There’s NO evidence base for that decision.

Many people dip in and out of therapy over their lifetime. Usually prompted by the stuff that life throws at us; mental health issues, relationship problems, separations/divorces, parenting issues and the ill-health or deaths of people we love. Therapy can be really helpful at those times. And as the dust settles, people take a break, live life and put into practice what they’ve gained.