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When life is challenging it's normal to feel confused, angry or scared for a while.
We may manage well on our own, maybe with support from family or friends. When things become overwhelming, we get stuck, or don't want to involve people we know, we may need extra help. Counselling/psychotherapy can help us gain insight into our difficulties and make positive changes in our life. Counselling works best when we're given a safe, compassionate and respectful space to talk freely about what bothers us, what needs healing, and explore what we want for ourselves. |
Some issues we can help with include:
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We work with individuals, couples and families.
We generally see people 'face-to-face'. If that's not possible, we can provide telephone or on-line appointments. In certain circumstances, we can see you at home, hospital or other location that suits. If you'd like to have a chat about how we might help, please contact us via email/phone - details below. Even if you've seen a counsellor or psychotherapist in the past, it can be hard to reach out. We hope the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) help. |
FAQs
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY?
"Although Counselling and Psychotherapy overlap considerably, there are also recognised differences. While the work of Counsellors and Psychotherapists with clients may be of considerable depth, the focus of Counselling is more likely to be on specific problems, changes in life and fostering clients’ wellbeing. Psychotherapy is more concerned with the restructuring of the personality or self, the development of insight. At advanced levels of training, Counselling has a greater overlap with Psychotherapy than at foundation levels." - PACFA
WHY SHOULD I SEE A COUNSELLOR/PSYCHOTHERAPIST - what are the benefits?
Counselling/psychotherapy can help you gain a fresh perspective on what bothers you, provide support through a crisis, or help you reduce stress, develop goals and implement strategies to improve your wellbeing, or heal what causes you to feel unhappy or dissatisfied.
Counselling/psychotherapy can help you explore how you feel and behave, your rights and choices, or other resources available to transform your circumstances.
Counselling/psychotherapy can help you gain a deeper sense of connectedness with yourself and with others.
Counselling/psychotherapy can help you explore how you feel and behave, your rights and choices, or other resources available to transform your circumstances.
Counselling/psychotherapy can help you gain a deeper sense of connectedness with yourself and with others.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I'VE GOT A GOOD THERAPIST?
It's important that you feel safe, respected and understood by your Counsellor/Psychotherapist. When consulting a practitioner, you could ask them about their work. Here's some questions may help when looking for a therapist:
- what is the therapist's qualifications?
- what professional association does the therapist belong to and are they currently accredited?
- do they receive independent professional supervision?
- what on-going training/professional development do they undertake - how often?
- what do they do if someone's needs are outside the therapist's expertise?
- does the therapist have a complaints pathway?
Will everything I tell you be confidential?
All personal information collected by us will be kept private and secure. Everything discussed with you will remain confidential. However, there are certain circumstances when a counsellor/psychotherapist is required by law to disclose information:
Please talk with us if you have any questions or concerns about your privacy.
- when a client has provided consent to receive/provide information to a person or organisation;
- when failure to disclose information would place someone at risk;
- when information is subpoenaed by a court.
Please talk with us if you have any questions or concerns about your privacy.
Do I need a referral or a Mental Health Plan?
No, you do not need a referral and you cannot see at counsellor/psychotherapist using a mental health plan (MHP). Therefore, there is no government policy to:
Should you wish to obtain a MHP, you need to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder and be referred to a psychologist, occupational therapist, or social worker. For more information, see: healthdirect.gov.au
- require your medical records to state that you've attended a counsellor/psychotherapist and why you've attended
- limit the number of sessions you can have
- prescribe the treatment you should receive.
Should you wish to obtain a MHP, you need to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder and be referred to a psychologist, occupational therapist, or social worker. For more information, see: healthdirect.gov.au
How many appointments will I need?
Depending on what you wish to change, you may want one or two sessions to focus on a specific issue. Or you may want longer term support for deeper issues. We'll talk with you to understand what you want and what may suit your particular circumstances.
CAN I SEE YOU ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE ELSE?
If you are worried that someone will hurt themselves or someone else, please telephone 000.
For other concerns, it's important to allow people to decide for themselves if they wish to consider counselling. If you believe someone would benefit from speaking with a counsellor, it's best to discuss it with them. If they're reluctant, it's best not to pressure them to do anything they're not comfortable with. You can offer our details so that if they change their mind, they can contact us when they're ready.
Sometimes people are open to considering counselling, but find it hard to seek help, or make a phone call. You can help by offering to contact us on their behalf. However, before you provide us with someone else's personal information, we'll need to check with them (maybe over the phone) that they want counselling and that they want you to talk on their behalf.
If someone's condition or behaviour is causing you distress, it may be helpful for you to talk with us about your concerns.
For other concerns, it's important to allow people to decide for themselves if they wish to consider counselling. If you believe someone would benefit from speaking with a counsellor, it's best to discuss it with them. If they're reluctant, it's best not to pressure them to do anything they're not comfortable with. You can offer our details so that if they change their mind, they can contact us when they're ready.
Sometimes people are open to considering counselling, but find it hard to seek help, or make a phone call. You can help by offering to contact us on their behalf. However, before you provide us with someone else's personal information, we'll need to check with them (maybe over the phone) that they want counselling and that they want you to talk on their behalf.
If someone's condition or behaviour is causing you distress, it may be helpful for you to talk with us about your concerns.
can i claim a rebate through private health insurance?
Depending on your policy, you may be able to claim a rebate through private medical insurance.
Does counselling/psychotherapy REALLY work?
"Counselling and psychotherapy as a whole are highly effective, with clients who have received treatment reporting much more benefit than those in waiting list or other control conditions" (McLeod 2009, p 586).
Being listened to - really being heard and understood with compassion, is profoundly healing and empowering.
The effectiveness of our main therapeutic approach, Process-Experiential Emotion Focused Therapy (PEEFT), also called Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), is strongly supported in meta-analyses of clinical studies (Elliot, Greenberg & Lietaer, 2004). Research into the effectiveness of PEEFT/EFT with specific presentations is growing. Emotion Focused Therapy for Trauma is the only evidence-based individual therapy for people dealing with different types of childhood maltreatment (Paivio & Pascual-Leone, 2010).
Naturally, therapy is most effective when you decide you want change and are willing to make time to understand and work through your challenges.
HOW DO I MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT YOUR SERVICES?
You have the right to stop therapy at any time you wish, ask for a referral, or make a complaint.
If you are not satisfied with our service, we want to know and hope you'll talk with us about your concerns. We take complaints seriously and aim to resolve them quickly and fairly.
If you are dissatisfied with our response, you can contact the following professional organisations to make a complaint:
If you are not satisfied with our service, we want to know and hope you'll talk with us about your concerns. We take complaints seriously and aim to resolve them quickly and fairly.
If you are dissatisfied with our response, you can contact the following professional organisations to make a complaint:
- our professional organisation, Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Further information is available at PACFA complaints.
- the Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC). The HCC responds to complaints about health services and the handling of health information in Victoria. Their service is free, confidential and impartial. You can lodge a complaint by filling out a complaint form at hcc.vic.gov.au, or telephone 1300 582 113 Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm.