How many sessions will I need?
It really depends on the issue and the approach we decide to take.
A very simple problem like nail-biting might be helped within one session.
But it is more likely that you will need a few sessions at least to fully address the issue, not just band-aid it.
I have worked with clients for one session only, through to ongoing, regular weekly sessions.
It really depends on how much time you can commit as well as affordability for you.
Importantly, it depends on your commitment to consolidating the changes you wish to make.
Usually, clients begin by seeing me weekly for a few sessions to get a good start, then we might drop back to every fortnight or month for a while depending on your progress. I’m happy to work out a schedule that fits in with you.
It is also possible to do a mix of face-to-face and online sessions if that suits your timetable better.
Do you offer online sessions?
Yes, I do.
I offer sessions via Skype or Facetime.
This is really convenient if you are time poor or can’t get to the office.
The sessions are the same as my face-to-face sessions, just from the comfort, privacy and convenience of your own home or office.
Online sessions can be arranged at a time to suit you Monday to Saturday 8.00am – 8.00pm (Sydney daylight saving time).
It is important to ensure that you are able to attend online sessions from a quiet and private place, with no interruptions. You need to feel safe speaking freely.
I am happy to do a mix of face-to-face and online sessions if that suits your timetable better.
How much does it cost?
I offer a range of packages to suit most clients, starting at one-off session fees of $160 per hour.
Please see my Prices Page
here for all the details.
What if I need to cancel a session?
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please let me know as soon as possible so I might be able to offer the space to another client.
I do require 24 hours’ notice of cancellation please.
If you cancel on the day of your appointment there is a $50 fee to cover the cost of my preparation for your session.
Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, if you are a ‘no-show’ and have not contacted me to cancel, the fee for that session is payable in full.
If you have purchased a pre-paid package, and do not attend a booked and confirmed appointment, the fee for that session is forfeited.
Can I claim through Medicare or my health fund?
Unfortunately, no. I am not registered as a private health fund provider.
Are your sessions covered by Medicare or a GP Mental Health Plan?
Currently, counselling and clinical hypnotherapy is not recognized in Australia by Medicare therefore there are no Medicare rebates or sessions covered by Medicare under the GP Mental Health Plan.
Do I need a referral to see you?
No referral needed as I am not a Medicare provider. However if your doctor wants to refer you, a written referral outlining your case would be appreciated, but is not necessary.
Is everything we discuss confidential?
Yes, it is.
Apart from two caveats: 1. If you are threatening self-harm or harm to another person, I am bound to report this. 2. If you reveal abuse of a child or elder I need to report this to the authorities.
As a professional and ethical practitioner, I am bound to strict confidentiality on all discussions we have and all paperwork.
I do keep some brief notes on our sessions to keep myself clear on the issues we have discussed. I keep these records with your registration and consent form locked securely at another location from the office, for five years from the date of our last session.
If I see you in the street or at an event, please don’t be offended if I don’t acknowledge you – I am protecting your privacy. However if you approach me, I’m happy to say hi, but will not discuss anything to do with our work outside of our appointments.
Is your practice COVID-safe?
Absolutely.
I am double vaccinated and at my office I practice distancing and hand washing/sanitising.
I do require anyone coming to my home office to be double vaccinated against Covid-19, and I would appreciate you sharing your vaccination digital certificate, please.
If you are feeling anxious about attending the office in person, online appointments might feel better for you at the moment.
How do I know if I should get help?
It can be a difficult and confronting decision to have to make, deciding to seek professional help for your emotions or habits. Particularly if one day you feel ok, but the next day you are suffering again.
If the problem you are facing seems un-fixable despite all the self-help you have engaged in, then maybe it’s a good time to speak to a qualified therapist to get a different perspective on the issue along with some strategies to help you feel better.
It is no longer considered shameful or weak to seek help, thank god! Today it is very acceptable to acknowledge needing assistance with the bumps in the road of life.
Sometimes it’s called therapy, sometimes it’s called coaching, sometimes it’s called counselling. However it is labelled, the thing is that a trained and qualified helping professional is a good choice to give you a hand through your stuff. It is actually a wise act of self-care. Therapy is not just for ‘crazy’ people!
Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?
Are you feeling stuck in a negative cycle, unable to find the right path in life, your work or relationships?
Maybe you are suffering unexplained medical issues that your doctor can’t find any basis for? Our emotions and our physical body are constantly interacting and reflecting each other.
Maybe the underlying emotional aspect needs addressing to solve the physical?
Do you feel unhappy in yourself even though you have a good life? Life dissatisfaction can happen to the best of us, making us feel worse because we then feel guilty because really (we think), we have nothing to feel unhappy about!
Are your emotions out of control? Do you snap easily? Or perhaps you shut down, go numb? Cry?
Are your coping behaviours such as drinking, shopping, eating, etc becoming a worry to you? Rather than a pleasant distraction, are they becoming problematic?
Do you have anxiety or panic attacks? Maybe a phobia that is preventing you from living a full life? Or you just feel plain stressed-out?
Or would you just like to vent to someone who won’t judge you, and will give you the respectful space to speak your mind, no matter how dark it might get?
There are an infinite number of reasons someone like you might decide to see a therapist.
You don’t need to suffer alone. If you are still unsure, I welcome you to call or email and we can discuss your situation.
How do I chose the right therapist for me?
The relationship you share with your therapist is the basis for your success, or not. So it is of the utmost importance to find someone who you feel is a great fit for you.
A good place to start is to ask friends or relatives if they know of anyone who is suitable for you. Or who to steer clear of.
Google search for the type of help you are looking for, eg hypnotherapy Inner West. Be specific and look further than page one on Google. (It costs a lot of money to be listed on page one, particularly in a big city. Being on page one is no indication of how good a therapist actually is, it just means they have a lot of money to spend on marketing).
When you reach a therapist website, it's important to look for a few things. First of all, the first impression you get? Does the site seem up-to-date and easy to find the information you are wanting? Is there a photo of the therapist? Do you connect with them? Do they look like the kind of person you could imagine sharing your deepest thoughts and feelings with?
Do they list their qualifications? This is important as apart from psychology, psychiatry and social work, most other therapies including counselling are unregulated in Australia. This means that ANYONE can put up a website and call themselves a counsellor or a hypnotherapist or anything! Please be really careful with this, insist on asking for specific qualifications if they are not proudly listed on a therapist's website.
The gender of the therapist might matter to you, in which case chose the appropriate one. I mainly work with women and have done since the start of my career. I do so because I find that I have a naturally better rapport with women and have an understanding of our shared perspective as women.
If you like the look of a few therapist websites, call them. I know. It can be daunting calling up, but you will learn a lot just from an initial phone call. Do they get back to you in a reasonable amount of time if you leave a message? Do they sound polite and interested in you? Do they spend time answering your questions? Do you even like their voice? How do you feel talking to this therapist? Do they pressure you to book straight away? There are a lot of things you can learn from this initial phone call.
What do they charge? Are their fees clearly displayed on the website, or do you need to ring up to ask (and risk a hard sell). Oh and remember - the most expensive is not always the best!
At the end of the day, taking all of these things into consideration, I would go with my gut. Go with the therapist that you feel a good conection with from your initial research. Go with the person you feel you could trust, and who you feel has the ability to help you.
And remember - sometimes the first therapist you go to turns out not to be a great fit for you, sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right one for you. So don't be discouraged if you need to try a few before you find the right fit. When you do it will be so worth it for you.
What happens at the first appointmeht?
Ok, so you have made your appointment and I have emailed you a confirmation and a Registration and Consent form to print and fill in to bring with you to your session.
If you are like most new clients, you will come to the first session feeling all sorts of things – nervous, curious, a little bit wary, scared of crying or making a fool of yourself (absolutely no way!) and by the end of the session you will leave with a big sense of relief and an action plan!
In our first session we will have a good discussion about what is going on for you, what you have tried to do to fix the problem and what you would like as an outcome of our work together. We need to agree on a clear outcome so that we are on the same page and working toward the same thing.
You also get to ask me any questions that you want to clarify how I work or what will happen going forward.
Depending on the issue, I will either teach you the basics of EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques to use straight away (and I will give you printed instructions) from the first session, or we will discuss a plan of action for the week.
If we decide that hypnotherapy would be the best idea for you, I will do a short preparation hypnosis which I will record for you, so that your mind and body will be 'prepped' to make the changes you want in a deep and significant way when we work with more strategic hypnotherapy going forward.
Either way, I ensure that all of my clients leave the first session feeling heard, with a plan for our work together, and a tool to use straight away to feel better.
What is your counselling style like?
I approach my work and my relationship with my clients from a perspective of openness, honesty, professionalism, confidentiality and sound ethics. I have been described by clients as warm, calming, trustworthy, insightful and friendly.
I really believe that my clients get the most from their sessions when they feel like we ‘get along’. So having a good rapport is vital to our work. Even when (or especially when) the going gets tough, it’s reassuring to be working with someone you can trust implicitly with your feelings and your truth.
It is rare that a session goes by without some laughter and/or tears (both of us!). Sometimes a good laugh can be the best medicine, even in the darkest, most difficult times.
I won’t have you sitting there just talking about your problems, and then be merely reflecting back your words and feelings to you. I know how frustrating and futile this can be. I make sure that my clients leave each session with a practical strategy to work with, whether that is homework, a personalized hypnotherapy recording, EFT tapping and how to apply it, or a new way of behaving or thinking to practice.
I really love this work and feel incredibly privileged to be able to take this role in my clients’ life.
Who do you work with?
I work with women aged 16 and up on all sorts of issues. I welcome diversity including LGBTQI+, all body sizes, races, abilities, religions and political persuasions.