If you are a Google reviewer -

• Keep in mind, you will expose your identity to the public (unless you use a pseudonym which makes it very hard for me to respond and may suggest sinister cruelty if comments are negative).

• I will maintain confidentiality and privacy in my response to you.

• If you have an important point to make, especially if you are not happy, please consider respectful and private conversation (email is fine) then your specific situation can be explored. No problem is unsolvable. Don’t give up or stay stuck - there are plenty of strategies to try.

• I often email opportunity for feedback and explain the importance of your honesty in the first session. I get upset too - we are all human, but the idea of therapy is to find constructive ways to express ourselves and find resolution.

• I use a professional subscription to NOVOPSYCH. As a previous Cybercrime and Identity Theft Counsellor, I take cyber security and online privacy very seriously and have specifically chosen a platform built by Australian Psychologists for professional Psychologists and Counsellors.

• No notes are stored in this system - it is only used as a clinical tool to structure note templates.

• No other Ai platforms will access information - it is not used to teach or gather data.

• Audio is encrypted to secure transference into note templates. This could just be my voice summarising the session - the program writes it for me under subheadings.

• No full names and personal details are used - there is no need, and we are unidentifiable.

• I will always ask for your permission, explain how I use it, and allow you to withdraw permission at any time.

• All notes kept are read, edited and corrected by myself. Notes are not accumulative or subjective - only reflecting real time discussion.

• As I use a Schema Framework, it is very helpful in constructing the ‘mapping’ of core beliefs from unmet needs and then understanding the purpose and function of our behavious.

This is best answered by a previous client: “The counselling sessions improved other areas of my life as I wasn’t holding onto all that stress and dark clouds hanging over me as I was able to talk and get it out there, it made me breathe again, it definitely helped with my self-approval, and definitely changed the way I prioritise things, my family started coming first instead of hiding in that dark corner. So mentally it put me in a way more relaxing state of mind, and I can sleep again.” Beau

If you share that you are considering suicide, or plan to harm someone else, or someone else is threatening you, I will let you know I am concerned and may share this with my supervisor or protective authorities to make sure you are as safe as possible. Then, together we have the best plan. If someone has hurt you in the past and is still a risk to others, we will discuss our responsibilities around this. I will honour your courage and always put you first. I will never force you to report an incident if you are an adult, I respect your self-determination.

My notes can be subpoenaed by a court of law.

If you have a secret you have kept from your partner, I will help you address your feelings and with compassion, explore the best way to share it and ask for understanding and forgiveness.

We might start with a plan of 5-10 sessions. In the early sessions we will clarify what your goals are so we can check in along the way and make sure we are on track. Things may also pop up along the way and become a new challenge, that’s ok, we will adjust and meet your needs as they arise. My ultimate hope for you is that you do not need me for long. As you will increase your confidence, skills, empowerment and resilience. You are a bit like a little bird sitting on the edge of the nest getting ready to fly, if you have a go and need more reassurance, just come back.

No and No. A psychiatrist will prescribe medicine, a psychologist will assess and diagnose. I will help you improve the strengths you already have from the experiences you remember. I will help you understand why things happen and you respond the way you do, and I will help you identify the resources around you (the people and services available) to get you back on track and believing in yourself again.

Medicare - No. This means you do not need to go to a GP first and have your psychological history on your medical records (and this should be considered for specific professional choices). Relationship Counselling is not covered by Medicare by a Psychologist or a Counsellor.

Health Funds - Yes. Please check with your fund in your ‘extras’ package. Smaller providers unfortunately may not recognise the skills and credibility of a Counsellor.

Some of the funds supporting your mental and emotional health are:

Bupa

Medibank

Doctors Health Fund

AHM

Police Health Fund

Saint Luke’s

Phoenix Health

Emergency Services Health

Grand United

Structure of Sessions

• There will be early questionnaires and information gathering – this helps me get a clearer picture of your goals, current issues, perceptions, personalities, history. We can use some of these as measuring tools to check progress and changes. There may be activities to complete at home.

• You will know when we have had enough sessions. Expecting 10 initially is a realistic plan. Your initial goals may change, and new issues may evolve. This is very flexible. Your satisfaction and progress will be our guide. We can initially have sessions weekly or fortnightly depending upon the crisis or the longevity of the issue. We can progressively space sessions out. Before we conclude, it is helpful to have at least one session to summarise your progress, to highlight your achievements and new confidence.

• Consider check in’s or follow up sessions to reduce relapse into old patterns and catch new challenges early.

Our Responsibilities

• Come to sessions with intention to process something we have discussed last session, experiences between sessions, or a goal, something you hope to achieve.

• Be prepared to identify and explore your emotional reactions to a comment or situation. Why, because when you detach and do not feel, and it can become hard to separate the past from the present. Emotion becomes the target and agent of change. When you are safe to access and express emotions, it enables you to identify your most important needs and desires.

• Be present in the conversation. I may ask you “What that remind you of” - feel supported to travel back in time, this helps us understand your present reaction.

• After sessions, allow time for yourself to process – this may be independently or with a trusted partner. If you have time after the session, go somewhere and ‘just be’. (Avoid heading straight into a business meeting).

• The best work often happens between sessions – when you apply the ideas we explore during the session.

Secrets

• In an individual session, your confidentiality is respected within the bounds of safety concerns or legal requirements.

• When a child is a risk, I have a Duty of Care and I’m bound by Ethical Expectations to ensure services and action is taken by you and others, to reduce risk.

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The good news is, sometimes it only takes 3-4 sessions to learn new communication skills or understand why you are stuck, and you are right to go for a while.

Some couples may have been unhappy for a long time and have decided they are not in love any more, even though they still feel love for each other. Deciding to stay together or separate is a difficult decision and I will help guide you through each alternative. The decision will be yours, I will be there to help you through it.

Reflect on your commitment to change and what prevented you from changing or growing?

Reflect on your values - what you really want for your future and who you want to share it with?

While I expect you to be sad, grieving or even angry, I would not expect you to blame anyone else.

You can always come back to therapy to create closure and consolidate your strengths to recover.

… Ignore your past story, your values, your preferences.

…. Talk about myself all the time and give detailed stories about how I conquered the world.

… Keep you in counselling when you are smashing it, confident and ready to stop.

Counselling is not coaching.

I won’t sell you a prescribed package because in any session, you can walk in with a new challenge or urgent concern.

You and your partner control and direct your recovery. It’s about you and it is your investment.

A great Counsellor listens to you, asks about you and has the skills to be evidence based in responding to your needs.

Through association with a professional body membership, a great Counsellor will have monthly supervision and regularly be learning and gathering new approaches through reputable training leaders.

I will not tell you what to do and what is wrong. Together we identify common reasons for being stuck. I will listen to you and guide you through new ways to grow and connect together.

You don’t have to! I believe trust is earnt.

I take my job very seriously as it is an intimate privilege to hold space for you, your partner and your story. I am a member of Professional Associations PACFA and ASWA.

2. I have supervision every month (15 a year in fact).

3. I love to learn. My commitment to professional development is easy because I love learning and your challenge is mine - mine to find alternatives to what is not working today for you.

I invite you to trust your gut feeling (especially in the first session). Are you welcomed, comfortable, encouraged to challenge or slow counselling down? If emotion comes up in that first session, how are you protected and supported?

Like any new relationship, you should go slowly and trust your instincts.

If I was to answer emails and questions by text between my booked appointments with you, I would burn out and make too many assumptions when we are in session - I would be doing too much of the discussion direction, because texts and emails do not provide adequate opportunity for clarification and discussion. An appointment would be much better and respectful of time.

Use the website and the booking button. This way you can check schedules with your partner, you can adjust the time or day (if before 24 hours to avoid the full fee becoming the cancellation fee), and you can book ahead. You do not need to pay for advance bookings (If I was the client, I would be overwhelmed by that).

Once you have your log in password, you are good to go - no more back and forth through email.

The problem with back and forth through email or sms is that someone else could take the appointment I offer before you have a chance to get back to me. You are important!