FAQ

First and foremost I am a fully qualified and experienced counsellor and Psychotherapist. I see patients and clients for a wide variety of issues and life worries ranging from depression and anxiety, grief and loss, relationship worries, relationship conflicts, internal conflicts, self esteem issues and many other existential worries that comes with being human.

Sometimes having extra support to work on all the other life challenges that coexist with weight management can make a big difference for helping to stay engaged and on track.
It has also become very clear to me over the years, and something that research and evidence supports, is that ones body weight does not exist in a vacuum. Life can be generally quite messy and confusing so sometimes people might be experiencing other life challenges at the same time, hence why Counselling and Coaching for weight management can be an extra advantage.

Your friends and or your partner can be an amazing support for you and can also be very helpful. Unfortunately though, due to everyone having different expectations and motivations or a vested interest in your outcomes it can occasionally cause unintentional conflict and or judgment.
Having a safe space to come to each week where there is no judgment and where you can explore all your challenges and frustrations openly and honestly can be very therapeutic and helpful.

We now know that dieting does not work and in fact often leads to long-term weight gain. I am not a dietician, and will never put you on a diet. I will work with you to help you understand your internal hunger and satiety cues and why this is so important for the long -term sustainability of weight loss maintenance. I will also explain the science of long term weight management as well as take into account your personal history, age, gender, lifestyle, culture, health needs, eating preferences and emotional world. 

I have created my practice precisely for this reason. Weight management can be a very emotional issue for people and I have many years of training and experience in counselling and psychotherapy, to help you feel heard and understood in a safe non judgmental environment.

After you have your initial session, you may decide to take some time to think about if you would like to continue. This is totally ok.

Because change is not a linear process and sometimes can be one step forward and one back, you will get a much better outcome if you can commit to a block of ongoing sessions.

I will always check in with you to see if you feel you need more sessions. I will never just tell you to finish. I will also follow up with you to see how you are getting on a few months after your sessions are finished just to check you are staying on track.

A referral is not necessary for an appointment

If you feel bringing someone into your session will be helpful for you to resolve some issues or so they may get a better understanding of what is going on for you then you are certainly welcome to bring them for a session.

Each session is an hour. After your initial session, I offer blocks of sessions in four or six-week blocks or alternatively you can just book single sessions when you require.

If you purchase a pack of sessions you have six months to use them from the date of purchase, unless we make a special arrangement.

This session is for me to get to know you and find out what you are looking for and needing. I will listen to your story about what brought you to seek counselling. I may need some detailed health information from you and we can explore what has and hasn’t worked for you in the past and what it is you are hoping to get from the session.

I will also let you know a bit about me, and how I would work with you.

The role of counselling is not to fix you and even though you You certainly may need and want help to feel better and to find a way to live more comfortably and peacefully. I will certainly do my very best to help you feel better and to find a way to manage any discomfort you are experiencing.

This does not matter at all. I will always be certain to refer you to other health specialists if I feel I am not in a position to provide the very best outcome for you. I have an excellent team of Doctors, Psychologists, other Counselors and Therapists, Psychiatrists, Endocrinologists, Gynecologists, Dieticians, Personal Trainers, Nutritionists and Naturopaths, so would refer you appropriately so you can be sure you are being cared for holistically.

Yes. Please contact me to find a time that would suit you for a session.

Many people seek counselling help but are naturally concerned at the cost, so getting a Medicare rebate, Mental Health Care plan or Employee Assistance Program help initially seems attractive. However, for some people the advantages are outweighed by the disadvantages.

1. Working with a counsellor means you are able to access your therapist directly. You don’t need a GP referral as you do for Psychiatrists or some psychological treatments, so you don’t need to discuss intimate or distressing matters with your doctor and then retell them to the therapist.
2. Mental health care plans referring you to a Psychologist require a formal mental health diagnosis, for example for anxiety and depression. You may later find that this has damaged your ability to insure yourself or your income. In some cases, it has been used against people in claims for workers’ compensation, employment and similar situations.
3. The consultation is not noted in your hospital or doctor’ notes, does not appear on your Medicare/healthcare records or workplace records and is only seen by your therapist (except in a couple of legal circumstances). Medical records are accessed in numerous circumstances by insurance companies and for Worker’s Compensation Cases. Recent cases in the media have highlighted the way insurers have trawled through peoples’ records to deny legitimate benefits.
4. You can access the Therapist and Therapy Type that best suits your needs. Psychologists may be required by the conditions of the treatment to limit their therapy approaches, often to a Medical Model such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. While CBT and other similar therapies are excellent, they may not be the best one for you at the time.
5. EAP sessions are usually limited. Though they can be helpful for straightforward issues, they are often provided by generalist counsellors, not specialists, and are rarely enough for long-lasting change.
6. Can I claim for my sessions on my private health fund?
   Counselling is currently not funded by Medicare, though some private health funds give a rebate. You will get a receipt at the end of your session which you can take to your private health fund. To avoid confusion, at the time you submit the receipt, make sure your health fund understands that I am a Counsellor not a Psychologist or Psychiatrist.

Please ask at reception which health funds you are able to claim on.