Sessions are 50 minutes in length and are $190.

Extended EMDR Processing sessions of 75 minutes are $250.

A medicare rebate of $85.20 may be available if you have a current Mental health treatment plan.

If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral letter from your GP, then you are entitled to a rebate of $82.30 per session for up to 10 sessions in a calendar year (Jan-Dec), leaving you with a gap payable of $104.80 for a 50min session.

To start with, your doctor or psychiatrist will refer you for up to 6 sessions, then if you need more, your therapist will provide a letter to your doctor to support your request for a further 4 sessions.

If you’ve reached your Medicare safety net threshold for the calendar year, your out-of-pocket costs will be less than those stated above.

You can learn more about Medicare safety net thresholds here.

Please note:

• The full fee is paid prior to each session. Your rebate will then be processed online for you and Medicare will transfer the rebate to your bank account within 24-48 hours

• Medicare does not cover late cancellations or non-attendance fees

First of all, you will need to book an appointment with your GP and ensure you have asked to book a longer appointment for your visit. Talk to your GP about your current challenges. They may ask you further questions. Request a Mental health treatment Plan and referral. Please send this paperwork by email prior to your first appointment as this will allow you to access a medicare rebate.

You do not require a GP or psychiatrist referral in order to access counselling. You are welcome to self-refer if you would rather not be referred by a GP or psychiatrist, or are not eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

Kindly note that you will not be eligible to claim a Medicare rebate if you choose this option.

I provide in-person counselling appointments in North Adelaide on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Online appointments are also available throughout the week.

You do not need to worry about coming prepared with what to say in the first session. Just come with an open mind and your therapist will guide you through the process.

We will explore what led you to seek counselling and what you hope to change in your life. I will ask you about your current concerns and past experiences, to enable us to get to know you and determine what counselling approach might be most helpful for you. I may also ask you to complete one or more questionnaires to help me better understand your issues. You have control over what information you choose to share, and the pace at which you share. My priority is creating an environment in which you feel safe and empowered.

By the end of the first session we usually will have agreed on some counselling goals and outlined a plan for achieving these. I will also often give you one or more strategies to start practicing at home. I believe that it is very important for you to have something tangible to take away so that you can start making practical changes in your life right from the first session.

It is a big step. When you meet with your counsellor, sharing and making sense of what’s happening can leave you feeling vulnerable. Know that you are taking a courageous and proactive step in managing your well-being and giving yourself more opportunities to feel that your life can improve.

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers are registered providers with Medicare Australia. They have been assessed on behalf of the Commonwealth Government by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) as having specialist training and expertise in mental health. Like other allied health professionals such as Psychologists, they use a range of counselling interventions and psychological-focused strategies (FPS) to assist people who are experiencing mental health issues.

Particular FPS I utilise include:

• Interpersonal therapy

• Psycho-education

• EMDR

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Acceptance and Commitment therapy and Dialectal Behaviour Therapy approaches)

• Relaxation strategies

• Skills Training

Some private health funds will pay a rebate for your sessions (BUPA, HCF, Medibank, Doctor’s Health, Teacher’s Health, UniHealth and Nurses and Midwives Health). The rebate will depend on your level of cover and may not apply to all members. You cannot co-claim a private health rebate if you are also claiming a Medicare rebate.

Clients with an NDIS plan with funding in the appropriate category may utilize this to access psychological therapy sessions. We are able to accept clients with NDIS plans that are self-managed or plan-managed. Please get in touch if you would like to use our service.

If you are unable to attend an appointment (either online or in person) please advise us no less than 48 hours in advance.

Cancellations within 48 hours or no show = 50% of the scheduled fee will be charged.

Helpful Reminders:

To help you avoid cancellation fees:

• we will send you a courtesy SMS reminder about your 2 days prior to your appointment.

Absolutely! Confidentiality is one of the most important aspects to psychological therapy because it allows you to feel safe with the knowledge that all that is said in the session stays in the room. I treat your personal privacy very seriously and do not share any of it with anybody.

However, confidentiality has its limitations when there are concerns relating to your personal safety or concerns that either you or others are at risk of harm. My duty of care to you and others are part of my ethical responsibilities as a therapist. More information about this is explained during your first consultation with me.

I understand the need to have spontaneous communication with someone you trust and have developed a therapeutic trusting relationship. However, for counselling to be effective, meaningful and safe, boundaries are put in place to serve you and me.

Clients sometimes like to send me an email with some of their thoughts and reflections in between sessions. I know that it can be helpful as part of therapy. I will not reply to the email before our next session.

Please know that I will endeavour to read the email before our next session and we can then explore further together.

For other people, sitting with their thoughts and writing them down in a notebook can be a useful way to reflect. We can then discuss these refections and questions in our next therapy session.