Psychotherapy & Counselling
I am available to work with anyone who would like to make positive changes in their lives. Common issues that present in my clinic are: anxiety, depression, trauma, addictions, grief and loss, fears and phobias, relationship and/or family conflicts.
In our sessions, I draw on different therapies depending on your needs and preferences. So what you may expect is us working collaboratively to determine what you would like to change, how you will go about bringing forth these changes, and what strategies and mindsets you might need to accept things that you cannot change. Mindfulness practices such as being aware of our thoughts and feelings without letting them overwhelm us and self-compassion and self-care are emphasised. We will always go back to your values and strengths as the bedrock for positive outcomes.
If you are looking for a more transformative/internal healing rather than simply 'talking about it', I use therapies which tap into your limbic (emotional brain) and brainstem (the repilian brain) where the dysregulation is held. For brief overviews of IFS, EMDR and Brainspotting, please view the following short videos below. For more detail, go to My Approach page.
What is IFS? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNA5qTTxFFA
The Secrets of EMDR Therapy and How It Can Help You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNdMHuwvF_M&t=10s
What is Brainspotting Trauma and PTSD Therapy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiPzm9VAGh0
Psychiatric Disorders: If you have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder such as Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Psychosis/Schizoprenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder, you would need to contact a clinical psychologist. My clinic does not have the capacity to work with these disorders.
NB: I do not see clients involved in the following: Criminal Justice System or Department of Child Protection.
SESSIONS & FEES
Initial Intake Session 75 minutes x $140
Initial Session is an assessment of your issue(s) plus connecting to at least one of your internal "resources" e.g. inner strengths, a calm place, positive beliefs about self, etc . You will need internal resources for healing and memory processing work.
Follow Up Sessions
60 minutes x $125. Most approriate for counselling sessions.
90 minutes x $155. Most appropriate for experiential psychotherapy e.g. EMDR, Clinical Hypnosis, parts work such as Internal Family Systems (IFS).
Payment Methods: Cash or Cards.
Registered Private Health Fund Provider for: HCF, Medibank Private, Bupa, ahm, Teachers Health, HCF, all funds in the ARHG Group (St Luke's Health, Police Health, GMHBA, Westfund, Emergency Services Health, Phoenix Health, see-u by HBF, AIA Health and Teachers Union Health, Mildura, Australian Defence Force Family Plan, Nurses & Midwives Health). Members of these private health insurance companies who have ancillary cover should enquiry to your fund regarding your level of cover for counselling or mental health. HBF, the local WA private health insurer, only covers one plan "Hero"counsellors or psychotherapists. HBF has informed us that over time other plans will be added.
A note about my fees: People ask me why my session fees are lower than others psychotherapists. It's not because I am less trained or skilled: I have a Master's in Counselling Psychology and 20 years of experience. My answer is that over the last few years, the fees of most psychologists and mental health social workers have become out of reach for the average person, anywhere between $200+ (social workers ) to $330+ (clinical psychologists). Yes, you can get a Medicare Mental Health Care Plan to defray some of the fee of a psychologist (general psychologist rebate $98.97; clinical psychologist rebate $145.25) or mental health social worker (rebate $87.24), but you still end up paying a BIG GAP FEE. If you see a counsellor or psychotherapist, the Medicare option is not available to us. Therefore, I have priced my sessions in line with the gap you would pay to see a general psychologist so that there is more accessiblity to psychotherapy in the Bunbury community.