FAQs | The Crossing Counselling Services

Is therapy confidential?

The short answer is yes. The information you share with me is confidential. I also work to maintain confidentiality at all times in the collection, recording, storage, dissemination and disposal of my notes and any information I collect. The only exception to confidentiality is my legal requirement to disclose information about you in certain circumstances, including if: • You disclose that a child, minor or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm • You plan to harm yourself or others, or I have a reason to believe that you pose an immediate risk to harming yourself or others • I am legally subpoenaed to provide the release of my notes and your records. These situations are rare, however in the case any of these things arise in our work together, I will always make every reasonable effort to speak with you before taking any required action.
When are fees due?

Fees for the first session are due at the time of booking and are made by bank transfer. An email with the intake form and invoice will be emailed to you within 24 hours. Bookings for the first session are tentative until the fee and intake form are received within 3 days (please check your junk mail folder). If not received in time, I reserve the right to cancel the booking to make the time available for others. For subsequent appointments, fees are due prior to each session. If you are unable to pay on time, please discuss with me to make alternate arrangements. Note that the reschedule and cancellation policy applies in all cases.
What is your late policy?

If you are late by 15+ minutes or fail to attend without notice, I reserve the right to charge the full fee and cancel the session.
When can I contact you outside of sessions?

My private practice days are Tuesdays and Saturdays. I do my best to respond to texts or emails within 24 hours, but this may not always be possible. All contact with outside of counselling sessions should be made through email or text only, and discuss scheduling and counselling content only, e.g. session summaries, relevant resources. That being said, the best way to book or make changes to appointments is through the booking system on my website.
What is your rescheduling & cancellation policy?

Clients are responsible for keeping track of their bookings and ensuring they can make their appointments. I understand that things may arise that are outside your control and you might need to reschedule your appointment. Please use the links in the email confirmation to reschedule to another time. The full fee will be charged for cancellations within 36 hours of the appointment or if you fail to attend without notice. This is to respect the time set aside for you and to be fair to others who are waiting for an appointment. If you are unable to attend a session due to sickness or a non-work emergency that arises within 36 hours of the appointment, please get in touch ASAP. You are entitled to one free cancellation per year under these circumstances. Thereafter, standard cancellation procedures apply. Please note that changes to work commitments will not be considered as grounds for non-payment of the cancellation fee. I reserve the right to decline future bookings due to failure to adhere to this agreement. Read more...
Can I obtain a rebate from my health fund?

It depends. I am a provider with AHM, Bupa, HCF & Medibank Private. Check if your level of extras cover includes counselling and advise me when you make your initial booking. Please inform me if you are making a claim with your health fund as I will need to provide my provider number on the receipt.
What are the fees and payment methods?

The current standard fee is $150 for counselling and $100 for supervision. Invoices will be emailed before each appointment. For counselling clients, fees for the first session are due 3 days after making the booking (please see the Terms of Counselling section for more information about fees). If my fees are a barrier, I have limited availability for sessions at a reduced fee for sessions before 5pm on weekdays. Please inquire about availability prior to beginning counselling. You may also be eligible to claim a rebate with your private health fund (see the section on private health for more information) Payment by bank transfer is my preferred mode of payment.
Do I need a GP referral?

No, a GP referral is not needed.
Do you charge a fee for reschedulling or cancelling appointments?

Yes. The full fee will be charged for cancellations within 36 hours of the appointment or if you fail to attend without notice. This is to respect the time set aside for you and to be fair to others who are waiting for an appointment. I prefer not to charge, so if you are unable to attend a session due to sickness or a non-work emergency that arises within 36 hours of the appointment, please get in touch ASAP. You are entitled to one free cancellation per year under these circumstances. Thereafter, standard cancellation procedures apply. Please note that changes to work commitments will not be considered as grounds for non-payment of the cancellation fee. I reserve the right to decline future bookings due to failure to adhere to this agreement. Read more...
Can I obtain a rebate from Medicare?

At this point in time, counsellors are not eligible for Medicare rebates. If you are under the mental health plan from your GP, you may choose to see a psychologist. However, it must be noted that a ‘gap’ between the Medicare rebate and the psychologist fee may be incurred. This is often similar to what you would pay when seeing a counsellor. Also be aware that mental health plans only cover a maximum of ten sessions. Following these sessions, you will be required to pay the full psychologist fee (which can be over $150p/h). Seeing a qualified counsellor can, in the long run, be a more cost-effective way of seeking the help you need. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please chat to me to see how we may be able to assist you.
What can I expect at the first session?

It’s normal to have a range of feelings when coming to therapy. Whether it’s your first-ever session or you have been to therapy before, feelings of nervousness, excitement or apprehension are all normal and expected! We’ll have a relaxed, down to earth conversation about what has brought you to therapy, and what your concerns and goals are. You’ll be able to share your story and experiences with me, as well as ask questions. My role is to hold the space for you and really get an understanding of your thoughts, feelings and perspectives. In this session, you can also get a feel for my therapy space and what therapy will be like. Together, we’ll decide if we would be a good fit to work together. We know that the biggest predictor of success in therapy is the relationship between therapist and client, so it’s essential you feel that my approach resonates with you and is suited to your individual needs. During your first session, you may wish to ask questions relating to what to expect, and how I can best support you. We will also discuss how often you like to see me and sometimes book a time for when you would like to see me next.
How regular are the sessions and how many will I need?

The amount of therapy sessions you may need will vary depending on your goals. Healing is often not a linear process. I believe that long-term sustainable change and transformation is a process that does not involve a ‘quick fix’. Some people come to therapy for a few sessions to address their current goals or life challenges. Others come looking to do deeper psychotherapeutic work around trauma, which may span over a few months to a few years. Many people return to therapy from time to time as needed or to take the next step in their personal growth journey. Counselling and psychotherapy are most effective when it is regular and consistent. Generally, sessions occur weekly or fortnightly to begin with, but this also depends on what works for you. Together, we’ll assess your needs and what is going to work best for you. We’ll continue to check in and discuss our work together as we go. I always encourage conversation if you feel that something is not working for you, as it provides opportunities for us to work through it together. Choice is an important part of therapy. This means you can end the therapeutic relationship with me at any time, take a break, or alter the frequency of our sessions, and is best done in collaboration.
How long does a session last?

One session lasts for 55-60 minutes.
What about in between sessions?

I may give you relevant tasks or homework in between sessions to help you with your learning process. I encourage you to be curious and reflective about the things you are learning and to bring in material that you would like to work through. This provides us with direction and allows you to make the most out of your sessions.
Will I experience difficult emotions?

Counselling is effective when it engages the whole person - mind, emotions, body, and spirit/soul. Counselling is therefore vulnerable and emotional. But this is not always a bad thing! The therapy journey is like any journey of transformation: At times, it’s painful, there are many challenges as we look into the face of adversity, and it’s beautiful, awe inspiring, nurturing and joyful. Think of it like opening a box gently. You may discover new things about yourself or see a situation in a different way. Talking about a difficult or traumatic event may intensify your feelings. Healing & growth can happen when done this is done in a safe way with a safe and attuned other (the counsellor). What is put back into the box at the end of the session is never the same as what we started with. After the session, you may feel more positive or you may feel emotions that are new, raw or slightly uncomfortable. You should never feel more unsafe to re-engage with the world after you leave. I encourage to come with an open mind and heart. The hope is that you walk away with more awareness of yourself and gain new insights to help you live the life you desire and deserve.
Do I need to be a Christian to see a Christian counsellor?

Not at all. Counselling is first & foremost about you, the client. If you are a Christian, you may want someone who can respect and affirm your Christian worldview. If you are not a Christian, you may just be seeking good counselling -- someone you feel comfortable with, who listens to you and respects your autonomy. I never impose my own worldview onto my clients and only utilise a faith-based approach if it is important to you.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy and Counselling are professional activities that utilise an interpersonal relationship to enable people to develop self-understanding and to make changes in their lives. In general, counselling is usually shorter-term and focuses on specific issues, life adjustments, and fostering clients' wellbeing. Psychotherapy is usually longer-term and more in-depth and complex, as it is concerned with the restructuring of the personality or self and the development of insight. For more information, refer to PACFA.
How important is the therapeutic relationship?

Research shows when there is a good match between therapist and client, sustainable and meaningful change can occur. So it’s essential you feel that my approach resonates with you and is suited to your individual needs. As part of a good working relationship, I speak openly about the fact that ruptures or moments where I ‘get it wrong’ or misunderstand you are likely to happen. Conflict, ruptures, and mistakes are a normal part of what it means to be human. They’re also bound to happen in the therapy process. These moments give us an opportunity to understand how we react and respond in relationship and work through the challenges (rather than avoiding difference or leaving therapy prematurely). I always encourage conversation if you feel that something is not working for you, as it provides opportunities for us to work through it together. In this way, they can also be profound catalysts for transformational healing and growth - for both the client and the therapist!

6 way therapy can help

6 ways therapy can help you

Develop self-awareness and knowledge
Knowledge is power and I empower you through psychoeducation to help you understand more of who you are, the coping mechanisms you have developed from past experiences and how they develop into patterns of feeling, thinking and functioning. The brain is highly and new information can be integrated to give you more choice on how to react, and increase your capacity to grow and transform.
Discover your unique strengths and resources
I work from a strength-based approach to discover and honour the strengths and resources you already possess, as well as develop new skills.
Strengthen the connection between heart, mind and body
Research shows that healing, especially from traumatic experiences, doesn't just occur through changing our thinking (top-down), but through learning how to mindfully tune into our body and emotions (bottom-up). I create a safe holding space to help you tune into the wisdom of the body to increase your capacity for self-regulation and healing.
Heal from old attachment wounds
We develop our own unique styles of relating from our past experiences with our early caregivers or those who were meant to provide us with unconditional love. Therapy can help you understand and work through the unique challenges you faced in those formative years and the ways you learnt to adapt and cope that might be causing some difficulties in the present. We work to strengthen your adult self to give your inner child the nurture and care that you deserve.
Communicate your feelings, emotions, needs and boundaries
Through past experiences of not having our attachment needs met, many of us have learnt that it unsafe to feel our emotions and communicate our needs. Creative therapy approaches can help undo shame and discover how to honour and assertively communicate your needs and boundaries in your relationships.
Work through grief and loss
Almost every issue, including complex trauma, can be seen through the lens of grief and loss. Therapy is a safe space for you to mourn not only the things that have happened, but also the things that should have happened and didn't.

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