Counselling & Psychotherapy

Wellness is more than just the physical.

What is counselling?

Counselling is a supportive and collaborative process where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, experiences and challenges in a safe, confidential space. It is a form of therapy where an individual, couple or family will meet with a qualified counsellor to discuss various issues.

People seek counselling for many different reasons, including stress, anxiety, low mood, relationship challenges, life transitions, grief, identity, self-esteem, health concerns, and simply wanting to better understand themselves.

Counselling may be short-term, with just a few sessions to address a specific issue or concern, or longer-term to provide ongoing support through a more challenging period. The number of sessions varies from person to person and depends on your individual needs and goals.

Counselling and Neurodiversity

Counselling can provide a supportive, non-judgemental space for neurodiverse individuals, including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other forms of neurodivergence, to better understand themselves and navigate the unique challenges they may experience. Rather than focusing on changing who someone is, counselling aims to recognise individual strengths, increase self-understanding, and develop practical strategies that support everyday life. It can also help address concerns that commonly occur alongside neurodivergence, such as anxiety, low self-esteem, burnout, emotional regulation, relationship difficulties, work or school challenges, and navigating environments that are not always designed to meet neurodiverse needs.

Counselling for Teens and Adolescents

Counselling can offer teenagers a safe, supportive, and confidential space to talk about what they're experiencing without fear of judgement. Adolescence is a time of significant emotional, social, and physical change, and many young people benefit from having someone outside of their family or school to help them make sense of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Counselling can support teenagers with concerns such as:

Anxiety
Depression
Self-esteem or body image
Sleep difficulties
Emotional regulation difficulties
Social struggles and bullying
Grief and loss
Separation adjustments
Family relationship conflicts
Self-harm
School refusal or learning difficulties
Gaming and other addictions

Counselling for Adolescents - The Role of Parents and Families

In adolescent counselling, young people are given appropriate privacy and space to speak openly, while parents can remain involved where helpful. Depending on the concerns being addressed, this may include separate sessions with parents, collaborative conversations, or family counselling when difficulties relate to communication or family dynamics.

A separate parent session at the beginning of therapy can be particularly helpful. It provides an opportunity for parents to share relevant background and context about their teenager and the concerns that have led them to seek counselling, while allowing the adolescent’s sessions to remain their own space.

Parents may also choose to access individual counselling themselves. Supporting a teenager through difficulties can bring up stress, uncertainty, or challenges in a parent’s own life and relationships. Having their own therapeutic space can help parents work through these experiences, develop greater self-awareness and consider how they can best support their teenager.

Group and Family Counselling

Group and family counselling provides an opportunity for multiple people to work through challenges together in a supportive and guided environment. In a family counselling setting, this may involve a young person and their parent or caregiver attending sessions together to improve communication, better understand each other’s experiences, and work through challenges that are affecting the family dynamic.

For neurodiverse people and their families, counselling can provide a space to better understand each other's experiences, communication styles, and unique needs. It can support families to develop more effective ways of communicating, reduce misunderstandings, and create a more supportive and cohesive environment.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a fundamental part of counselling and helps create a safe and trusting environment where you can feel comfortable sharing your thoughts, feelings, and experiences openly. Information discussed during sessions remains private and is not shared with others without your consent, except in situations where there is a legal or ethical requirement to do so, such as concerns about your safety or the safety of someone else.

Your counsellor will discuss confidentiality with you at the beginning of the counselling process, including how your information is managed and any circumstances where confidentiality may need to be limited. This ensures you understand your rights and can feel confident knowing that counselling is a space where your privacy is respected.

Confidentiality for Teenagers

Counselling provides teenagers with their own private space to talk through their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. While parents and caregivers may support a young person in accessing counselling, teenagers are encouraged to have their own voice and space within sessions. What is discussed in sessions is kept private and is not shared with parents, caregivers, or others without the teenager’s consent, unless there is a concern about their safety or the safety of someone else. If a concern does arise, the counsellor will aim to involve the teenager in decisions about what information needs to be shared and who is involved in their support.

What is the difference between a counsellor and a psychologist?

Counsellors and psychologists both support people with their mental health and wellbeing.

Counsellors are trained to support people through a wide range of emotional, personal, and life challenges. Counselling often focuses on understanding your experiences, thoughts, feelings, relationships, and the challenges you are facing, while providing support, coping strategies, and practical tools to help you navigate life's difficulties.

Psychologists receive extensive training in psychological assessment, mental health conditions, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatments. They may work with people experiencing more complex, ongoing mental health concerns and can provide formal psychological assessments and diagnoses.

Can I claim rebates or benefits with Medicare or through a Mental Health Plan?

Counselling is not eligible for Medicare rebates or sessions covered by a mental health treatment plan. However, many private health funds will cover some part of the cost of counselling services, depending on your policy and provider.

Find out how we can help you by calling us on
02 8065 1970 or booking online via our website