Some mental health professionals spend the entire first session collecting your life history and bombarding you with intrusive questions from the get go.

I avoid this as much as possible, gathering some basic info about your life situation and then spending a bit of time gently exploring what YOU most want to discuss.

I will also explain how the process of working together might look and ask if you have any prior counselling experience, and whether there are things that work well for you, or things you prefer to avoid.

I believe trust is earned, and the first session is an opportunity to get a feel for each other and begin this process together. It is always up to you how much you share with me.

Sessions are typically 60 minutes, though I also offer 90 minute sessions and sessions shorter than 60 minutes on request.

Some clients choose to have a break half way in between for accessibility purposes and in this way sessions are customisable based on your specific needs.

Most of my work focusses on complex trauma and neurodivergence. However, trauma tends to be broader than people expect. It isn’t only a result of being a victim of serious crime or living through a disaster or war.

Complex trauma can be the result of attachment injuries over long periods of time where we didn’t get our needs met growing up. Often this is especially the case for neurodiverse people as simply existing in a world not designed for us can cause trauma.

But you do not need to identify with ‘having trauma’ to work with me or see benefit from counselling. Diagnosis (of anything) is also not necessary.

Some issues I might be of help with could include:

• Overwhelm, stress, anxiety

• Difficulty with executive function and decision making

• Low mood

• Social difficulty or relationship problems

• Dilemmas around personal identity and sense of self

• Self-discovery and healing around sexuality and sexual identity

• Non-monogamy and kink

• Disability and internalised ableism

• Boundaries and self advocacy

• Dissociative symptoms and disorders

• Balancing conflicting needs with AuDHD

• Embodiment and grounding
  
  Some areas outside of my scope of practice are:
  

• Diagnosis of mental health conditions

• WPATH reports

• Crisis support

• Active addiction to alcohol or other drugs as the primary concern

• Couples therapy

• Child and adolescent therapy

First and foremost, approaching my clients with genuine curiosity and empathy to meet you where you are at, and doing my best to understand the way your mind/body work. There is no one size fits all.

I invite my clients to fidget and stim as needed, choose the level of eye contact, whether or not they want the camera on or prefer phone sessions, etc.

I offer reminder emails for sessions and bookings can be made without needing to make a phone call.

I also provide tools such as infographics with accessible, simple images to explain concepts to clients.

Choices can be made around time warnings, breaks, when and how to schedule upcoming appointments or time for note taking.

I aim to learn whether you need simple yes or no questions to reduce cognitive load, if visualisation is hard for you, if you need help transitioning into or out of sessions, and whether there are tools or supports you could use outside of sessions.

I allow clients to have support items and/or support workers present if needed.

I am also familiar with the NDIS and support clients with self advocacy in broader systems, employment or schooling.

This depends on a number of factors. Generally a minimum of 6 sessions is needed for lasting progress on an issue, but many people choose ongoing weekly sessions for complex issues or monthly sessions for maintenance and support in their general life.

Working out what frequency of sessions best suits your situation is something we can do together, and it is always flexible.

I am able to work with self and plan managed NDIS clients.

I am not eligible to offer Medicare rebates or work under the EAP, Workcover, Victims of Crime, or private health insurance schemes.

No. Conflict of interest prevents me from seeing the people you are close to. But I am happy to make a referral or suggestion for you to pass on.

Please get in touch if you would like to bring someone to a session. I only offer individual therapy, and due to confidentiality and safety I generally advise clients to be alone and uninterrupted.

However, if you need to have a support person with you to better access counselling, please let me know.

I have some limited availability for after hours sessions and one-off weekend sessions.

I keep meeting rooms open for 15 minutes after the start of a session. If you are running later than this, please let me know and I will keep the meeting open for you or send a new link. Sessions will still finish at the scheduled time.

No-shows and cancellations after the allotted starting time are still charged for the session. Less than 24 hours’ notice of a cancellation incurs a 50% charge.

There is no cancellation fee if you provide more than 24 hours’ notice.