Unsure what this whole

counselling thing is all about?

Read on...

 

I want to be honest with you, this is a working relationship which means it requires trust, commitment, hard work and yes, money. 

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You'll probably be a little nervous, worried how I might judge you. That's exactly what I worried about too when I first saw my therapist. But, I have enough, wisdom, empathy and compassion to not judge you based on the small percentage of your life that I get the privilege of hearing about.

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Quick-fix bandaid solutions are not my thing,

because it doesn't take much for a bandaid to come off.

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Step 1 - Email, text or phone me

Once you've connected with me via a FREE 15 min introduction chat and told me the brief, general reason you want support, I'll tell you about the fees and that payment is required via direct transfer prior to each session. I'll let you know our catch-ups will be outdoors, somewhere we both agree to in the Camden area (anywhere from Gregory Hills to Camden Park and Harrington Park to Mount Annan). I'm also open to our first catch-up to be over a cuppa in a mutually agreed cafe. Even if it's your child you would like me to see, the first session is adults only.

We agree on a date and location for our first catch-up.

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Step 2 - Consent and intake forms

I'm going to email you a copy of the Terms and Conditions for you to consent to plus a basic intake form where you have an opportunity to give me a little information before we meet in person. I'll send you an invoice a couple of days before our catch-up and gratefully thank you for paying via direct transfer before we start our meeting.

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Step 3 - Our first catch up in person (90mins)

You're going to say whatever you need to say and I'm going to listen. I'll probably ask you some more things about some of what you put in the intake form. I'll probably even let there be some silences. Being reflective is part of the therapy.

You might shed some tears, your stomach might feel knotted as you experience a tangle of emotions. This is fantastic. This means we're heading in the right direction to start collaborating on growth, tools and strategies.

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If I'm working with your child... I'm working with you too.

 

If your child is under 16yrs (sometimes 18yrs), you and I are going to have a parent update meeting first, without their young ears listening in. Why?

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• So you have the opportunity to say exactly what's concerning you regarding them and they don't have to hear loved ones talking about them in a way they may perceive as negative.

• Because human brains aren't fully developed until our mid-20's so we cannot expect children to remember strategies or do them correctly and consistently without help, especially when it comes to emotions.

• Because when a child has challenges, quite often the most effective strategies are the loving adults in their life doing some things differently - not because you were doing things wrong, but because for your child in this situation, in this moment in time, it wasn't working.

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Step 4 - Sessions 2 to ??? (1hr)

We will continue to meet either weekly or fortnightly for a few sessions then decide together if sessions can be spaced out further.

After the initial session, you may or may not be present with your child - we'll decide on this together. After a number of sessions, it might be beneficial for us to have another parent update catch-up without your child.

When I'm meeting with teens and adults, we decide if we're going to walk & talk or sit & talk.​

When I'm with your child, I'm going to engage them through play as well as chatting. we might use the playground equipment or I might bring along some games, toys, or fun, sensory stuff to use.

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Don't wait to be without fear to be courageous

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