$150 AUD per 50 minute session

Payment is required on the day.

I am able to offer extended sessions for those who find the additional time helpful - let’s discuss this. The fees for extended sessions will be calculated on a pro rata basis ($225 per 75 minute session, etc.)

Fees

Rebates

I am unable to offer rebates through Medicare for Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) or Eating Disorder Plans (EDP).

HOWEVER, I do still work with clients who are using an EDP to access dietetic and GP services. This is a team approach to eating disorder care, though I cannot offer a rebate for mental health services. Get in touch if you’re unsure whether this approach is right for you.

If you require rebates in order to access treatment, please consult with your GP or use a database such as Inside Out or Butterfly Foundation to find a Psychologist, Social Worker and/or Occupational Therapist who is able to provide rebates.

Telehealth

Currently, research supports telehealth as an option for therapy that is ‘as effective’ as face-to-face options. A preference for telehealth or in-person sessions is a personal one.

Some benefits of telehealth are the reduced costs of service (lower overheads), ability to access therapy whilst travelling, and accessibility for folks with barriers in accessing clinical spaces.

In your telehealth sessions, you must be:

  • In a safe location (such as a private bedroom or lounge room, or private meeting room at your workplace)

  • In a private space (no other person should be in the room with you, unless already discussed with your therapist)

  • Not driving a car (it’s a safety issue)

  • Not on public transport (it’s a privacy issue)

  • Ideally, using a laptop or desktop computer so that the screen is large enough to see your therapist’s face. Accessing telehealth via a phone camera or tablet can be difficult for both parties. Being held in a hand on a mobile phone during session can induce some motion sickness!

  • Sitting comfortably! Bring along a blanket, a cup of tea, some fidgets, a notepad - have a think about what might make this 50 minute appointment a supportive time for you.

Starting therapy

To arrange your first session (an ‘assessment session’), get in touch via the Contact form.

I will respond to your enquiry with some details about my current availability, and we can arrange a time for your first session. I will create a login for you on the EHR (electronic health record) platform that I use, called PowerDiary. EHRs have to adhere to strict rules around confidentiality and privacy, and I trust PowerDiary to keep your information secure (mine too).

Using PowerDiary’s online forms, I will ask you to complete an ‘Informed Consent’ form. This form lays out some information about the counselling service, such as how to get in contact with me (email) and the cancellation policy (24 hours notice or the full fee applies). We will also verbally discuss the information in this form during the assessment session.

Clients can use PowerDiary to book and cancel appointments and to pay invoices. I may send you additional forms to fill out, such as if we are connecting with your GP or dietitian.

At the end of each session, I will offer to make a booking for your next session. Most clients do sessions at a weekly or fortnightly frequency, and some move to monthly as we approach the end of our time together. While some clients require (or prefer) sporadic sessions due to shift work or unstable income, I cannot guarantee session availability for irregular frequencies (though I do hope we can find a way to make it work).

Can you recommend a…

Looking for weight neutral, HAES-aligned or fat positive care?

The team at Ample Folk have created a community resource where anyone (including you) can recommend practitioners. This is not a guarantee that each practitioner will be a good fit for you - use your own discretion.

The resource is called Jiggle Club, and you can find a list of recommended practitioners including GPs, dietitians, psychologists and more.