Why Counselling?
Counselling can be an effective means for a client to obtain relief from emotional pain, discover a direction for their lives, and receive feedback that can facilitate change. Good therapists collaborate with a client in the hopes that the client may find better ways to behave, interact, function and act on those in their own way. A counsellor will give the client an opportunity to explore, discover and clarify ways of living more satisfyingly and resourcefully. A therapist should assist the client in gaining insight, exploring feelings and making changes in their life. Counselling may be brief or lengthy, depending on the clients' needs. My aim is to teach clients the skills to achieve the change they need, thus doing myself out of a job.
My Counselling Sessions
My counselling sessions are client centered, consent based and non pathologising. I work in collaboration with my clients to decide what supports may be needed and what direction the client wishes to take. I believe that the client knows their lived experience best, and is the expert on their own life. I believe that therapy is a process of self-discovery and having a safe, non-judgmental, respectful and empathetic space is essential for this process to be successful. I do not follow a one size fits all approach. I believe we are all at different stages of life needing different experiences. So I tailor my method according to the needs of my clients. As a neurodivergent human I enjoy working with fellow neurodivergent folk.
I check in with my clients regularly throughout our working time together and obtain consent before trying new approaches. Consent can be withdrawn at any time and I will be attentive to both verbal and non verbal cues.
Trauma begins within our bodies and therefore I do not believe that anyone needs to be ‘fixed’. I cannot diagnose my clients with any condition (mental health or otherwise). I can support my clients if they require a diagnosis. I will acknowledge and try to work with the times when labels are useful in accessing support as well as acknowledging that there can also be times when these labels can be harmful. Certain labels or diagnoses make a conversation more accessible or understandable, and I will always explore what this means for my client and continuously be in conversation with my client around the meaning they place on words, diagnoses, labels or terminology. All that said, I work with a lot of clients who have diagnosis such as C-PTSD, PTSD, DID, OSDD as well as depression, anxiety and OCD.
I am dedicated to working towards being anti-oppressive, which means I am continually looking at my own conditioning, including the work I do and the cultures/sectors/professions I work alongside. Again, I believe the client is the expert in their own experiences. I am staunchly anti racist, I am a supporter of LGBTIQA+ rights, I am sex positive, non-judgmental and have a good understanding of risk-aware consensual kink, ethical non-monogamy and polyamory. I provide gender affirming care for all people who need it.
I am a member of the Australian Counselling Association and abide by their code of ethics and practices.
How Do I Find a Therapist That Suits Me?
Types of Therapists:
Clinical Psychologists – these are professionals who have studied psychology at a tertiary level, to a post graduate level. Often their focus is on diagnosis and assessments in addition to providing therapy.
Counsellors – these are professionals who have studied counselling/psychotherapy at a tertiary level. They do not practice from a medical model. Please ensure your counsellor is qualified – counselling is not a protected title in Australia and anyone can call themselves a counsellor. Ask for qualifications if you are unsure.
Social Worker – these are professionals who have studied social work/mental health at a tertiary or higher education level. They also don’t practice from a medical model.
Psychiatrists – these are professionals who have studied a medical model and focus on diagnosis, prescribing medication and treatment plans.
It can be difficult to find a therapist who is right for you. Unfortunately, people are often referred to someone without having much say in who that person is, or even without knowing what approaches they use and whether they may or may not be suitable.
One of the most important predictors of success in therapy is the connection you have with the therapist. So when you are looking for one you should focus on a few areas:
Competence - Does this person appear professional to me? Do I feel respect for this person? Do they seem to know what they are doing?
Convenience - Is it relatively stress free to use this therapist? Nothing will erode your therapy faster than choosing a path that is unsustainable for you financially or practically.
Connection - Can I get a sense of this person's humanity, and does that feel like a good fit to me? Do I like their photo? Do I like their bio? Do they seem to have a personality that seems familiar to me?
Other considerations may be do they bulk bill, do they accept insurance? Often Government or not-for-profit services provide counselling free or on a sliding scale based on your income. Some private practising therapists also offer a sliding scale. Do you need a referral or can you just book an appointment straight away? Most psychologists require a referral, whereas counsellors and social workers generally do not. Psychiatrists require a referral from your GP.
We are all unique and therapy is not a one size fits all approach. It is important, if you can, to research which therapist may suit your needs. Look at their websites and social media, see if what they say sits well with you. If you have questions, reach out and contact the therapist via their website or give them a call. Often those in private practise will offer a free 15 minute phone call or zoom session to see if you feel they are the best fit for you and vice versa. A therapist may feel that they do not have the skill level or experience to address your needs. They may then provide you with a list of alternative therapists you can contact if this is the case.
The first therapy session can be anxiety producing. If it’s easier for you, make a list of what you want to discuss with the therapist. Write down some goals. Often the first session is more of a get to know you or information gathering session. If you have any needs, please don’t forget to discuss those. If anything in the therapy setting/room makes you uncomfortable, please bring this up with your therapist. The therapist should understand if something triggers you or there is something you are not comfortable with. Most therapists are happy to provide basics such as water or tissues, however feel free to bring your own.
After the first session, you don’t have to make another appointment straight away. You can let your experience sit with you for a day or so and then decide whether you want to continue with the therapist. Check in with yourself and see how you felt during and after the session. Did you feel heard, did you like the therapist, did you feel like they were genuinely interested in you and that you could both work together? If you feel positive about the session, then you may want to book another. If not, that is okay too.
Don't be afraid to switch therapists if you realise after the first or third session that they're not a good fit. Remember - the therapeutic relationship is the most important part - if the relationship doesn't work, therapy won't work.
A great guide is the Good Therapy Choosing a Therapist section of their website.
For more information on the types of therapy, Wikipedia’s List of Psychotherapies page is often helpful, as is the Types of Therapy page of the Good Therapy website. This, of course, is not a complete list, but it is a very good start.
Websites with Practitioner Directories
Victorian Inclusive Practitioners