About Therapy - Common Questions
Can therapy really change things?So much of what keeps us stuck happens below the surface - patterns we didn't choose, responses we learned early, ways of relating that made sense once but no longer serve us. When we start to see those patterns clearly, something shifts. Not because we've fixed ourselves, but because awareness creates choice. You begin to notice the moment before you react, the feeling beneath the feeling, the story you've been telling without realising it. That's where real change lives - in understanding yourself deeply enough that the choice to choose differently becomes possible
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?Counselling tends to focus on current challenges and practical support, while psychotherapy goes deeper - exploring the underlying patterns, beliefs, and relational experiences that shape how you think, feel, and connect. In practice, I integrate both, drawing on whichever approach best serves where you are and what you need. I provide a space where you can bring the parts of yourself you don't quite understand yet - the anxiety that won't settle, the patterns that keep repeating, the feelings that are hard to name, and we explore them without judgement. Over time, that exploration tends to create something quietly powerful: a clearer sense of who you are, what you need, and how you want to show up in your life and relationships
What approach do you use, and why does it matter?I work primarily from a Gestalt psychotherapy framework, which is relational, body-aware, and grounded in the here and now. For couples, I also draw on the Gottman Method — an evidence-based approach built on decades of relationship research. What this means in practice is that sessions aren't just talk; they're a chance to genuinely understand yourself and your patterns in a way that creates lasting change, not just insight.
How many sessions do I need?There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Some people find that a handful of sessions gives them the clarity and tools they need. Others prefer ongoing support as they work through deeper patterns over time. We'll talk about your goals early on and check in regularly about how things are feeling. Therapy moves at your pace — there's no pressure to continue longer than feels right for you
Do you take mental health care plans or offer medicare rebates?A Mental Health Care Plan isn't required to work with me, though you're welcome to bring one if you'd like me to collaborate with your GP. Because my postgraduate training is in psychotherapy rather than psychology, I'm unable to offer Medicare rebates. To make things as accessible as possible, my fees are set close to the average out-of-pocket cost of seeing a rebated therapist, and unlike a Mental Health Care Plan, which covers only 10 sessions, my fees stay consistent for the duration of our work together
Why work with me?I bring clinical training, real-world experience, and genuine warmth, and I think that combination matters. I'm a therapist, but I'm also a mother of three who has navigated the challenges of relationships, parenting, and life transitions firsthand. I genuinely care about the people I work with, in a real, human way. I bring warmth, humour when it's welcome, and a lot of genuine curiosity about who you are and what you're carrying. The clinical training matters, but it's the relationship that does the real work. That's what I show up for.