FAQ

Common Questions

If you are thinking about counselling, you may want to know what happens in a session, how the practical side works, and what to expect before you get in touch.

About Counselling

Counselling is a place to talk through what is happening with someone trained to listen, ask questions, notice patterns, and help you make sense of your experience.

You do not need a diagnosis, a crisis, or a perfectly formed reason for being there. It is also not about being told what to do. We can look together at what is happening, what may be keeping something going, and what you want to understand differently.

There does not have to be one particular problem.

You might notice that something keeps returning, a relationship or life change has unsettled you, you are struggling with how you feel about yourself, or the way you have been managing things no longer seems to be working.

Sometimes the reason is simply that you want somewhere to think and speak more freely about something you have been carrying on your own.

You bring whatever feels most relevant that day. Sometimes that will be something specific that has happened during the week. Other times you might return to something we have already been talking about, or arrive without knowing where to begin.

I will listen, ask questions, reflect things back, and sometimes suggest we stay with something that seems worth looking at more closely.

You do not have to fill every silence, tell your story in the right order, or know where the conversation is going before we start.

There is no set number of sessions that works for everyone. Some people find a few conversations helpful, while others choose to continue over a longer period of time.

We will check in together regularly about how things are feeling and whether the work is meeting your needs. You remain in control of the pace and direction throughout.

Yes. These are areas I work with regularly.

I do not expect you to spend the beginning of counselling explaining basic context or justifying why a part of your identity, health, community, or work matters before we can talk about what it actually means for you.

Yes.

HIV can be the reason you come to counselling, something that becomes relevant later, or simply one part of your life that does not need to become the explanation for everything else.

We can talk about disclosure, stigma, shame, sex, relationships, health, identity, or the difference between what you know intellectually and what can still feel difficult.

Counselling is not a replacement for medical care or advice from your GP or HIV specialist.

Practical Questions

The counselling itself is the same. The main difference is the setting.

In person sessions take place in a private counselling room in Camperdown. Online sessions are held by video and can be useful if travel is difficult, time is limited, or you prefer meeting from home.

For online counselling, you will need somewhere reasonably private where you feel able to speak freely.

The first counselling session is 60 minutes.

Ongoing sessions are 50 minutes.

The initial 60-minute session is $170.

Ongoing 50-minute sessions are $170.

Payment is made on the day of the session by bank transfer or card.

I do not currently offer a sliding scale or reduced-fee sessions.

No. Sessions through The Listening Finch are not Medicare-rebatable.

You do not need a GP referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan to book counselling with me.

If accessing a Medicare rebate is important to you, you may prefer to look for a practitioner who offers Medicare-rebatable services.

Many people begin with weekly sessions because it gives the work some continuity.

That does not mean the frequency has to stay fixed. We can discuss what makes sense for you, including moving to fortnightly sessions if that becomes more appropriate.

Confidentiality and Safety

Yes. What you tell me in counselling is confidential, with a small number of legal and safety exceptions.

I will explain those limits clearly when we begin working together, so you know where the boundaries are and have an opportunity to ask questions about them.

Some sessions can stir things up.

You might leave feeling relieved, thoughtful, tired, unsettled, or more aware of something that had previously been easier not to think about. That does not automatically mean the session has gone badly.

If you regularly leave sessions feeling overwhelmed, or something about the counselling is not helping, I want us to talk about that. How the work is affecting you is part of the counselling too.

Online counselling is held through a secure video platform.

It is also worth thinking about privacy at your end. A room where you can speak without being overheard or interrupted usually makes online counselling easier.

If you have questions about how your information or online sessions are handled, you are welcome to ask.

Getting Started

Yes. I am currently taking new enquiries, with appointments available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in person and online.

You can get in touch through the contact form or by email. I will usually respond within 24 to 48 hours.

From there, you can arrange a first session or, if you would prefer to speak beforehand, we can arrange a free 15-minute phone call.

The call is optional.

It gives you a chance to briefly tell me what has brought you to counselling, ask questions about how I work, and get a sense of whether you would like to book a first session.

You do not need to explain your whole story in 15 minutes.

The first session is 60 minutes and gives us more time to begin.

We will talk about what has brought you to counselling and what feels important to you. I will also explain confidentiality and some of the practical boundaries around our work.

You do not need to arrive with your history organised, know exactly what you want from counselling, or cover everything in the first meeting.

It is also an opportunity for you to notice what it feels like to talk with me and whether you would like to continue.

You are not committing to ongoing counselling by attending a first session.

Sometimes two people are simply not the right therapeutic fit. If that is how it feels, you can say so. Where appropriate, I can also help you think about other options or practitioners who may be better suited to what you are looking for.

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Still Have Questions?

If something you want to know is not answered here, you are welcome to get in touch before deciding whether to book.

Get in Touch