therapeutic support for middle-aged and older adults

• Do I need a referral? You do not need a referral, a mental health diagnosis, or a letter from your GP to access Age Wise Counselling.

• What qualifications do you hold? I have a Diploma of Counselling, a Bachelor Arts (Rural Social Welfare), and various therapy specific certificates.

• Are you a registered counsellor? Yes! I am registered with the Australian Counselling Association.

• How many sessions will I need? There is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to how many sessions you will need. At your initial appointment I will get an understanding of your needs and we can discuss how many sessions you would like - it really is up to you, but the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy premise suggests as few as one session can be beneficial to see change in your life.

• Can I get a Medicare rebate? Unfortunately, at this time, Medicare in Australia does not cover the cost of counselling. However, as Medicare typically covers around $87 of a psychologist's fee, and psychologists' fees are typically around $180 per session, the 'gap' you will pay is around the same cost as seeing a counsellor. 

• How do I pay for an appointment? To ensure as much time as possible is available for your appointment, payment is processed online at the time of your booking. PayPal and all major credit and debit cards are accepted.

• Can I change or cancel my appointment?
  You can change or cancel your appointment up to 24 hours before your appointment time. A full refund will be provided for appointments cancelled with 24 hours or more notice. For appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, a 50% refund will be provided.

• How do I book an appointment? Booking is conducted online via this website. See the Contact page to make your booking.

• Will I have to wait to get in to see you? There is a two day minimum wait to see me; this is to ensure you have received your telehealth link and informed consent paperwork.

• What is Informed Consent? All reputable counsellors will provide their clients information about what counselling is, what they can expect from it, how bookings/payments/session times work etc. This is called Informed Consent. I will provide you with an Informed Consent form on your first booking which I ask you to read through, sign, and return to me. If you have questions about any of the content, please contact me to discuss. 

• What if I can't wait two days and need to see someone urgently? Age Wise Counselling is not crisis counselling. If you feel you are in crisis, please contact:

              Beyond Blue Crisis Line - 1300 224 636 - Beyondblue.org.au

              Lifeline - 13 11 14 - Lifeline.org.au 

              Triple 000