Your Questions, Answered

  • These terms are often used interchangeably and can be confusing. All may provide talking therapy, but they differ in training pathways, professional regulation, and scope of practice.

    In Australia, psychologists are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and AHPRA and follow a specific university-based training pathway.

    The titles counsellor and psychotherapist are not protected in Australia. However, many practitioners complete accredited, in-depth training programs that include substantial supervised clinical practice, mandatory personal therapy, and ongoing supervision.

    My own training was completed in the UK through an accredited university program that required extensive clinical hours during training, regular supervision, and personal therapy as a core part of the qualification. I am a PACFA registered counsellor, which means I meet national standards for training, supervision, and ethical practice.

    Ultimately, the effectiveness of therapy is influenced less by professional title and more by the therapist’s training, ethical practice, and the quality of the therapeutic relationship.

  • Choosing a therapist is a personal decision, and it’s important that you feel safe, respected, and understood.

    You may wish to ask a potential therapist about:

    • Their training and professional accreditation

    • Their supervision and professional support arrangements

    • The therapeutic approach they use

    • Their experience with the concerns you’re bringing

    • The reflective work they have done on themselves, including personal therapy

    A strong therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in effective therapy, so it’s okay to take your time and ask questions to find the right fit.

  • I don’t have fixed consulting hours, which allows flexibility in appointment times. All session availability is managed through the Zanda Health client portal, where you can view current availability and book appointments directly. Availability may change, so please refer to the portal for the most up-to-date options.

  • The Zanda Client Portal is a secure online system used to manage your appointments and therapy related administration. Through the portal, you can book and reschedule sessions, complete intake forms, make payments, and access session details in one place.

    The portal is designed to be easy to use and helps keep your information organised, confidential, and secure.

  • Mental health care plans under the Better Access Scheme are written by a GP for a client to access Medicare rebates in seeing a psychologist. Unfortunately, at present, these rebates do not apply to counselling or psychotherapy services.

     

    The current Medicare rebate for a general psychologist is approximately $98.95. The Australian Psychological Society recommended session fee is $318 which means you may be out of pocket more than $200.

     

    The fee for individual counselling and psychotherapy at Beyond the Couch Therapy is $160 per session, which is often less than the gap payment clients pay when seeing a psychologist under a Mental Health Care Plan.

  • Private health fund rebates are not available at this time.

  • Full payment is required at least 24 hours prior to your appointment to secure your session. Payments are made securely via the client portal. If payment is not received within this timeframe, the appointment may be cancelled.

  • Cancellations and changes to appointments can be made on your personal client portal as long as it is more than 24 hours before your scheduled session. If less than 24 hours, you can contact us here to advise. 

    Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice will incur the full session fee. Missed appointments or non-attendance without notice are also charged in full.

    As session times are reserved specifically for you, missed appointments are not eligible for refunds or rescheduling.

  • Sessions are 50 minutes in length. Session frequency depends on your needs and what you would like to work on.

    I generally recommend starting with six weekly sessions to build consistency and support meaningful progress. We can review and adjust this as we go.

  • All sessions are currently offered via telehealth. Face-to-face sessions will be available in the near future.

  • Yes. Confidentiality is a fundamental part of therapy. Information shared in sessions is kept private in line with professional, ethical, and legal obligations. Exceptions apply only where required by law, such as situations involving serious risk of harm or mandatory reporting.

  • Yes. You are free to end therapy at any point. If you choose to discontinue, I encourage you to discuss this with me so we can work towards a thoughtful and supportive ending. I will also provide notice if I believe ending therapy is in your best interest.

Book now