FAQs

How do I know when therapy is working?
At times, straightforward counselling may not be enough to make meaningful and profound changes. During counselling, patterns, emotions, indecisiveness, or procrastination may reveal unresolved or unrecognised wounds from the past. This may require in-depth psychotherapy, providing the client is ready to address these deeper issues. It can take time to create change and see permanent results; however, you should feel some level of progress after the first session. Therapy is more about taking the time to look for and treat the source of the wound. The time of treatment for any one person in therapy greatly depends on what they need treatment for (their personal history, symptoms, support, background, and health). Ultimately, successful therapy means that your symptoms seem better managed or are decreasing, and you feel like you’re accomplishing your current goal(s) or raising your self-awareness outside of therapy. For example, if you went into therapy to deal with anxiety issues, you can look at whether your symptoms have decreased, such as feeling less anxious, less panic attacks, or sleeping more hours in a night. The approaches I use aim to create deep and enduring change.
Why Should I go to Therapy?
It is advisable to go to therapy when you are struggling with emotional difficulties, life challenges, or mental health concerns. Therapy helps you to process immediate challenging situations that can cause anger, grief, sadness, anxiety and stress, such as an accident, domestic violence, loss of a loved one, illness, or job loss, etc; Therapy helps you to answer challenging questions by clarifying your values and options when making a crucial decision. It also supports you in managing your relationships, with a focus on developing better communication and interpersonal skills or changing painful thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
How does Therapy work?
I am open-minded and feel comfortable with diversity. I develop the best quality of contacting with my clients, giving them an authority in the therapeutic work, as I believe and honour that everyone has wisdom and is the expert in their life. I use an integrative humanistic model to explore interpersonal relationships. This approach is non- judgmental and avoids making interpretations. Coupled with brain-mind contemporary neuroscience, this integrative model promotes and supports the client to localise, identify and connect with their own needs and internal dialogue, so that internalised messages, blocked memories, and unresolved emotions from the past can be revealed through the client. Through understanding and acceptance of where their struggles and cause of suffering has originated from, allows for meaningful inner personal wisdom and resource to navigate their personal lives. Ultimately, psychotherapy aims to empower the individual by enabling awareness of their blocked emotions and patterns through increased self-awareness, resulting in more dramatic changes in perspective regarding oneself, life quality experience and relationships.
For how long do I need to attend therapy?
This depends on your needs and varies a lot from one person to another. Some people feel they get most value after just a few weeks, while others prefer therapy for an extended period of time. This is completely up to you. It can take time to create change and see permanent results; however, you should see some level of significant progress after the first three sessions.
Differences between Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Psychiatrist, or Counsellor?
Understanding the differences between the various types of mental health professionals in Australia can be difficult; even more so if you were to do an internet search and look at overseas sites, where the rules and use of terminology might be different. Even trickier, is understanding the roles, and different approaches to therapy.
What is Counselling?
Counselling generally refers to short-term sessions. It typically deals with your challenging questions, or immediate issues that can be resolved at a conscious level in a few sessions.
What is Psychotherapy?
It is a very fascinating evolution and a much more profound process that requires the therapist to work on a much deeper level with the client to address hidden underlying issues. The overall goal is so that growth and transformation can flourish for the client. This process can reveal conscious and unconscious thoughts of long-standing trauma, patterns, feelings, and behaviours that have resulted in blocked emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness, frustration, anxiety, or physical illness. Psychotherapists focus on assisting their clients to explore and understand aspects of themselves and their experience. They assist their clients to understand how past experiences influence and shape their current responses to life events.
What is Psychology?
A psychologist is a university-trained health professional who will have completed a 4-year undergraduate degree in psychology. In addition, they will have undertaken one (or more) of the following: To be registered as a clinical psychologist, the health professional must have completed a Master's or Doctoral degree plus a required period of supervised practice. Psychology training in Australia usually focuses on Mental Health skills training and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approaches. However, many psychologists extend their training and experience to utilise additional approaches, such as psychodynamic work and integrated well-being approaches.
What is Psychiatry?
A Psychiatrist is a medically trained doctor with extensive additional training leading to a specialisation in psychiatry. Typically, it takes 11 years to complete training to be a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists specialise in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness. They have the training to identify complex mental health issues and can prescribe medication for treatment.
What is Relationship Therapy?
It consists of a type of psychotherapy in which a therapist helps two or more members of a romantic relationship resolve their conflicts and improve their bond in each aspect of their relationship.
What is Group Work - Therapy?
It offers the opportunity to both receive and give support to others. It allows for bonding and a therapeutic alliance between group members, so change and growth can be made.
What is a Self-Support Group?
Through sharing our experiences and things that we have in common as immigrants, we become bonded with others, and we can support each other.
Does Wise Beginning accept Medicare for Mental Health Plans?
Psychotherapists and Counsellors are not covered by Medicare under MHC plans. However, Wise Beginning does offer a discount for individuals with an MHC plan, a Health Care Card or a Pension Concession Card and holidays and student VISA Holders. Also, you may find our fees comparable to the out-of-pocket “gap” fee you would have to pay to a clinical psychologist on an MHC plan.
What happens if I want to end treatment?
You can end your sessions at any time. Throughout the working relationship, I will engage in direct and personal conversations. I will seek to be honest and straightforward in asking questions and making requests. If you believe the therapy is not working as desired, please communicate that with me as soon as possible to find a resolution. I develop the best quality of contact with my clients, giving them authority in the therapeutic relationship. Early into the therapy sessions, I may feel it necessary to refer you on to another therapist. Client’s feedback is essential to me. You will seek to resolve your concerns quickly and effectively. I have a genuine interest in knowing and supporting my clients. Through my understanding, empathetic resonance, and attentive care, I create a safe and supportive environment. If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to share it with me.

You don’t need an MH Care Plan to work with me, as I don’t bill via Medicare.
Medicare doesn’t subsidise psychotherapy/counselling as we do not fall under the medical model. In terms of cost, subsidised people have much higher fees, and the out-of-pocket cost is around the same as ours. Medicare subsidies are only for 6- 10 sessions, so it would become expensive if you wanted to continue beyond that with a psychologist.
Therapy isn’t a quick fix or magic cure for mental health problems. Some types of treatment can take a year or more for you to get the full benefit. They are not a quick fix, but the positive effects of psychotherapy are often long-lasting.
I would recommend a psychologist or a psychiatrist if you are looking for a diagnosis for complex mental health needs that require medication.
If you want to understand yourself better, unpack your developmental history, or change unhelpful patterns (insert your relevant work here), I can certainly help.