faq
How long do I have to wait for an initial counselling session?
Are my counselling sessions confidential?
How is my personal information kept private?
How long is a relationship therapy session?
What is the cost of a therapy session?
Do you offer reduced or sliding scale fees?
What if I can’t make my counselling appointment or if I need to cancel?
How often should I attend relationship therapy sessions?
My relationship is ending. Can you save it?
How does telephone counselling work?
How will I know if you are the right relationship counsellor for me?
What are your counsellor qualifications and training?
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How long do I have to wait for an initial counselling session?
Generally, I can book an individual or couples counselling appointment with you within a week or two at the latest. Click here for my online appointment diary to see what times are available. When you book online, I will call you and confirm your appointment within 24 hours and briefly discuss your needs.
Are my counselling sessions confidential?
Yes. Your confidentiality is of paramount importance to me. I am a member of several professional counselling organisations and adhere to their code of ethics in regard to this.
How is my personal information kept private?
Any records are kept in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Amended 2000). Any notes of our counselling sessions are kept either in a locked cabinet or encrypted on a password-protected computer and destroyed after a period of seven years.
How long is a relationship therapy session?
Individual and couple sessions are for 60 minutes unless prior arrangements are made. I also offer 90 minute couple consultations if you would like a longer couple session. Please contact me, or book with my online appointment diary
What is the cost of a therapy session?
I will let you know my current fees when we speak on the phone or book an appointment online to view my fees.
Do you offer reduced or sliding scale fees?
No. Unfortunately, because I am a private practitioner and not funded by other bodies, I am unable to offer reduced fees. I do, however, offer a 10% discount on fees when you book and prepay for 6 counselling sessions in advance. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, I will be happy to speak to you and suggest some not-for-profit organisations that offer low-cost counselling to those in need.
What if I can’t make my counselling appointment or if I need to cancel?
Since scheduling of a relationship counselling appointment involves the reservation of a time specifically for you, a minimum of 24 hours notice is required for rescheduling or cancelling an appointment. Unless we reach a different agreement, the full fee will be charged for sessions missed without such notification. Of course, I will be happy to reschedule your appointment when you provide more than 24 hours notice. Non-attendance for your appointment may also be an indicator of your level of commitment to therapy and change.
How often should I attend relationship therapy sessions?
The best outcomes for therapy are possible when relationship counselling appointments are scheduled and attended regularly. Every person is different, however, current research suggests that it can take at least 3-4 months of psychotherapy to establish long lasting changes. Research also says that you will experience changes sooner rather than later if I am to be effective with you. I monitor your progress formally with a short assessment at the beginning of each session.
Together we determine how often you will attend, based on your needs and schedule, which may be weekly, fortnightly or monthly. In my experience, the clients that have the most positive outcomes from therapy attend weekly, or at least schedule and attend sessions on a regular basis.
I think that the problem is my partner, but they don’t want to come in for couples therapy. What should I do?
It is possible that by attending relationship counselling on your own that you can make significant changes within yourself. These changes typically are beneficial to your relationship. Even if your partner won’t come in for couples counselling, you can work on the part you play in the patterns and dynamics of your relationship and this will generally have a positive impact on how you function as a couple. You may even find that your partner’s behaviour changes as a result of the changes you have made.
My relationship is ending. Can you save it?
Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that I can save your relationship. What I can do is assist you and your partner in identifying the negative patterns that have become entrenched between you and facilitate honest and open communication about your hopes, dreams and aspirations for the relationship.
We can see what is possible from there. Some couples come into relationship counselling at a point where there has been significant hurt and pain carried over a long period of time and sometimes it is not possible for the relationship to recover from this. Other couples are able to work through the pain and hurt and create a stronger and more resilient relationship.
If you really want to save your relationship, couples or marriage therapy may be your only hope for saving it. And if saving your relationship is not possible, we can work together to ease the pain and challenges involved in separating.
How does telephone counselling work?
Telephone counselling is available for individuals who may not be able to attend face-to-face counselling sessions due to disability, illness or physical distance. Please note that at this stage I only offer telephone counselling to residents of Australia and will not accept international bookings.
- Book your telephone counselling appointment of 30 or 50 minutes with my online appointment diary.
- The online diary will take you through the steps to pre-pay the session with PayPal via credit card or your linked bank account.
- Once your appointment is confirmed, you will need to call me on 0412 241 410 at the scheduled time.
- Make sure you are in a quiet room with no distractions and a pen and paper to take notes during our counselling session.
- At the conclusion of our first counselling session we will discuss your future needs in terms of telephone counselling or possible referrals that may be needed.
- If, for any reason, you miss your scheduled phone consultation, my full-fee cancellation policy will apply.
Please note, telephone counselling is not suitable for all individuals. If you are in crisis, please contact the 24-hour crisis counselling service in Australia called LifeLine on 131 114. I do not provide a crisis counselling service and will refer you to LifeLine or another suitable organisation if I believe I am not appropriate for you.
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How will I know if you are the right relationship counsellor for me?
To start with, I suggest you read the about Clinton and how I work pages so that you can get a good sense of who I am and how I work.
Secondly, I offer a free, 10-minute telephone consultation that as a starting point we can speak together about your needs. The first time we talk I’ll ask you to give me a brief description of the issues you would like to address in counselling and I’ll let you know how I may be able to help you. I find that people can get a good sense of me in this call and if we ‘click’.
I’ll tell you when I’m available and talk to you about my fees. If it feels like a good fit for both of us we’ll set up your first counselling appointment. If I don’t think I am the best counsellor for you, I am well connected to resources and would be happy to refer you to someone who may be better suited to you and your issue.
What are your counsellor qualifications and training?
I have a Post-Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy and an Advanced Diploma in Gestalt Therapy. I have extensive post-graduate training. My orientation is in Gestalt Therapy, which works with the client as a whole person. I have specialised in working and training in the relationship field for close to a decade. Please see the about Clinton page for more information on my specific qualifications and relationship counsellor training.
Are you ready to move out of relationship pain?
If so, please call me today at 0412 241 410 or email me to set up a FREE, confidential 10-minute phone consultation with myself.
To book an appointment NOW with my online appointment diary, click on the button below:
