PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM TEMPORARILY UNABLE TO ACCEPT NEW CLIENTS.
I'm Catherine, a PACFA-certified professional counsellor offering therapy to individuals aged 18 years and over.
As your counsellor, I will provide you with a safe, kind and calm space to explore the parts of your story that you have struggled to tell.
I will listen to you with compassion, validate your experiences without judgement, and respect your individuality.
By helping you strengthen your innate resilience and learn positive coping skills, I will support you to navigate the obstacles that are preventing you from living your best possible life.
Make an enquiry

What is your story?

  • loss, bereavement, grief
  • the impact of past experiences
  • family issues
  • relationship difficulties
  • life transitions
  • managing change
  • experiencing challenging emotions
  • feeling stuck or uncertain
  • wanting to enrich your life

Our work together

I will seek to understand you with compassion and without judgement.
I will be genuine and present for you.
I will gently encourage you as you find the strength to heal past wounds, gain clarity about your goals and make resolutions about the future.
I will be honoured to witness the changes you make in your life.
I practise in a trauma-informed and inclusive way.

Some approaches we might explore
Narrative Therapy

to help integrate and make meaning of all of your life's experiences

Internal Family Systems

to honour the protective roles different parts of you play and help them to harmonise
Self-soothing exercises

to help you regulate difficult emotions
Observing your body's responses

to foster deeper emotional understanding
Exploring YOUR attachment style

to help understand challenging relationships

Creative processes

to gain new insight and imagine new ways forward
Role switching exercises

to understand and reconcile different perspectives
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

to identify, and commit to living according to, your values

Session rates

Each session costs $95, via phone.

Sessions last 50 minutes, with a final few minutes spent summarising and reflecting on the content of the session.
Occasionally, you may wish to book a longer session. We can discuss the fee for an extended sessions if the need arises. 
I also believe it's important for people to have access to therapy when it is needed.
If money concerns prevent you from seeking help, please let me know. I have a small number of sessions available at a discounted rate and will consider your situation and needs.

PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM CURRENTLY PROVIDING PHONE COUNSELLING SESSIONS ONLY.
Make an enquiry

Frequently asked questions
How will counselling help me?

Counselling is a safe and confidential relationship within which you will be supported to enhance your self-esteem, develop self-awareness and resolve specific concerns.

Counselling may not offer the best therapeutic support for those diagnosed with serious mental health conditions.
WILL I NEED A REFERRAL?

You do not need either a referral from your General Practitioner or a Mental Health Plan to attend counselling sessions with me.

Some people prefer to attend counselling for this reason.
HOW DO I PAY FOR MY SESSION?

Telehealth consultations are invoiced and payment is due prior to the appointment.

Receipts are issued for all payments.
IS THERE A MEDICARE REBATE FOR COUNSELLING?

Medicare does not currently provide rebates for counselling services.

For this reason, counsellors charge less than other mental health professionals such as psychologists.
WILL MY PRIVATE HEALTH INSURER REIMBURSE ME?

Check if you are able to claim counselling sessions with your provider. I will provide you with a receipt at the end of each session.

Some workplaces also offer financial support for employee counselling sessions. Your HR department will advise whether this is the case.
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL A SESSION?

You may find it necessary to cancel your appointment. If this is the case, please provide a minimum of 24 hours' notice to avoid paying a cancellation fee.

Cancellation fees may be waived in the event a genuine emergency situation arises.
HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL I NEED?

Therapy is unique to each individual. The length of time we work together will depend on what you bring to our sessions and what you hope to achieve.

Sessions are usually weekly to start, and may go to bi-weekly once positive changes start to occur.

We can discuss your needs in depth in our first session.

ARE OUR SESSIONS CONFIDENTIAL?

I take your confidentiality seriously.

I act in line with the requirements of my accrediting body PACFA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) and its code of ethics
WHERE ELSE DO YOU WORK?

Alongside my private practice, I work as a professional counsellor at Anglicare.

My interest in listening to and supporting people also led me to volunteer as an anxiety support group facilitator for WayAhead Mental Health Association NSW.

Make an enquiry

To find out more about my services or to book a session, please submit an enquiry via this contact form.
Alternately, you can phone me on 0481 572 308.
I am happy to have a free 15-minute phone conversation with you, to help you decide if I am the right counsellor for you.
The document below might also help you to decide if you would like to begin counselling sessions. 
If you have not had an email response from me within a few days of making your enquiry, please check your spam folder.
Name E-mail Message Submit your enquiry

Useful resources

Your Story Matters does not provide crisis counselling.

If you need emergency support for yourself or someone you know, please contact the following services. Unless otherwise stated, these services operate 24/7.
EMERGENCIES

If your life, or the life of someone else, is in danger call 000 immediately.
CRISIS & SUICIDALITY

If you are suicidal or in crisis, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Please call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511
DV & SEXUAL ASSAULT

For immediate practical support and counselling, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
LGBTIQ+ PEER SUPPORT

Please contact Q Life [3pm-midnight] on 1800 184 527

FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE

Please contact the National Indigenous Critical Response Service on 1800 805 801
SUPPORT FOR MEN

Please contact MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA

Please call Blue Knot [9am-5pm, Monday-Friday] on 1300 657 380
HELP FOR CHILDREN

Please contact the Kids' Helpline on 1800 551 800
SUPPORT FOR GRIEF

Please call Griefline [8am-8pm, Monday-Friday] on 1300 845 745

BRIEF SUPPORT

Please call the Beyond Blue service on 1300 224 636

I acknowledge the Bidjigal people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which I work and live, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging. As I work to foster wellbeing, may I also pay my respects to the healing knowledge embedded within First Nations culture. I also acknowledge that sovereignty of this land remains unceded. Always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.