Areas of Expertise

I have an integrative, personalised approach to my work. I see humans as unique, holistic beings and this reflects in the manner in which I work; one size does not fit all. My work is always in collaboration with you and tailored to you. It would be my privilege to help you on your journey.
I have over a decade of experience providing counselling to individuals living with complex trauma and grief after losing a loved one to homicide. I support individuals and families to navigate the criminal investigation and prosecution processes, media and court system as well as mental health challenges, changed family dynamics and a changed sense of identity that are common outcomes for individuals and families. Advocacy, information and therapeutic support alleviate much of the distress and stress.

I am a passionate advocate for my clients with vast experience in court readiness and lending support to victims of crime who may be required to provide court evidence. This involves preparing and assisting clients at conferencing with the Prosecutor and assistance in the writing of Victim Impact Statements.

I work with grief and loss in the widest sense of the word; we often think in terms of the loss of a loved one. However, the loss of Self, of relationship, health, independence, a job, a homeland, a pet etc also cause us to go through grief processes that are profound but often not understood by others who don’t experience them.

For eight years I facilitated regular peer support groups, the members of which, by sharing their lived experiences with the group, provided hope, support and friendship to each other.

As part of a research team I conducted interviews with participants and co-authored a research paper on the perception of family and friends of the risk factors for Domestic and Family Violence Homicide.

Area Of Expertise

FAQ

FAQ

What is Counselling?
Counselling is “the provision of professional assistance and guidance in resolving personal or psychological problems” (Oxford Languages). Counselling is a collaboration between the client and the counsellor to help you relieve distress, gain clarity, resolve your difficulties or change the way you see them so you live with more ease despite your challenges. As a counsellor I believe that your answers are already within you, and my role is not to give you my solutions but to help you find yours.

How is counselling different from talking to a good friend?
For counselling to be effective openness and honesty are of the essence and it is important for the counsellor to be neutral, unbiased and non-judgemental. All these traits can be difficult to maintain when talking with a friend about deep personal issues that are perhaps connected to people you both know. A relationship of friendship makes it much harder to remain open, honest, neutral, unbiased and non-judgemental. A counsellor also has several skills, expertise and counselling styles at their disposal, which a good friend likely does not have. Evidence shows that the unique therapeutic relationship between counsellor and client plays a major part in the healing process.

Do you offer Telehealth counselling?
Yes, I offer online and telephone counselling only at this stage. There are certain benefits to this:
o There is no need to leave your safe space; entering a counsellor’s office can be quite daunting for some
o You choose where to have your counselling session; as long as there is good internet, safety and privacy you’ve got it covered
o It saves travel time and parking costs
o You can receive counselling also when you live remote or interstate

How do I make an appointment?
Just call or text me on 0422 329 459, email me on info@resetcounsellingservices.com or fill in the communication box on this website. I will contact you for a brief introductory call to learn a little bit more about you and what brought you here, and to see how we might work together. We can then arrange our first session.

How much does it cost and how do I pay?
My fee is $140 per 1 hour session, payable by bank transfer prior to your session.

How many sessions will I need?
This is different for everybody. It depends on the issues you bring, and on your personal circumstances. We will discuss this in our first session.

Confidentiality
Everything we discuss is confidential and protected by strict legislation around privacy. The only times where information may be shared with third parties is when it is subpoenaed by Court, when you may be at risk of harm to yourself or others, and when you agree for me to discuss your situation with third parties such as a family member or your GP.

Do I need a referral from my doctor to make an appointment?
You don’t need a referral from your doctor to receive counselling at Reset Counselling Services; self referral is all you need. This is in accordance with my values as a strength-based counsellor; finding the right counsellorfinding the right counsellor for yourself on your own accord is very empowering and is definitely a strength.
Our counselling sessions won’t be on your health record.

What happens in the first session?
In the first session we will get to know each other a bit better so you are comfortable to talk – in your pace – about what is happening for you and what brought you to me. We will talk about what you hope counselling will bring you and together we will set up a plan as to how to go about that. The plan is not set in stone and we will check regularly how it is going and adjust where needed. We will explore what works best for you in terms of finding a way forward – your way forward towards the life you see for yourself.

I know I need help but I am uncomfortable reaching out. Any advice?
Deciding to reach out and see a counsellor is often a daunting step. However, it may be the most important thing you’ll do for yourself and your wellbeing. If you are unsure about booking a session just make contact with me for a brief free telephone consultation and you will likely have more clarity at the end of our call.

How do I know I have the right counsellor for me?
Feeling comfortable with your counsellor is really important, as the safe connection between the counsellor and the client has a major role in the growth, change and healing that take place in counselling. Being on the same page is also essential; to reach your desired outcomes it is important that the counsellor supports what you want to achieve.

How do I know when I need counselling? What signs should I be looking out for?
You may be finding life difficult, you may be experiencing distress or concern around certain things that are happening for you or that have happened in the past and you don’t know how to deal with them. You may need a truly listening ear and a safe space to have an honest, real conversation about the things that impact on your life and to get more clarity where you’re at. You may want to make a change but you are unsure how to do that. When you feel you need to talk to someone who is present, unbiased, nonjudgmental and qualified, you will probably benefit!