FAQs

Counselling is a talking therapy that involves working with a trained professional to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It can be helpful for a range of issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, grief and loss, trauma, and more. During a counselling session, you’ll have the opportunity to talk about your thoughts, feelings, and concerns in a safe and supportive environment.

I will listen to you without judgment, help you explore your thoughts and feelings more deeply, and work with you to identify your goals and develop a plan for achieving them. I may ask you questions to help you clarify your thoughts and feelings or identify patterns in your behaviour or relationships.

Additionally, I may teach you new skills and techniques for managing your emotions and changing unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour. Counselling sessions typically last 50 minutes and are scheduled regularly based on your individual needs and goals.

To book a counselling session, please click here or call 0493 570 443. Our online booking system is available 24/7 for your convenience. During the booking process, you’ll be asked to provide some basic information about yourself and your reason for seeking counselling. Once you’ve completed the booking process, you’ll receive an email confirmation with the date and time of your appointment.  If you have any questions or need assistance with booking, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We understand that counselling may not be the best fit for everyone, and that’s okay. If you’re not sure if counselling is right for you, or if you’re not sure if we’re the right fit for your needs, we invite you to schedule an introductory chat. This is a chance to ask questions, share your concerns, and get to know each other before committing to a full session. To schedule an introductory chat, please select this option on the online booking, or contact us by phone or email.

Our counselling sessions are priced at $150 per hour for individual sessions. We also offer a 6-week specialty bridal counselling package for $799.

Absolutely! 

Please contact me by phone, text or email and we can determine from there if we are a suitable fit to work together.

The number of sessions you’ll need will depend on your individual needs and goals. Some people may only need a few sessions to work through a specific issue, while others may benefit from longer-term counselling. During your initial session, your counsellor will work with you to discuss your specific needs and goals. The length of your counselling journey will depend on a variety of factors, including the complexity of your issues, your level of motivation and commitment, and the amount of support you have outside of counselling. I will work with you to determine a realistic timeline for your counselling and will keep you informed of your progress along the way.

Ultimately, the decision of how many sessions you need is up to you. Some people may choose to continue counselling for as long as they find it helpful, while others may feel ready to end their counselling journey after a certain period of time.

To prepare for a counselling session, it’s helpful to reflect on what you’d like to talk about, write down your thoughts and feelings, come with an open mind, be honest with your counsellor, and ask questions if you’re unsure about anything. Remember, counselling is a personal journey, and there’s no right or wrong way to prepare for your sessions. The most important thing is to come with an open mind and a willingness to engage in the process.

Confidentiality is an essential part of the counselling process, and I will keep your personal and private information confidential, except in certain circumstances.

I will explain my confidentiality policy to you at the beginning of your first session and answer any questions you may have about confidentiality and the limits of confidentiality.

Confidentiality extends to all aspects of your counselling, including the fact that you are attending counselling. I adhere to the Australian Counselling Association’s Scope of Practice and more details can be found on their website www.theaca.net.au.

If you have any concerns about confidentiality or privacy, please don’t hesitate to discuss them with me. I’ll be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.

As a counsellor, I acknowledge that I may not be the most suitable professional for everyone due to various reasons. If you answer affirmatively to any of the following scenarios, it would be preferable if I refer you to another therapist. I would be glad to help you find a counsellor who will meet your needs. In therapeutic terms, we call this a “conflict of interest.”

Here are the scenarios to consider:

• We are connected on any social media platforms or are social media friends.
• We meet up socially or tend to engage in extended conversations when we bump into each other.
• We have close mutual friends or family members, which could blur the boundaries and create a potential division between the client and the therapist.
  
  

I hold a Master of Counselling and a Degree in Applied Science (Health Science), majoring in Health Promotion and Family

I know that sometimes things come up unexpectedly and you may need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. If this happens, please let me know as soon as you can so I can offer the appointment time to someone else.

To be fair to other clients, I have a 24-hour notice policy for cancellations or rescheduling. If you cancel or reschedule with less than 24 hours’ notice, or miss your appointment without any notice, you may be charged the full fee for the missed session.

Of course, I understand that emergencies can happen, and I’m happy to work with you if something comes up unexpectedly. If you have any questions or concerns about my cancellation policy, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask me.

I work with a holistic, person-centred approach with a small range of evidence-based interventions:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Narrative Therapy
• Mindfulness Therapy

You can read more about the therapies here.

I engage in regular supervision to guarantee that I can provide my clients with the best possible professional support while also fulfilling the requirements of the Australian Counselling Association.

I see individuals over 15 years old and have a VIC Working with Children Check.

Currently, counsellors are not eligible to apply for a Medicare provider number within the current Medicare rebate system. However, various peak bodies representing counsellors are working towards changing this situation. As soon as any changes occur, I will keep my clients informed.

If you choose to see a counsellor, there is no need for you to provide a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP to access my services. Nevertheless, I am available to consult with your GP at your discretion, but ultimately, the decision to involve your GP is up to each individual client.

I am currently in the process of establishing links with EAP organisations and would be pleased to reach out to your Human Resource department on your behalf in case you wish to engage in counselling services with me. However, I kindly request you to notify me in advance before your counselling appointment, as some companies may already have EAP contracts in place

Yes, under Improved Daily Living within Capacity Building. However, you must be either plan-managed or self-managed, given The Holly Faye Counselling is not currently a registered NDIS provider.

I value feedback from my clients and welcome any reviews. If you’d like to provide feedback, you can leave a review on my Google My Business listing or send me an email.

You can also leave a comment or review on my Facebook or Instagram page. Your feedback is important and helps me to improve my services.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

If you are in crisis or need immediate help, it’s important to seek support as soon as possible. Here are some options you can consider:

• Call emergency services: If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call emergency services on 000 (in Australia) or your local emergency number.
• Contact a crisis support service: There are several crisis support services available, including Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), which provide support and advice 24/7.
• Another option for crisis support is Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE) in Victoria, Australia. They offer free support and information to women, non-binary and gender-diverse people on a range of issues, including domestic violence, financial hardship, and mental health. You can contact WIRE on 1300 134 130 or visit their website for more information.

As a counsellor, I embrace a non-clinical approach to health and wellness because I believe that health and wellness are not just about treating illness or symptoms, but about achieving a state of balance and vitality in all aspects of our lives.

By focusing on prevention, holistic treatments, and self-care practices, we empower ourselves to take control of our health and well-being, rather than relying solely on medical interventions.

Additionally, a non-clinical approach to health and wellness recognises the interconnectedness of our physical, emotional, and spiritual selves, and encourages us to address all of these aspects in order to achieve true health and wholeness.

I also won’t assess you or diagnose your symptoms, nor will I give you treatment.

But I will draw upon a range of holistic therapeutic approaches and together, we’ll choose the ones that most align with you so that you can be seen and heard and not feel rushed or pressured to get better before your sessions ‘run out’.

I’m here for as long as it takes.

As an ACA Level 2 Counsellor some private health funds will reimburse some of your costs. I am currently obtaining my provider number which will be included on a client’s invoice so you can discuss with your individual private health fund.

The following are private health funds that may offer reimbursement: 

• Bupa
• Medibank
• ahm

ARHG (Australian Regional Health Group) – this includes:

• Police Health Fund
• Phoenix Health
• CUA Health (Telehealth only)
• St Luke’s Health
• Emergency Services Health
• WestFund
• Teachers Union Fund
• GMHBA