Most people notice some improvement within the first couple of sessions, and feel more equipped to navigate things differently after around 6-8. Many feel ready to reduce or finish counselling with me within about 8-10 sessions.

That said, plenty of clients come back for occasional "tune-ups" a couple of times a year, to stay on track or when a significant life challenge comes up. You're always welcome back.

My approach is quite specialised, focused on helping you navigate ADHD and AuDHD, and on working through the shame, self-blame, and mental health challenges that come with living in mostly neurotypical settings, alongside PMDD and hormonal change.

Together we explore how your brain and body actually work, and build strategies and tools that respond to your own rhythms and patterns.

I find most clients get the best results attending fortnightly, at least for the first 5-6 sessions. That spacing gives you room to catch your breath after each session, process what we've covered, and practise anything new. After 6-8 sessions, many people feel ready to extend to every 3-4 weeks, sometimes timing sessions around their PMDD or hormonal cycle.

Because I work in part-time private practice, I'm not able to safely offer the intensive support and risk management needed by women who require sessions several times a week, those currently navigating domestic or family violence, or anyone in acute mental health crisis.

In those situations, you'll be far better supported by a service that can provide wraparound, multidisciplinary care, with the right people and the right experience to support your safety, your emotional wellbeing, and any legal matters, and to respond quickly if things escalate. That's not something I can provide in part-time private practice.

I know this may be disappointing to read. It comes from a genuine responsibility to do no harm, to prioritise your wellbeing, and to work within my scope of practice.

Once you've had the support of a specialist service through the harder period, if you'd then like to work with me on navigating ADHD and AuDHD, I'd love to hear from you.

These counselling sessions aren't currently eligible for a rebate under Medicare or private health funds.

I know cost matters when you're seeking support, so I aim to keep my fee deliberately accessible. My 60-min session fee is lower than the out-of-pocket gap you'd be left with if I charged the full rate recommended by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and you claimed the Medicare rebate for Accredited Mental Health Social Workers. Both of those figures are set and published, and I check them every year to make sure my fee stays below that gap.

In short, seeing me privately costs you less than you'd pay out of pocket even with a Medicare rebate applied to the recommended rate.

Choosing to see a counsellor privately (also called self-pay) also comes with some real benefits:

Flexibility in who you see

• You're not limited to counsellors preferred or referred by your GP or health fund.

• You can choose the practitioner who best suits your needs, location, and preferences.

• Your diagnosis won't be shared without your consent or added to shared medical records.

• You have more flexibility in the type of counselling you receive.

• You and your counsellor decide together when counselling is working and when it's time to finish.

Confidentiality

• Your privacy stays intact, without Medicare or an insurer able to request information about your diagnosis, service, plan, or progress.

• There's no cap on the number of sessions you can have. Medicare and insurers may limit sessions depending on your plan or diagnosis.

If it's important to you to claim a Medicare or private health rebate, you deserve the freedom to choose that. I'm very happy to suggest alternative practitioners who may be able to help.

Yes. You can access counselling with me under the NDIS if you have "Improved Daily Living" in your plan. This funds access to an allied health professional and is generally flexible across therapeutic services.

Yes. I'm a registered NSW Victims Services Counsellor, and you can use your approved Victims Services counselling hours with me under the Victims Support Scheme.

If you've been injured by a violent crime or modern slavery in NSW, the scheme offers up to 22 hours of paid counselling to support your recovery from the psychological and emotional impacts.

To access this, you'll need approval from NSW Victims Services for an allocation of counselling hours. Please include your full name and Victims Services reference number when you submit your booking request.

You can read more here: https://victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/how-can-we-help-you/victims-support-scheme/counselling.html

Facing challenges at work? You may be eligible for funding under the Commonwealth Government's JobAccess Employment Assistance Fund. I've supported many ADHD & Autistic clients through this funding for counselling (as specialist support), and for neuro-affirming culture training in their workplace.

You can find more here: https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/i-am-a-person-with-disability/looking-applying-job/government-services-help-you/funding-workplace-changes

If approved, you'll receive a lump sum, which we can use to work out how many sessions and what length suit you. Then we'll get you booked in.