Frequently Asked Questions

Your first counselling session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other in a safe, supportive and confidential environment. If you’ve never been to counselling before, that’s completely okay. Many people feel nervous before their first appointment, and there is no expectation that you’ll have everything figured out.

We’ll talk about what has brought you to counselling, what you’d like to achieve, any challenges you’re currently facing, and answer any questions you may have about the counselling process.

There is no pressure to share more than you feel comfortable with, and you don’t need to prepare anything beforehand. We’ll work at a pace that feels right for you.

Your first session is also an opportunity for you to decide whether I feel like the right counsellor for you. Finding someone you feel comfortable with is an important part of counselling, and there is absolutely no obligation to continue if you don’t feel we’re the right fit.

If we decide to work together, we’ll begin developing a plan that supports your goals. My hope is that you leave your first session feeling heard, understood and hopeful.

You don’t have to wait until your relationship is in crisis to benefit from couples counselling.

If you’re finding yourselves having the same arguments without resolving them, struggling to communicate, feeling emotionally disconnected, or noticing that conversations quickly turn into conflict, counselling can help.

You may also benefit if you’ve stopped talking altogether, find yourselves avoiding difficult conversations to keep the peace, feel that affection or intimacy has changed, or have noticed a significant shift in your relationship that you can’t quite explain.

Couples counselling can also provide support when trust has been damaged, including after an affair or when one partner is questioning the future of the relationship.

Many couples seek support before getting married, after becoming parents, during major life changes, or simply because they want to strengthen an already healthy relationship.

Seeking support isn’t a sign that your relationship is failing, it’s a sign that your relationship matters. The earlier you address concerns, the easier it is to understand each other, change unhelpful patterns, rebuild connection and create a healthier future together

We begin with a session together, where I’ll get to know you both, learn about your relationship history understand what’s been happening in your relationship, and explore what you’d like to achieve through counselling.

I then meet with each of you individually for one session. This gives me the opportunity to better understand your personal experiences, relationship history and perspective, as well as anything you may find difficult to discuss in front of your partner.

From there, we continue working together as a couple. My role isn’t to decide who’s right or wrong or to take sides. Instead, I help you better understand each other, improve communication, work through conflict, rebuild trust where needed, and develop healthier ways of relating to one another.

Depending on your goals, I may also recommend practical exercises, reflection activities or communication tools to practise between sessions. These are designed to help you apply what you’ve learned in everyday life and continue making progress together.

Every relationship is unique, so I tailor our sessions to your specific needs and goals, creating a safe, supportive and respectful space where both partners feel heard, understood and valued.

You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from counselling.

Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or your relationship, counselling provides a safe, non-judgemental space to explore what’s happening, gain new perspectives, and make meaningful changes.

Individual counselling may be right for you if:

• You’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stressed, or emotionally exhausted.

• You’re navigating grief, loss, trauma, or a significant life change.

• You feel stuck in unhelpful thoughts, behaviours, or patterns.

• You’re finding it difficult to set healthy boundaries or cope with life’s challenges.

• You want to better understand yourself, improve your relationships, or build confidence and resilience.

Couples counselling may be right for you if:

• You keep having the same arguments without resolving them.

• Communication has become difficult, or you rarely talk anymore.

• You feel disconnected or have lost affection or intimacy.

• Trust has been damaged, including after an affair or betrayal.

• You’re finding it hard to navigate parenting, family pressures, or major life changes together.

• You want to strengthen your relationship, reconnect, or prepare for marriage.

Seeking support isn’t a sign that you’ve failed. It’s a decision to better understand yourself, your partner, and the patterns that may be keeping you stuck, so you can move forward in a healthier way.

Yes. Everything you share is treated with respect and kept confidential, helping create a safe space for open and honest conversations.

The only exceptions are when disclosure is required by law or there are serious concerns about the safety of you or someone else. If this ever became necessary, I would discuss it with you wherever possible.

Everyone’s needs are different. Some people find a few sessions are enough to gain clarity and develop practical strategies, while others benefit from longer-term support. We’ll regularly review your progress together, and there is never any obligation to continue beyond what feels right for you.

Yes. Research shows that most couples experience meaningful improvements in communication, conflict and relationship satisfaction through couples counselling. Studies of evidence-based approaches have found that around 70% of distressed couples are no longer considered distressed by the end of treatment.

Like any form of counselling, the best outcomes happen when both partners are willing to be open, honest and put what they learn into practice between sessions.

Couples counselling isn’t about deciding who’s right or wrong. It’s about understanding each other more deeply, changing unhelpful patterns and building a healthier, stronger relationship together.

Even if things have felt difficult for a while, it’s never too late to better understand each other, rebuild connection and create a healthier relationship together.

You don’t need to attend counselling as a couple to improve your relationship.

Whether your partner isn’t ready, doesn’t want to attend, or you’re wanting to better understand yourself first, individual relationship counselling can help you make meaningful changes.

We’ll explore your relationship, your experiences, communication style, patterns, beliefs and emotional responses. Together, we’ll identify what’s working, what’s keeping you stuck, and develop practical strategies to help you communicate more effectively, set healthy boundaries and respond differently to challenges.

While you can’t change another person, you can change the way you show up in your relationships. Often, when one person begins making healthier changes, it can have a positive impact on the relationship as a whole.

My goal is to provide a safe, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can gain clarity, build confidence and create healthier relationships, with both yourself and others.

Pre-marriage counselling is designed to help you build a strong foundation before you say “I do.” It’s not about testing your relationship, it’s about preparing for a healthy, lasting marriage.

Together, we’ll explore important topics such as communication, conflict resolution, finances, intimacy, family relationships, children, values, expectations, roles and responsibilities, and the patterns each of you brings into the relationship.

You’ll gain a deeper understanding of each other, learn practical skills for navigating challenges, and have honest conversations that many couples don’t realise they should have before getting married.

The goal isn’t to avoid disagreements, it’s to help you build the tools, understanding and confidence to work through them as a team.

Medicare rebates are not available for counselling services. However, my fees have been intentionally set so that the out-of-pocket cost is similar to what many people pay after receiving a Medicare rebate for psychology services. My goal is to make professional support more accessible and affordable.

Couples counselling is not eligible for Medicare rebates anywhere in Australia. Some clients may be able claim a rebate for individual or couples counselling through their private health insurance, depending on their levels of extras cover. I recommend checking with your health fund to confirm your eligibility.

Yes. Telehealth appointments are currently available for individual counselling. Couples counselling is available in person only.

At this stage, couples counselling is available in person only. This allows for a more attuned and connected experience for both of you.

Yes. The Connection Room welcomes enquiries from self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants where counselling aligns with your NDIS goals.

Counselling may support areas such as emotional wellbeing, anxiety, relationships, confidence, communication, coping with life changes, and building everyday skills.

If you’re unsure whether counselling is suitable under your plan, please get in touch and I’d be happy to discuss your individual circumstances.

Yes. A limited number of individual concession appointments are available for clients with a current GP referral and or/or a valid Pensioner Concession card or Health Care Card. Please select the Concession Appointment when booking if you are eligible.

Yes. In-person appointments require a deposit to secure your booking, with the remaining balance payable at your appointment. Telehealth appointments require full payment at the time of booking.

We understand that unexpected situations can arise. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, we ask that you provide atleast 24 hours’ notice. This allows us the opportunity to offer your appointment time to another client/s.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed appointments, may incur the full session fee. We understand that genuine emergencies can occur, and special circumstances will always be considered at our discretion.