Frequently Asked Questions

Telehealth is like your psychologist coming to you! I think the best thing about telehealth is that you can talk to me in a place that you feel comfortable. I find this helps a lot of clients to enjoy the therapy process much more than if they have to come to an office.

All our sessions are conducted via a secure and private connection, and I am located in a quiet and confidential space. Your conversation stays between you and I. There isn’t an expectation that you will tell me your deepest, darkest secrets at our first session! You are welcome to lead the session towards or away from topics as you feel comfortable.

Recent research has found no significant differences in treatment outcomes between in-person and online therapy, even for complex conditions like PTSD. As long as you feel comfortable with your psychologist and can engage in the session fully, the interventions and strategies that are used will still be effective.

Phone sessions can be offered if you are unable to connect via telehealth.

Telehealth is like your psychologist coming to you! I think the best thing about telehealth is that you can talk to me in a place that you feel comfortable. I find this helps a lot of clients to enjoy the therapy process much more than if they have to come to an office.

Most people use either a computer, i-pad or telephone to access their sessions. It is vital that you are in a quiet, confidential space free of distractions. I would encourage you to have a notepad and pen nearby to write down anything important so that you can refer to it later.

Seeing people grow and learn and improve their lives and their mental health through simple psychological interventions gives me a great deal of happiness.

I use a transtheoretical approach that blends CBT, ACT, Schema Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. I am very non-directive, preferring a collaborative session where the client helps me help themselves. The purpose of psychological therapy (in my opinion) is to build insight and to grow as a person.

In Australia, there are multiple pathways to become a psychologist. At a minimum, a psychologist must complete 4 years of university plus another 2 years of supervised practice. A clinical psychologist has completed an additional 2 years of university and has advanced skills in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a range of psychological difficulties.

You don’t need a GP referral to see a psychologist. However, you need a referral if you would like to claim a Medicare rebate. You can also get a referral from your psychiatrist to see a psychologist.

I understand that life happens sometimes, and you might be unable to make a session. Please give me 48 hours notice so that another person can use the time allocated to you. Please understand that when you cancel at short notice or don’t show up for a session, not only does it disadvantage the people who are waiting to see me, it impacts my ability to provide for my family. So while I am understanding in some circumstances, a cancellation fee may apply (Medicare rebates cannot be used to pay for a missed session).

With a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from your GP and current Medicare card details, you are eligible for a Medicare rebate of $141.85. This currently covers 10 sessions in a calendar year. Once you pay for your session, your Medicare rebate is processed almost immediately.

A standard session is 50min. Generally people come once a fortnight for a few sessions, and then increase the interval between sessions as they begin to feel better. Some people come for 1 session, and some have been seeing me for years.

I’m client-lead in my approach, so I respond to each client’s needs in the moment. Over time however there are certain learnings and interventions that I will weave into our time together. Some clients also chose to return periodically for ‘top-ups’ as needed.

The recommended rate for psychologists in Australia is currently $311 for a 46-60min session. I recognise that this fee makes accessing a psychologist financially prohibitive for many people. I currently charge $235 per session, and offer reduced-fee sessions for some clients.

I am happy to write letters and reports, depending on the circumstances. If they are long or involved there may be a fee for preparing these.

The first session really depends on you! Some people prefer that we get to know each other first before discussing deeper issues, and other people just like to jump straight in. It really depends on what you are comfortable with.

There is a contact form on my website that you can fill out, and I will contact you as soon as possible to arrange a booking (usually within 1 business day of your enquiry). You will receive a confirmation email and text once your session is booked, and a reminder text the day before your booking. Payment is required before your session to confirm your place.

I’ve had some really unpleasant experiences with psychologists when I was seeking help. But we are human, and sometimes we make mistakes. It’s a bit like getting a bad haircut: sometimes it’s good to try again with someone new.

My job is to help you recognise, acknowledge and explain what you are experiencing. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to do therapy, and I am here to help you feel comfortable exploring your inner world.

Psychological therapy doesn’t have to be about treating a diagnosed mental health disorder. It might be that you want to chat through a problem you are having with a friend, or consider a new career path, or learn some strategies to manage stress. Dealing with problems before they become overwhelming is something I encourage.

Psychological therapy doesn't suit everyone. Some people prefer to take medication or use other therapies. That's OK. But psychological therapy has been repeatedly shown by researchers to be a safe and effective treatment for many mental health conditions. Give it a go: you might even like it!

If it helps you feel more comfortable, I've probably heard worse! I'm also certainly not here to judge you, or what you have done. My job is to help you process what has happened and to feel less distressed by the event or behaviour.

I am trained to assist people with most mental health conditions. I specialise in trauma- and anxiety-related conditions such as cPTSD, PTSD, alcohol use disorders, and anxiety disorders. I am happy to work with anybody aged over 12-years. I am also happy to help with concerns that aren’t related to mental health, such as relationship concerns, career guidance and goal planning.

I am able to assist with most mental health disorders (i.e. anxiety, depression, obsessions, sexual problems etc), relationship concerns, career guidance and goal planning, as well as personality disorders, sleep and eating disorders and people wanting to explore gender and neurodiversity concerns.

Anxiety is a horrible feeling I know! I find ACT therapy particularly helpful for anxiety because it teaches us WHY we have anxiety and how to live with it.

Alcohol is commonly used as a coping strategy. I aim to help clients understand why they are using alcohol and to address these underlying reasons.

Clinical psychologists are trained to work with all mental health presentations. However, mental health is a very broad area, and some clinicians specialise in certain areas, or have more experience in some areas than I do. For example, I do not offer assessments for ADHD or autism spectrum disorders. These are time consuming and require specialised tools and expertise that other clinics specialise in. I also don’t generally see young people under 12, again because some clinics are more experienced in this area. If you are experiencing a major mental health concern like schizophrenia or bipolar, I would ask that you are medically stable before commencing therapy. If you have any questions you are welcome to contact me about your particular case.

Having been through the IVF process myself means that I have genuine empathy for people going through infertility. I work on validating how hard this journey is, and teaching strategies to assist with loss and grief.

I often say to clients that I am here to help you help yourself. I would like to think that I meet clients where they are, and we work together to move forward at a pace that suits you. I am not here to make you feel rushed or uncomfortable, or to do anything that you don’t want to do (I’m not here to tell you to meditate!). But I am here to gently challenge you to grow and learn at your own pace.

Depression can be a very stubborn condition to treat. I will probably teach you to stop doing what you’ve been doing and to try something different. I’ll probably encourage you to exercise: so be warned!

Left untreated, trauma can impact our lives in many different ways. I aim to shine a light at trauma so that you can see it clearly and process it so it no longer causes you distress.

Left untreated, trauma can impact our lives in many different ways. I aim to shine a light at trauma so that you can see it clearly and process it so it no longer causes you distress.

I have lived in rural Australia most of my life. I left Tasmania 10 years ago to work in Perth, WA, and also the Bega Valley (NSW). I was very fortunate to work with and learn from some amazing clinicians. I was also able to work in a variety of settings to get a broad range of clinical experiences.

The great thing about telehealth is that I can see people from anywhere! My aim is to make psychology accessible to anyone living anywhere.

I live in the Huon Valley in Tasmania's south. My husband was born and raised in Tasmania, and I can trace my Tasmanian heritage back to the second fleet! Tasmania has always felt like home, and I am happy to be able to raise my family here.

I offer a discounted rate to all clients. In some circumstances I offer reduced-fee or bulk-bill sessions, but this is at my discretion and is not guaranteed.

The recommended rate for psychologists in Australia is currently $311 for a 46-60min session. I recognise that this fee makes accessing a psychologist financially prohibitive for many people. I currently charge $235 per session, and offer reduced-fee sessions for some clients.

There is a contact form on my website that you can fill out, and I will contact you as soon as possible to arrange a booking (usually within 1 business day of your enquiry). You will receive a confirmation email and text once your session is booked, and a reminder text the day before your booking. Payment is required before your session to confirm your place.

I am registered with Medicare. With a valid referral and current Medicare card details, you should receive your rebate almost immediately.

I use Tyro Health to send an invoice or payment link to your phone or email address. I don’t collect or store credit card details. I will ask you to pay for your session before your session starts, and will process your Medicare rebate after your session has finished.