- 0418 755 578
- janine@ayling.com.au
Your counselling pathway is unique to you.
When you find a clinician who is a ‘good fit’ for you, you may find one or two sessions are all you need at that time. Whether you feel heard and helped in one session, six sessions, or if you decide that you benefit from a regular, long term therapeutic relationship, this will be your decision alone.
Many people find their counselling sessions provide a secure, non-judgemental space that acts as a harbour during the turbulence that comes throughout a lifespan.
Every client has a right to privacy and confidentiality when seeing a counsellor. Clinicians protect privacy and identifiable information by taking this right very seriously. This is only amended in the case of
*risks to client safety, or safety of a third party
*when required by law
* by client request
Currently in Australia you do not need a referral to see a clinical counsellor. This means that you can book an appointment without needing to get a mental health record, or even telling anyone that you are beginning counselling.
Google authenticates its reviews by gathering basic personal information such as a name and email address. Since this leaves a record of sensitive details out in cyberspace, the counsellor must consider the ethical ramifications of exposing a client’s identity for the sake of reviews.
Online appointments have become a convenient and effective method for making the move into counselling – particularly if you live in a remote area, can’t physically get to a counselling room, or have moved home but still want to stay connected to a therapist you know.
Many find, regardless of the convenience of online sessions, there is a strong preference for being entirely seen and heard in a face to face session. While remote sessions are convenient and certainly better than nothing, they may not always allow for the deeply therapeutic connection a person might be hoping for.
Couple counselling online is certainly possible, however it is worth considering that couples in counselling can more easily dismiss or ignore the counsellor’s presence if they are a ‘face on a screen’ while the couple are becoming stuck in a familiar topic of conflict.
Newborns and very young bubs will always need to be with their primary care giver, especially for the span of an hour long appointment. For a child who is able to stay awake for that appointment, it is desirable that the parent finds a trusted child minder for that time period. A young child will soak up the emotions and messages being communicated like a little sponge, so it is important to keep them ‘out of the ring’ so to speak.
Having a baby inside the room can also be a distraction for the parents(s) who might instead benefit from a private space, without disturbance to focus on their own work.