I receive a lot of inquiries about my counselling therapy service at Somatic Psychotherapies. To accommodate you faster, I have provided my answers to the questions I most frequently get, so you can read them all on this page.
Should you wish to speak with me personally, feel free to contact me directly so we can discuss your particular needs and schedule a session if desired.
What Are Your Qualifications And Experience?
I have a New Zealand Bachelor in Social Services (Counselling) achieved with Distinction and an Australian Diploma of Counselling. I have further speciality certificates in Brainspotting Phase 1 & 2, Emotional Freedom Therapy (EFT Tapping) Levels 1 & 2, Trauma Informed Yoga, Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Sensory Enhanced Yoga for Self Regulation & Trauma Healing, Yoga Nidra and Pranayama Breath work.
Prior to my career retraining, I worked as an experienced Nurse in Australia within multiple specialty areas for many years. I am also qualified as a Restorative Justice Practitioner & Facilitator including experience in Sexual Violence and Family Violence specialities. Furthermore, I have served in the military in Australia in the medical core, worked within the sex work industry, veterinary nursing, ambulance service, community-aged care assessments team, medical and pharmaceutical sales, held management positions and had various other medical based roles.
I continuously undertake regular professional development and supervision as required by the professional bodies I hold memberships with, to ensure I work within a ‘best practice’ and ethical approach for my clients at all times. I am happy to show you my qualifications and membership certificates upon request.
This breadth of experience and knowledge allows me to understand better the impact of various health or other life issues and experiences you may have.
Read more about me, and my career experience.
What If I Don’t Feel Comfortable Or Like Your Style?
No problem, I encourage honest discussion and feedback within our sessions so I can adjust my style to fit what you need. If you prefer to see another practitioner at any stage within your therapy journey with Somatic Psychotherapies, I would be happy to assist you finding a service that can support your needs at that time.
What’s The Difference Between A Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Psychologist And Psychiatrist?
There is a lot of similarities between counselling, psychotherapy and psychology – they all include various “talking therapy” methods. All these professions are based upon a high standard of rigorous training programmes to achieve their chosen qualification within the ‘western world’. All have professional organisational membership requirements to undertake ongoing professional development to maintain their competency and increase their skills sets, as well as codes of conduct and ethics when working with clients.
Psychotherapy helps you to understand yourself by exploring how your early life experiences and personality affect your current thoughts, feelings, relationships and behaviour based on psychodynamic theories of human behaviour and personality. These theories emphasise the importance of unconscious mental processes, early childhood experiences, and the role of emotions in shaping behaviour with the idea being that once these buried experiences (and their accompanying emotions) are brought to the surface and explored, they can be fully processed, and ultimately, released. For this reason, psychotherapy is normally a frequent (anywhere from 1 – 5 times a week) and long-term process (6 months to several years), allowing you the time and space to fully open up.
Counselling can also include these aspects, but will include a strong focus on your current difficulties and concerns to help you develop more satisfying and resourceful ways of living. A counsellor generally puts their focus to what’s happening to you in the present. This could be difficulties at work or home, specific traumatic events such as a bad break up or losing your job, or even just feeling more stressed than usual. Counsellors can also support you in somatically processing past trauma, addictions, phobia’s or compulsive behaviours, so that the emotional intensity decreases to allow more functionality in your daily life that commonly can disrupt relationships and employment. A counsellor will look at your immediate presenting symptoms and behaviour (e.g. feeling more anxious than usual) and how that’s impacting your life. Looking at these difficulties, the counsellor will then focus on equipping you with workable, effective ‘tools’ that can help you break out of unhelpful thoughts and habits. This means that counselling often normally has a shorter duration, lasting anywhere from just a few sessions, but sometimes many months or years of therapy where needed for complex and ongoing difficulties.
There are two main types of Psychologists (Counselling or Clinical) with the differences being found in the types of issues they work with. A counselling psychologist will tend to work with ‘healthier’ clients (those experiencing more surface-level emotional and social issues), whereas a clinical psychologist will normally work with people suffering more complex mental health conditions, such as personality disorders, major depressive disorders, schizophrenia, psychosis and more severe or complex behavioural problems often providing long term support with regular sessions over several years.
Psychiatrists on the other hand are medical doctors who have completed their general medical training and then specialised in psychiatry. Psychiatrists are generally seen for initial diagnosis and then ongoing specialised medical management of various mental health specific medications, such as anti-depressants, mood stabilisers, sleeping tablets and other medical psychiatric treatments such as electric convulsive therapy. They are also able to prescribe medications not available to your general practitioner (GP) and can advise them about the most appropriate treatment options for you.
While some psychiatrists also provide psychotherapy, they are, however, more likely to refer you to a counsellor, psychotherapist or a psychologist due to the high demand for their specialist medication management and diagnostic skills.
What Modalities Or Approaches Do You Use During Sessions?
I work primarily from a Person-Centred Therapy model whilst also utilising an eclectic approach with its holistic concepts of being able to modify my techniques used to suit your need in that session. I am trained in many methods of therapy approaches including somatic (mind/body) based therapies and can teach you emotional regulation skills where this may be of benefit for you also.
The Person-Centred Therapy (PCT) approach is based on the core principles of empathy, genuineness, and acceptance. I then utilise Integrative Therapy which can incorporate techniques and concepts including practical and simple strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Brainspotting (BSP), Acknowledgement and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotional Freedom Therapy (EFT – Tapping), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solutions Focused Therapy (SFT), Gestalt Therapy, Imaginal Exposure Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy (TIY), Yoga Nidra, Pranayama Breathwork and various others when required, changing them to suit your needs as therapy progresses.
Read more about the therapies modalities I can utilise for you.
What ‘Speciality Issues’ Or Client Problems Can You Assist With?
I can assist clients with a range of life struggles including Addictions or Substance Abuse, ADHD / Neurodivergence Issues, Alzheimers / Dementia Issues, Anger Management, Anxiety, Autism and Asperger’s, Bipolar Disorder, Body Image, Borderline Personality Disorder, Career Counselling, Chronic Pain or Health / Illness, Codependency, Depression, Dissociative Disorders / Dissociative Identity Disorder, Divorce, Domestic / Family Abuse or Violence, Eating Disorders, Elderly Persons / Ageing Issues, Emotional Abuse, Emotional Regulation Difficulties, Forgiveness, Gambling, Gender Dysmorphia, HIV/AIDS, Hoarding / Clutter Behaviours, Impulse Control Disorders, Infertility or Adoption Issues, Infidelity / Cheating, LGBTI Issues, Loss or Grief, Men’s Issues, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Obesity / Weight Loss, OCD / Compulsive Behaviours, Panic Attacks, Parenting Struggles, Personality Disorders, Phobia’s or Fears, Postpartum / Postnatal Depression, Redundancy, Relationship / Marriage Counselling, Retirement Stress / Planning, Schizophrenia, Self Esteem / Confidence Issues, Sex Offending Behaviours, Sex Therapy / Intimacy Issues, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Addiction, Sleep Disorders, Social Anxiety, Social Isolation, Spirituality, Stopping Smoking, Stress, Past Trauma / Critical Incidents, PTSD / CPTSD, Women’s Issues, Workplace Change, Workplace Interpersonal Difficulties and more…
Read more about the issues I can provide support with.
If the issue you are having difficulty with is not listed, please feel to contact me so I can ensure I have the appropriate skills to assist you. If I am not skilled in the area of your need or you feel my service is not a good fit for you, I am happy to refer you to an appropriately skilled therapist or service who can help you.
Do You Provide Sessions For People From ‘Minority’ Community Groups?
Absolutely. I provide a non-judgemental, supportive and equal service for all people aged 18+yrs including those with physical or intellectual disability, all ethnic groups, people identifying as LGBTI+, all forms of spiritual or religious beliefs, and often ‘marginalised’ people such as sex workers, people who have committed crimes and people from’ other ‘minority’ groups.
Do You Provide Sessions For Children Or Teenagers?
Sorry, I am unable to provide sessions for children or teenagers under 18+yrs. I recommend contacting specific children and youth specific practitioners or organisations that advertise this specialty service or, you may with to refer to my ‘Crisis Support Helplines‘, ‘Mental Health Resources‘ and ‘Online Support Groups‘ pages for additional support options.
Are You Registered With Any Australian Private Health Insurance Funds To Provide Rebated Counselling Therapy?
Yes. I am happy to provide a receipt of session payment for use with your private health, so you can claim under your policy. I am approved with the following Australian Private Health Funds as an ‘approved provider’:
- Doctors Health Fund by Avant Provider: ACA4979
Multiple Australian Private Health Funds approval for insurance refunds is still pending. Further approved funds will be updated to this site as soon as possible – I appreciate your patience whilst this occurs.
Services may be covered in full or in part by your private health. Please check your coverage carefully. You may find it helpful by asking the following questions of your insurance provider before getting started at Somatic Psychotherapies:
- Do I have specific mental health counselling therapy insurance benefits?
- Has any required waiting period been met before I can claim?
- How many sessions or what dollar value per year does my insurance cover?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- What month of the year does my annual allocation occur?
- Is approval required from the fund prior to starting therapy?
- Do I require a referral from my doctor?
- The therapist can provide a receipt – how do I claim money back on my policy?
Are You Registered With Any Other Insurance Funds To Provide Free Or Rebated Counselling Therapy?
Sorry, but you may find that your insurance fund will accept receipts from Somatic Psychotherapies to claim against your policy, which I am happy to provide upon request. Please contact your insurance company directly, to enquire about your policy services.
Are You Registered With My Employers Employee Assistance Program (EAP) To Provide Free Counselling Therapy?
Sorry, but l am not currently registered with any EAP organisations. Please contact the HR department of your employer or the EAP company directly, to access their free services.
Are You Registered With Other Funding Sources To Provide Free Or Discounted Counselling Therapy?
Sorry, but l am not currently registered with any other disability, work injury or charity organisations that provide free or discounted therapy. Please contact those organisations in your region directly to enquire about their services.
I Have Experienced A Sexual Assault Or Another Trauma That I Don’t Wish To Discuss In Detail – Can You Still Provide Counselling Or Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy?
If you have experienced sexual harm or some other trauma whether it be recently or many years ago, as an experienced sexual abuse and trauma therapist, you can access counselling with me.
Don’t worry…Not everyone one wants to talk in detail of the trauma they have experienced which is completely okay – I will support you to work on the issues that are impacting you now, that you feel are important for you in moving forward with your life positively. There are even somatic techniques (including Brainspotting & EFT Tapping) that I can utilise to support the processing of your trauma that don’t require you talking about the past. These techniques can provide great relief from PTSD symptoms which result in hypervigilence, avoidance and dissociation issues.
Read more about Brainspotting, EFT Tapping and Trauma Informed Yoga Therapies.
Can You Tell Me About Your Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy Sessions & The Benefits?
I facilitate Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy (TIY) for clients who feel a mind/body approach will be supportive, so you can gain additional benefit whilst attending your other counselling therapy. Or you may choose to only attend trauma informed yoga therapy as a standalone therapy. Individual online sessions mean you are able to do the yoga therapy from the privacy, convenience and comfort of your own environment and can be adjusted to suit your specific needs.
Clients express some of the common benefits they feel from undertaking any of the styles of trauma informed yoga sessions is they feel a greater sense of internal calm, are sleeping better, coping more effectively with daily life stressors, managing their emotions more evenly, feeling stronger and fitter, along with feeling happier within themselves overall.
You may choose the options of my Level 1 Yoga (Beginners Yin & Restorative styles), Level 2 (Intermediate Yin & Restorative styles) Yoga or, Yoga Nidra (Relaxation/Meditational style) courses. There is also the option of doing Levels 1 & 2 whilst seated (chair based yoga) for those that have physical limitations that prevent them participating in standing yoga stretches. In each option you will also learn a range of emotional regulation skills to further support mood management.
Read more about Somatic Psychotherapy TIY options.
What If I Am Unsure If Harmony Counselling Service Is Right for Me Before My First Session?
I am happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have before your first session during a phone discussion about my practice and approach. This allows you to initially assess if I am the right counsellor for you, and for me to ensure I am suitable to assist your needs or specific issue. If you feel l’m not, I am happy to refer you to another therapist or service who specialises in the area of your needs.
What Happens In My First Counselling Session?
To begin, we will briefly discuss the ‘counselling contract’ (you will already have completed it online as it’s required prior to the first session) so that you may ask any questions that may have come up for regarding my professional responsibilities to you as a client, booking/cancellation policies, etc. We will then complete an ‘intake’ assessment which is a discussion that helps to identify any relevant life experiences that have impacted you thus far, including what brings you to counselling, and then set goals for treatment based on what you would like to achieve from counselling by the time you complete therapy. We then get started on the goal that is most important to you. We will regularly review your goals to ensure you are progressing as desired by you.
Read more about what happens in your first session.
What Is Your Booking & Payment Policy?
You may book sessions by contacting me directly or via my Client Booking Portal. After booking your appointment with Somatic Psychotherapies your session time of 60 minutes is exclusively allocated to you. Successful payment via bank transfer within 24hrs of scheduling confirms the appointment booking. Notification of confirmation of your payment being received into my account will occur automatically for both parties. After 24hrs of non payment, the scheduled time is cancelled. A new booking can then be made as required. This method removes the stress of remembering to ensure payment for both parties knowing you are fully prepaid for your session and allows us to focus solely on your therapy session needs.
What Is Your Cancellation Policy?
A minimum of 24hrs notice is required before cancellation/rescheduling of appointments so that the time slot may be filled by another client and ensure the best service to all clients requesting appointments. You may do this by contacting me directly or via the Client Booking Portal for your convenience. If less than 24hrs notice is provided or you don’t attend your scheduled appointment, then the full prepaid session fee is non refundable, without exception. I understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise, however Somatic Psychotherapies cannot accept responsibility for such circumstances.
Cancelling with notification greater than 24hrs in advance automatically credits your account any amounts already paid, which can be utilised for the next appointment booking or, can be refunded upon request.
What If I Need To Change Appointments?
I understand life circumstances can change. Feel free to contact me directly, or reschedule via my Client Booking Portal to rearrange your appointment for another day and time that is more suitable for you. Any money paid already will be utilised for your session booking. Please give 24 hours’ notice, otherwise a late cancellation fee of the full session payment will apply without exception.
Do You Provide Reminders For My Appointments?
Yes, you will receive an automatic reminder 24hrs prior to your appointment via text/email to assist you.
Can You Provide Receipt Of Payments Made For My Records?
Certainly, these can be issued via email upon request.
What Are Your Consulting Days & Hours?
You can make appointments to suit your schedule from Friday to Monday as I am also available for your convenience on weekend days, with the first time slot being 1030am, 12noon, 130pm, 3pm and 430pm in AEST. If you are outside Australia, then these times will differ according to your time zone. For New Zealand, the times are 1230pm, 2pm, 330pm, 5pm, 630pm. For Ireland and the UK, the times are 1130pm, 1am, 230am, 4am and 530am.
How Long Is Each Session?
Each appointment lasts 1 hour. If you would like a longer appointment time, please feel free to contact me directly so I can assist the booking process. The session fee is then prorated to the time requested.
How Often Will My Sessions Be?
It is usually recommended for the best results that sessions are undertaken weekly initially and then tapered to longer intervals, such as fortnightly, monthly, or as you feel appropriate until therapy completion. Some people feel they only need a few sessions, and others feel more comfortable with more sessions over an extended period of time. The choice is yours to make regarding what suits you best.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
It is difficult to determine how many sessions you may require. Counselling therapy is an individual process for each person. Some people only need a few sessions, while others may feel the benefit of more sessions to deal with more complex or ongoing life issues. I regularly ‘check in’ with you during therapy to ensure your needs from counselling are being met, and how you are feeling about continuing therapy.
The appropriate time for ending therapy is negotiated to be when you are feeling ready, and no longer require my support. You can always return for ‘top up’ sessions in the future as needed, should your life circumstances change, and you feel a session or two may be beneficial for you at that time.
How Much Is Your Session Fee?
A one-hour session for individual adults, couples or families on weekdays or weekends is the same flat rate of $250.00 AUD.
Are You Registered For GST With The Australian Tax Office?
Yes, however all my prices exclude GST, due to being a health service I do not charge you GST. This is reflected on any invoices I generate or receipt you may require.
How Can I Pay For My Sessions As A Private Paying Client?
I do not have EFTPOS facilities available. However, you can conveniently pay via internet transfer from your chosen bank account upon booking your appointment directly into my:
- Wise bank account holder: Gaye Sherrith Mallinson (T/A Somatic Psychotherapies)
- Australian BSB Code: 774001
- Account number: 201189910
- Please include your FIRST NAME and SURNAME as the reference, so I know the payment came from you
If you are paying from an international account outside Australia, please let me know and I am happy to provide an alternative bank account in your currency. This will ensure you can avoid international transfer and/or currency conversion fees.
Automatic payments can be easily set up with your bank to provide regular payments for each session, if you have a regular appointment and prefer this option.
What Happens If I Am Late Arriving For An Appointment?
We will be able to spend whatever remaining time is left for your scheduled appointment as per usual. Unfortunately, I am unable to extend the time and no refund is available for any unused portion of the session.
Where Can I Attend Sessions In Person?
I only provide online sessions via ‘Telehealth’ using a videolink or phone call at this time.
How Do You Provide Telehealth or Internet-Based Sessions?
I utilise Zoom video and voice sessions and a link is included in the reminder email you will receive 24hrs prior to the appointment time. If you prefer we can arrange to undertake your sessions via Skype, Teams, FaceTime, WhatsApp or Phone (in Australia only). If by phone, I will call you to avoid any call costs to you.
If you would like to see an overview of the pros and cons of Telehealth counselling, check out the following link:
https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/skype-counselling.htm
I Have An Urgent Situation I Need to Talk to You About Since Our Last Session – What Can I Do?
No problem, just book directly using my Online Booking Portal or feel free to contact me directly, and we can arrange for your next session to be brought forward to a day and time suitable for you based on my availability.
If it is more urgent and outside of my consulting hours, please see my ‘Crisis Support Helplines‘ page for various after-hours emergency support organisations you can contact to support you until I can return your contact on my next business working day to make an appointment as soon as possible. Feel free to also peruse my ‘Mental Health Resources‘ and ‘Online Support Groups‘ pages for additional support options.
Do You Have A Current Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance Policy?
Ye, I have full professional industry specific indemnity liability and public liability insurance, which covers my private online counselling practice. I am happy to show you my current policy certificate upon request.
Do You Have An Australian Business Number (ABN) Registered As A Legal Business?
Yes, my ABN is 85 224 624 746.
Feel free to check out my registered business details Somatic Psychotherapies on the ABN government webpage:
Do You Abide By A Code Of Conduct (Ethics)?
Yes, I am a Level 4 member of the Australian Counselling Association (AÇA), Full member of the New Zealand Association Counsellors (NZAC) and an Accredited Member of the Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (IACP). Professional counselling body membership requires me to abide by their code of ethics policy at all times. I am happy to show you their specific policies upon request.
Do You Receive Regular Professional Supervision?
Yes. As part of belonging to a professional counselling body, I am required to regularly attend supervision to discuss how I am working with my clients, along with discussing any personal feelings I may be experiencing to maintain my empathic capacity and avoid compassion fatigue. This ensures ongoing professional development through the maintenance of ethical and best practice standards. However, any client information discussed is done so in a non-identifying way to ensure client confidentiality.
Is The Information I Discuss In My Appointment Kept Confidential?
Yes. I will not disclose any information about you to any other person or organisation unless by your direct authorisation.
There are exceptions – Counsellors belonging to a professional counselling body (such as myself) are required to report only directly relevant information to an appropriate organisation (such as your doctor or police) if there is serious concern or reasonable ground to assume that you may pose a threat to yourself, to your own health or life, or you are proposing harm to another person, their life, health, or property.
This also includes concerns around child safety and protection which requires notification to an appropriate organisation for any further support as assessed by them. I am required to notify an appropriate person or organisation in order to safeguard that risk as identified during a session. If possible, any safety concerns would be discussed with you at that time, before any disclosure being reported.
However, if the safety concern is raised between sessions, in the first instance I will attempt to contact you directly to assess your situation. If I am not able to make contact with you directly in a short timeframe, I am required to make contact with a suitable person with your safety and emotional welfare as my priority, and commitment to you.
Counselling confidentiality is waived in the event of police warrant, or court subpoena.
Also, as part of belonging to a professional counselling body, Counsellors are required to attend regular supervision sessions to specifically discuss how we are working with clients. This is to ensure ongoing professional development through the maintenance of ethical and best practice standards. However, any client information discussed is done so in a non-identifying way to ensure client confidentiality.
Somatic Psychotherapies strictly prohibits recording or distributing of any materials or correspondence, including voice and text messages, emails, images, or videos relating to any part of confidential client/counsellor sessions. Unauthorised recording, copying, or distributing of confidential client/ counsellor sessions is a criminal offence in Australia.
Do You Take Notes, What Happens To Them, And Can I Read Them?
Yes, I do record digital notes about each session and client contact. They are securely stored according to the requirements of my professional body and then destroyed according to their policy and local relevant laws. If you wish to see your notes or require a copy, certainly please discuss this with me and I will be happy to assist in providing a copy for you.
I do not provide your information to any external organisation unless required by law or directly requested by you.
How Can I Make A Complaint Should I Wish To?
I welcome you to discuss any concerns you have directly with me, and I will do my absolute best to resolve any issue you may have. I will be supportive, and encourage you to be open and honest about your feelings and concerns with me at all times. My goal is to ensure a successful therapeutic relationship during your therapy journey with Somatic Psychotherapies. I understand that requires me to have an ongoing openness to your feedback as a client so you can continue to feel you are supported in a safe and non-judgmental therapeutic space.
I Have Another Question Not Listed Above?
Certainly, please contact me now, and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have as quickly as possible.
*If you are in a crisis and you need to talk to a mental health professional outside of Somatic Psychotherapies business hours or urgently, please see my ‘Crisis Helplines‘, ‘Mental Health Resources‘ and ‘Online Support Groups‘ pages for a list of appropriate organisations able to provide 24/7 emergency guidance and support in your region.
“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.”
– JOHN GREEN
