How do I know if you are the right therapist for me? There are a lot of factors to consider in choosing a therapist, more than I can cover in a few lines. Because I am committed to you finding the person who’s right for you, whether or not it’s me, I’ve created a separate page of information that will help you answer this question.
What hardware and software do I need? You will need a high speed Internet connection for your computer, ipad or smart phone, and Zoom loaded onto that device. Generally speaking, the newer your device the better your connection with me will be, and using a headset can often provide better audio. If during a session, technical problems make therapy too difficult, I will make the decision to end the session, and you will pay only for the time used.
How long are therapy sessions, and how frequent are they? Sessions are generally 1 hour long, although we may continue for a few minutes longer at no extra charge if there is a need to complete a particular healing process. Sessions usually take place once a week, but after the first few sessions, you can continue once every two weeks, depending on your needs and preferences.
What does a typical session look like? We generally start by just talking about a particular situation or issue that is up for you at the moment. As we do this, we start to identify the various parts of you that are active in this scenario, and then we work with them one at a time. This allows them to transform and relax, so that the wise, objective part of you can start to take charge in the situation.
What about confidentiality? I guarantee confidentiality at my end. All sessions take place in a private office and all records are password protected. Obviously, I cannot guarantee confidentiality at your end – you will need to take responsibility for that. You should make sure you are in a private place and that you will not be interrupted. If you are in a crisis of some sort and need to talk to me from a public place, we would keep the call as short as possible. Please be aware that the Internet is a public domain, and I cannot guarantee that all our communications are private when we use this public space. Some level of discretion may be wise, given that others, including government organisations, may be able to trace electronic communications.
Are you available in emergencies? Unlike a face to face therapist, I cannot guarantee that I will be available in an emergency situation. If an emergency arises and you cannot reach me, you need to call the number for emergency services in your country, or go to your nearest hospital.
Do you offer a free first session? To help you decide if you would like to work with me, I offer a free 20-30 minute introductory session. This is an opportunity to ask me whatever questions you have, share with me what your goals are for therapy, and make sure you will be comfortable doing therapy remotely.
What is the usual cost of a session? My 1-hour session charge is USD135. (For Australian clients only, the fee is AUD135). I am able to offer this relatively low fee because my overheads are reduced by working from a home office.
How do I pay you? Payment is made using PayPal, so you need to have a working PayPal account. Immediately after each session I will send you a PayPal invoice. Please note that I do not accept any other form of payment, except for Australian clients who use bank-to-bank transfer.
When is payment due? To ensure continuity of sessions, payment is due within 24 hours of each session and must be completed before your next session.
What is your cancellation policy? I allow 3 free cancellations with any amount of notice per 6 months. After that there is a $70 charge for cancelling or missing a session.
Can I get Medicare or Private Insurance coverage? Unfortunately because of my particular license, the only coverage that my clients can access is Australian private health insurance. I can provide invoices on request.
How do I get started? Call or email me to let me know of your interest. You can contact me here. If you want to take advantage of my free first session, let me know and we can set a time. After that I will email you a short office policies form. You will need to add your name to indicate that you’ve read the policies, and then email the form back to me before your first regular appointment.
