We begin with an intake phase, usually over the first few sessions. This gives us time to understand what has brought you to therapy, what you're hoping for, your history and what's happening in your life now. In the first session, we'll also talk through the practical details and boundaries of working together, with space for you to respond or raise anything that comes up for you.

As we build a fuller picture, we'll work together to understand what may be happening and how different aspects of your experience might fit together.

Once we have a clearer shared understanding, we'll talk together about how to approach the therapy, including my recommendations about the kind of work that may be useful, how often we meet and the likely timeframe. From there, we'll begin the therapeutic work we've agreed on.

Psychotherapy is a collaborative and exploratory process. Part of the work involves developing a deeper understanding of yourself: the patterns you find yourself in, how they may have developed, and what happens for you in particular situations and relationships.

But understanding something intellectually doesn't always change it. Psychotherapy can also create opportunities to experience things differently, including within the therapeutic relationship itself. New experiences can gradually open up different ways of feeling, relating and responding, both in therapy and in your life outside it.

Because my approach is relational, the relationship between us is part of the work. What happens between us can give us something to notice and understand together, as well as opportunities for experiences that may be different from those you've had in other relationships.

Depending on what you're working on, therapy may involve reflection and conversation as well as more experiential ways of working. The particular approach we take will grow out of the understanding we develop during the intake process.

I generally recommend weekly sessions, particularly at the beginning of therapy. Fortnightly sessions can also work well, although progress may be slower. I don't generally recommend spacing sessions further apart than fortnightly, as maintaining continuity is an important part of the therapeutic process.

How long you'll be in therapy depends on what brings you and what we come to understand during the intake process. Some difficulties may be addressed through relatively focused work, while longstanding or more complex patterns will generally take longer.

Once we have a clearer shared understanding of what you're wanting to work on, we'll discuss the likely timeframe together. We'll revisit this as the therapy progresses and work towards an endpoint rather than continuing indefinitely. As we approach the end, we'll usually begin spacing sessions further apart before finishing.

Sometimes, as one area of work comes to an end, you may decide there's something else you'd like to work on. If so, we can discuss whether it makes sense to continue with a new focus.

Parent coaching begins after our initial session, once we've agreed that coaching is the appropriate way to work together. Coaching is offered as a series of four 50-minute sessions.

We'll begin by getting clear about what you'd like help with and understanding what's happening for you and your child. Across the sessions, we'll look at what's happening with your child and work towards understanding and seeing them in new ways, drawing on child development and the approaches that inform my work. There'll be space to reflect on what you're noticing between sessions and build on this as we go.

Yes. Psychotherapy and parent coaching are both available online via video call, as well as in person at my Thornbury practice.

For online sessions, you'll need a reliable internet connection and a private space where you feel comfortable talking openly.

There is considerable overlap between these professions, and individual practitioners can work quite differently even when they have the same professional title.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have specialised in psychiatry. They can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe medication and provide other psychiatric treatment. Some also provide psychotherapy.

Psychologists are trained in psychology and registered with Ahpra. They work in a range of areas, which can include psychotherapy, psychological assessment and diagnosis, research and other forms of psychological practice.

Counselling and psychotherapy follow a different professional and regulatory pathway. They are not currently professions registered through Ahpra. Practitioners may instead be registered with professional bodies such as PACFA, which sets requirements for training, ethical practice, supervision and ongoing professional development.

The distinction between counselling and psychotherapy isn't always clear-cut, and approaches and training can vary considerably between practitioners.

I trained specifically in counselling and psychotherapy and hold a Bachelor of Counselling & Psychotherapy from the Ikon Institute. I'm registered with PACFA and practise as an integrative, relational psychotherapist.

Psychotherapy sessions with me aren't currently eligible for Medicare rebates under a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

However, my session fee ($150) is comparable to the typical out-of-pocket cost of a Medicare-rebated psychology session, so the actual cost to you may be similar.

I require at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. With less notice, the full session fee applies unless I'm able to fill your appointment time. I make exceptions for emergencies; please contact me as soon as possible to discuss.