Counselling Services Melbourne - Bayside Psychotherapy FAQ

Counselling can seem scary for anyone, and you probably have more questions than answers. This FAQ answers some of the most common questions people ask, and we hope it answers yours.

But, if you still have questions, or would like to know more about counselling services in Melbourne, please feel free to contact us.

Are you qualified to provide counselling?

Yes. Each counsellor at Melbourne's Bayside Psychotherapy has both a university degree in counselling and extensive experience working with a wide variety of conditions. You can visit our staff page to find out more about our Melbourne psychotherapists and some of the techniques and methods they use. Each counsellor has access to a network of mental health specialists for purposes of making referrals where applicable.

Isn't counselling just talking? How does that help me? I already know everything about my childhood.

Do you? Are you sure? People who think they know all about a specific problem or condition have generally gone through counselling before. They've probably pondered, dwelled, and repeatedly analysed their situation. Unfortunately, it often also means they haven't uncovered or dealt with the core issues.

Psychotherapy sessions might seem like nothing more than a casual chat, but it's actually what Freud called 'the talking cure' (psychoanalysis). This is nothing like chatting with family or friends. Instead, your psychotherapist will look for clues that can only be found through language. Having your deepest thoughts understood, validated and interpreted in a safe and healthy environment can also enhance your feelings of security and self-worth.

In short, language may have made you ill, but it can also help you get well again.

How long will it be until I'm better? How long does psychotherapy or counselling take?

It's understandable why people want their symptoms to go away quickly. But, pressure to change quickly is more likely to add anxiety rather than help your cause. It's like trying to sleep! Some psychotherapists or counsellors might even claim to help in as little as 6 sessions, but many patients who only receive short-term care can relapse in the future. We may not be the cheapest or recommend the shortest treatment times, but we are completely committed to providing thorough, quality services. 

We understand lasting change and deep improvements in self-esteem (not some fleeting 'self-help' kind of band-aid) generally arises from engaging with frequent, consistent sessions. Therefore, many people continue after 10 sessions. That being said, there's nothing wrong with shorter-term treatment if you can't afford longer term psychotherapy. And of course, some cases do not require longer term therapy.

What about confidentiality? Are the things we talk about kept private?

Everything said during your counselling sessions is held in complete confidence. We will never share information about you with others unless we absolutely have to. (We must report risks of suicide, homicide or child abuse.) We also can't guarantee the security of the connections during Skype counselling sessions.

If a family member asks about your therapy, we will speak to you before talking to them. You decide what or how much we should tell them. And if you don't want them to know anything, we won't tell them anything (unless there's a risk of suicide, homicide or child abuse).

Can my friend or partner be with me during the sessions?

That is completely up to you. However unlike couples counselling, individual Psychotherapy generally works best when no one else is in the session. We prefer to focus on you as an individual, and that means being as free as possible from other's expectations, desires or demands (regardless of how helpful the other's contribution might be, personal space and boundaries are critical in psychotherapy). 

Despite your conscious intentions, having a partner or friend present could influence what you disclose and censor and lead to subtle (or not so subtle) attempts to please or frustrate the other person (instead of engaging in real therapeutic work), ensuring that the therapy is defeated in short order.

However should you wish to bring someone to one or more of your counselling sessions, please discuss this first with your therapist.
 
If you need (or want) to speak to a couples or family counsellor in Melbourne, we can recommend therapists who specialise in those methods.

Can a Melbourne counsellor help me?

More often than not, we can help. While we'd like to help everyone, we assess people's suitability for counselling and psychotherapy during initial sessions. If we don't take you on, we will help you find someone better suited to help you. Remember: it's not because you're not intelligent enough, or are unworthy of our help. It's because we want what's best for you.

We also know it can be hard to get help if you live outside the local area or find it difficult to travel, but we'd still like to help. If you meet our criteria for treatment, but can't attend counselling services in Melbourne, you can qualify for our Skype counselling services.

Will I be criticized, judged or forced to talk about things I don't want to discuss?

Our role as your Melbourne counsellor is not to judge you or force you to talk about anything you don't want to discuss. You're free to share whatever you like, and whatever the topic is you can be assured it will be discussed in a healthy and helpful way.

Treatment isn't always an effortless or easy process. Anxiety, painful thoughts, sensitive feelings, and relationship patterns can surface, but these generally indicate progress and are not something to worry about. If painful feelings do surface, we can teach you a special mindfulness meditation technique to help you manage your feelings, and in turn, encourage you to explore them. Besides, as the famous analyst Carl Jung says, 'you can't defeat an enemy you don't know exists.'

What about medication or seeing another counsellor?

You're in complete control of the treatment process. Many people choose to combine medication and therapy, and that's okay. But, we don't support or advise against medication -- we feel it's something you should discuss with your doctor or psychiatrist.

You're welcome to see another therapist or professional while receiving treatment from Bayside Psychotherapy. However, be aware this isn't always helpful. Professionals can have different philosophies and theoretical orientations that don't always work well together, even if both methodologies are effective. In fact, it could actually slow down your progress.

What does counselling cost and is Medicare or private health rebates available?

Counselling services at Melbourne's Bayside Psychotherapy are 50 minutes long and cost $130 per session for the first 10 sessions. Each additional session costs $105.

Our services do not include Medicare rebates. However, this actually frees us to be more flexible with the counselling methods we can practice (we are not limited to providing only the psychological approaches Medicare might otherwise fund). Instead, we tailor psychotherapy methods that we believe will help each individual achieve long term improvement and deep self-understanding.

And, there's no mandatory reporting to your GP (with extreme exceptions, of course). This means people can have therapy without the demand to have mental health issues documented in their medical record. It can therefore be possible to receive psychotherapy without having been diagnosed with a mental illness by a GP.

If you need financial assistance, check your health coverage. Some private health rebates may be available depending on the leverage of health coverage you have and the professional you see. You may also be eligible for tax relief after exceeding a certain threshold; check with your accountant.

This is an emergency. Can you help?

We are not a crisis clinic, and therefore, can't help you in an emergency. Contact Lifeline for free 24 hour emergency support.

Ready to get help? Have more questions for us? Contact us now to learn more about the counselling services in Melbourne offered by Bayside Psychotherapy. Bookings do not require a referral. Please call our counsellors on (03) 9530 6353 to find out if we can help. Your call is completely confidential, and there's absolutely no obligation.