Bayside Psychotherapy Services FAQs

No. We're not a crisis clinic and can't help in emergencies. If you need emergency assistance, please contact:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Both provide free, 24-hour emergency support.

Yes, but only for sessions with Adam Szmerling or Natalie Szmerling. You'll need a current Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP or psychiatrist. We don't bulk-bill, so you pay the full fee upfront and claim the rebate yourself easily through the Medicare App.

Of note:

• Adam doesn't accept MHCPs for initial sessions (case-by-case basis after first appointment)
• Medicare doesn't cover cancellation fees, hypnotherapy or couples therapy
• Mental health care plans can be emailed to your therapist or faxed to 03 9124 1522

Hypnotherapy at Bayside involves guided relaxation to access your subconscious mind. During your 50-minute session, your therapist will first discuss your goals and concerns. You'll then be guided into a relaxed state through a calm voice and visualisation. You remain in control throughout. The therapist uses positive suggestions and imagery to address your specific concerns, whether that's anxiety, habits, or emotional patterns. Most clients find it deeply relaxing, like a focused meditation. Sessions are personalised to your needs and comfort level.

Couples counselling provides a safe, neutral space for both partners to communicate openly. Your therapist acts as a facilitator, helping identify unhelpful patterns and develop healthier ways to relate. Sessions are 50 minutes and cost $200. We work with couples at any stage: dating, engaged, married, or considering separation. Common issues include communication breakdowns, trust concerns, parenting disagreements, or simply feeling disconnected. Both partners need to attend (either in-person or online). Everything discussed remains completely confidential unless there's risk of harm.

Yes, hypnotherapy can be particularly effective for binge eating as it addresses the subconscious patterns driving the behaviour. Our therapists work to uncover emotional triggers behind binge eating episodes, such as stress, anxiety, or past experiences. Through hypnotherapy, we help reprogram your relationship with food and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Treatment typically involves identifying triggers, building impulse control, and addressing underlying emotional needs. Results vary by individual, but many clients notice reduced urges and improved emotional regulation within several sessions. We also offer a downloadable self-hypnosis recording for additional support between sessions. For longstanding patterns, however, psychotherapy is more appropriate.

Yes, we offer online therapy via Zoom, Doxy.me, or phone. Research shows online therapy can be equally effective as face-to-face sessions in many cases. Benefits include:

• No travel time
• Greater flexibility with scheduling
• Complete privacy (no waiting room encounters)
• Comfort of your own environment
• Access from anywhere in Australia or internationally

You just need reliable internet and a private space. We'll send easy setup instructions. Online sessions cost the same as in clinic and use encrypted platforms for security. Some therapists work entirely online, while others offer both options.

New bookings are payable in advance and non-refundable if cancelled. You can reschedule with at least 3 business days' notice. This policy helps us manage our schedule effectively and ensures committed treatment participation. When clients cancel, it disrupts their progress and prevents others from accessing that time slot. While we understand unexpected circumstances arise, consistent attendance is crucial for therapeutic progress. Our therapists reserve specific time for you and prepare for your session in advance. Respect for our time is appreciated.

Find your best match with our anonymous wizard. Different approaches suit different concerns. Hypnotherapy works well for habits, anxiety, phobias, and subconscious patterns. It's particularly effective for smoking cessation, weight management, and performance anxiety. Counselling provides support for life transitions, grief, relationships, and general wellbeing. Psychotherapy explores deeper patterns, childhood experiences, and long-standing emotional issues through regular weekly sessions. Clinical psychology addresses diagnosed mental health conditions with evidence based treatments.

During your initial session, if you are still unsure, your therapist will assess your needs and recommend the most suitable approach.

Your first session focuses on understanding your unique situation. Your therapist will ask about your current concerns, relevant history, and therapy goals. This isn't an interrogation; it's a collaborative conversation to understand how best to help you. You'll discuss practical matters like session frequency and treatment approach.

For hypnotherapy, you might experience a brief relaxation exercise. For psychotherapy, expect deeper exploration of patterns and relationships. Couples attend together and both share perspectives. First sessions sometimes feel emotional as you open up about struggles. This is completely normal. Your therapist will ensure you feel heard, understood, and comfortable with the treatment plan before continuing.

Yes. What you share in therapy stays private. We only pass on information if you give clear permission and have talked it through with your therapist in session. The only legal exceptions are when there’s a serious risk of suicide, harm to others, or child exploitation. In those situations, safety has to come first.

If a third party asks about your therapy, we speak with you before saying anything. You decide what, if anything, is shared. The same applies to written notes or records: they’re kept securely and not released without your consent. In couples counselling, confidentiality belongs to the couple as a whole, not to each individual separately.

Your privacy is the foundation for trust and for speaking openly in therapy.

Of course, you know this varies significantly between individuals and issues. Some clients experience relief after four sessions, particularly with hypnotherapy for specific habits. Others need several months or years, especially for complex trauma or longstanding patterns.

Factors affecting timeline include:

• How ingrained the patterns are
• Your commitment to the process
• Session frequency (weekly sessions typically yield faster results)
• The therapeutic approach used
• Your willingness to actively participate in the process

Short term counselling might involve 6-8 sessions. Psychotherapy often requires longer-term commitment for lasting change. We'll regularly review progress and adjust our approach, but healing happens at its own pace. Couples counselling often takes months of regular sessions to establish ground rules, boundaries and work through intersecting family histories and clashes. Pressure to change quickly often creates frustration rather than progress.

Many private health funds cover our services, but it depends on your level of cover and which therapist you see. Hypnotherapists need membership with AHA or GOAH for rebates (some of our hypnotherapists have these). Psychology sessions may be covered under mental health benefits with Natalie. Couples therapy might fall under relationship counselling coverage with some funds. Check with your fund and therapist before booking to confirm:

• Whether your therapist is recognised
• Your annual limit
• Waiting periods
• Gap payments Contact your fund with the therapist's name and qualifications for accurate information.

Yes, but currently only Adam Szmerling , Kelli Tranter, Carolina Rosa and Sara Herring accept NDIS clients who are self managed or plan managed. A discussion needs to occur first, and a service agreement must be co-signed before booking. We can provide therapeutic supports under NDIS funding for adults with psychosocial disabilities. Contact us at (03) 9557 9113 to discuss your NDIS plan and whether our services align with your goals. We'll help determine if our therapy services can be funded through your plan's capacity building supports.

We're located at 8/539 Highett Road, Highett VIC 3190, in Melbourne's Bayside area. There's ample free parking available in the front or at the rear carpark, and in surrounding streets. We're easily accessible by public transport, with trains to Highett station and several bus routes nearby. Our clinic provides a calm, private environment with a comfortable waiting area. For those who can't travel or prefer remote sessions, we offer full online therapy services with the same quality of care.

Our privacy policy is available at: https://www.baysidepsychotherapy.com.au/privacy-policy/

This comprehensive policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in compliance with Australian privacy laws.