If you are seeking Mental Health Coaching, Counselling or Crisis Support for yourself or a loved one please read on. I sincerely hope I can help you access the support you need, whether that be through my own service or by linking you with another appropriate provider. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly with any enquiries, I look forward to hearing from you. INTRODUCTION TO MY SERVICE
Talking with the right person can make a real difference in your life and for your mental health. Regardless of your health issues or background or beliefs, I can provide you an empathetic, compassionate and non-judgmental space to work through whatever you are struggling with. I apply principles from a variety of counselling methods and models as no one particular theoretical approach is going to suit everyone. My focus is to open a genuine and authentic human connection through which I can help you identify your health, lifestyle and relationship goals and formulate a personalised and holistic plan to achieve them. I aim to build a trusting therapeutic relationship in which you feel comfortable to open up about your history and your current circumstances, and to explore mental, emotional, physical, social, sexual and spiritual aspects of who you are as a person. Together we will discover the strategies that work for you to better manage your emotions, to promote more positive thoughts and behaviours, to make better decisions, to improve your ability to cope with the pressures of life, and to achieve better outcomes. MY PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
My professional background is in nursing, commencing as an Assistant Nurse before the age of 16. After completing high school, I went on to become an Enrolled Nurse and later a Registered Nurse. I started my career working in aged care then gained experience in a variety of medical and surgical settings, before finding my passion in mental health. I have more than 15 years’ experience working across a broad range of mental health care settings including acute & emergency, inpatient, community, and forensic services. My academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Nursing, a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health and a Master of Health Law. I have worked as an Accredited Person in New South Wales and as an Authorised Mental Health Practitioner in Queensland. In 2021 I declined a mandated medical intervention, a decision that resulted in me being unable to continue my career as a Registered Nurse. I place a great deal of importance on personal autonomy and strongly believe in the principles of informed consent that is free from coercion. Healthcare is not a ‘one size fits all’ industry; decisions regarding treatment should be made between patient and clinician, not guided by broad political and economic agendas. Medical freedom has been eroded and, sadly, my values no longer align with a number of health policies and practices. Having my employment options so severely limited due to mandates has been challenging; I am increasingly missing doing the work I dedicated most of my life to and feel it would be a shame for my experience and education to go to waste. I’m aware of the escalating pressure on mental health services and the despair being faced by so many as they try to cope with seemingly endless local and global disasters. For these reasons I decided to build my own counselling practice where I can continue offering much needed support to people in my community, in an ethically sound environment. GENERAL INFORMATION
Face to face and telehealth appointments are available. If you live in the Rockhampton area, I will travel to see you in your own home. A home-visit can save you time and money, and can be extremely helpful for clients who don’t have easy access to transport or for those whose health circumstances make it difficult to leave the house. However, this isn’t an appropriate option for everyone. If you prefer a face-to-face appointment but your home is not a suitable place to meet, please get in touch with me to discuss other options. There are a number of cafes and parks in town with a safe, private and comfortable space we can talk. Telehealth appointments are available by phone or video call. Currently I use Skype, Zoom and WhatsApp but if you prefer a different platform, please let me know and I will accommodate where possible. I offer a free 20-minute introductory meeting (during business hours) to give you an opportunity to ask questions and develop a sense of rapport before deciding if you would like to book a session with me. Business Hours are 8am-5.30pm Monday to Friday. After hours, weekend & public holiday appointments are available for an additional fee. Crisis support is available only for clients who have previously seen me for an intake consultation, and is subject to my availability at the time. MY FEES
Introduction (20 mins) FREE – business hours only
Intake Consultation (80-90 mins) $160
Standard Appointment (50-60 mins) $140
Crisis Support $180/hr, then $70/half hour thereafter
After hours, weekend & public holiday surcharge $60
A discount of $20 is offered to Concession Card holders
Fees are payable up front at the time of your appointment
Services are not covered by Medicare or Private Health Insurance
Payment options:
Cash
Credit or Debit Card
Electronic Funds Transfer
PayID
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT I AM NOT AN EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDER. IF THERE IS A RISK OF HARM TO YOURSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON, CONTACT 000 FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE FROM POLICE OR AMBULANCE. If I am unable to be contacted and you need to speak with someone, please reach out to a friend or family member and let them know how you are feeling. Alternatively, you can access support at any time from a number of organisations (see below). OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES
Queensland Health
Mental Health Access Line (mental health triage service) – 1300 MH CALL or 1300 642 255
Alcohol and Drug Information & Support (ADIS) – 1800 177 833
You can also present to the Emergency Department at your local hospital
Lifeline Australia – call 13 11 14 or SMS 0477 131 114
https://www.lifeline.org.au
Su***de Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
https://www.su***decallbackservice.org.au
Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636
https://www.beyondblue.org.au
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800
https://kidshelpline.com.au
DVCONNECT Domestic Violence Helpline Queensland – 1800 811 811
https://www.dvconnect.org
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978
https://mensline.org.au
SANE Australia (10am to 10pm only) – 1800 187 263
https://www.sane.org
