Frequently
asked
questions

Let’s face it. The thought of counselling for most people can trigger anxiety. And, as it may be something you have never done before…we get it! Each of our therapists have experienced attending their own therapy way before becoming a counsellor themselves. And we were nervous too.

But!

We hope to ease that anxiety a little and make it a positive experience. Our intention is to make you feel extremely welcome and to provide you with a safe and confidential space to work through your issues, and where you may hopefully feel seen, accepted, and valued.

The next steps…

〜 Book online for a free 15 mins consult to see if we’re a good match.

〜 If we decide to move ahead, you can book during the consult or at a later stage if you would like to take time to think.

〜 Once the appointment is booked, we will ask you to fill out an intake form prior to your first session. This help gives us more context to your current issues.

〜 In your first appointment, your counsellor will go over some important information such as privacy and confidentiality, therapist role and a few other formalities. This information is also included on the intake form. We want to ensure you are fully informed about counselling before you start the process. We encourage and welcome any questions.

The first session is focused on building a connection between you and your counsellor, and you sharing what has brought you to counselling. Don’t worry! You don’t need to share your deepest darkest secrets right away. You share only what you’re comfortable with. In particular, during the first session your counsellor will seek to build a picture of understanding of your situation by asking questions throughout. You may also have questions you want to ask too.

〜 From this, your goals for therapy are explored and we begin working towards those as we progress through therapy. Your goals are re-assessed throughout counselling to ensure we continue to head in the direction you wish.

Online zoom or telephone session: $150 for 60 minutes

Payment can be made by direct deposit on our booking and appointment page. Full payment is required prior to the session.

We know things happen. And we understand if you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment. All we ask is that you provide us with 48 hours’ notice when cancelling your appointment. This is to enable enough time for your slot to be allocated to another client.

Cancellations provided with 48 hours’ notice do not incur a fee.

If cancelled the day prior to the appointment or after the reminder email is sent you will be charged 50% of the session fee.

Non-attendance or cancellations on the day will be charged the full session fee.

Repeated cancellations or failure to pay the cancellation fee will result in the service being discontinued.

Unfortunately, counselling is not covered under the Medicare Rebate Scheme. And we currently do not offer private insurance rebates.

There is no set answer to this question. Some issues can be resolved within a few sessions whilst others need much more. We encourage clients to play an active role in deciding how many sessions are right for them. We can make recommendations, but ultimately the decision is up to you.

In terms of frequency. This depends on your issue, level of distress and financial situation. Some individuals choose to come weekly for a period and then change to fortnightly. Whilst for others, every 2-3 weeks may be suitable. You get to decide what feels right. However, please note that we do not offer more than one session per week.

Innerflo Therapy is not a crisis support or referral service. If you feel the need for more than one session per week, it is likely that you feel in crisis. If you are requiring more support between your sessions, speak to your therapist about this as they can provide you with additional support options.

Alternatively, useful links and contact details can be found below. If your safety or the safety of others is at risk, contact emergency services on 000.

If you need an interpreter to help speak with any of the below services, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450.

Emergency Services 
000 (24 hours, every day)

Lifeline
Free Australia-wide crisis support and suicide prevention service

13 11 14 (24 hours, every day)

Text 0477 131 114 (24 hours, every day)

Lifeline online crisis chat (from 7pm to midnight, 7 nights)

Suicide call back service
Free Australia-wide service for people affected by suicide

1300 659 467 (24 hours, every day)

Online and video chat is also available via their website.

SuicideLine Victoria
Free counselling and support for people in Victoria

1300 651 251 (24 hours, every day)

Online and video chat is also available via their website.

13YARN
24/7 national crisis line support for Indigenous Australians.

Dial 13 92 76

Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs
Free mental health and wellbeing support for all Victorians

1300 375 330 (9am to 10pm weekdays, 9 am to 5 pm weekends)

Blue Knot Foundation Helpline
Information, support, or referral for adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse

1300 657 380 (9am to 5pm, every day)

Telehealth counselling is also known as online counselling (our preferred term). It simply means carrying out counselling sessions via video or telephone.

〜 More affordable
〜 No commute - save time and money
〜 More flexible
〜 More accessible
〜 Increased comfort

Absolutely! Research shows that it is just as effective as face-to-face counselling for a variety of mental health issues. Therapy is highly adaptable and there are a huge variety of approaches and therapeutic interventions that can be carried out via video and telephone. We have lots of experience with online counselling and thus have witnessed its effectiveness. However, we recognise that it isn’t for everyone.

〜 For those experiencing complex or co-morbid mental health issues.

〜 For those who find they feel more comfortable in person and prefer a counselling office environment.

〜 For those who do not have a safe space to carry out the session from.

〜 For those who do not have an adequate device or internet or find technology challenging to deal with.

At Innerflo Therapy we use zoom as our primary platform. Once an appointment has been arranged with your counsellor, a link will be sent to your email. Clicking on this link will automatically launch your video session. You do not need to subscribe to zoom to be able to access your video appointment. All you need is the link sent to you.

If your appointment is by telephone. Your counsellor will simply call you at the time of your appointment.

You’ll need either a laptop, desktop computer, tablet, or smart phone – basically anything that connects via video and audio. A stable internet connection is also needed, and we recommend using headphones – though, this is not a requirement.

With online therapy, the responsibility for creating an optimal therapy environment is shared between you and your therapist.

Below are some tips for getting the most out of your session.

〜 Treat it the same way as you would an in-person session. Find a quiet and comfortable space where you won’t be disturbed.

〜 Get settled before your session – get a drink of water, go to the bathroom, maybe grab some tissues.

〜 Ensure your electronic device is adequately charged.

〜 Consider the lighting in your chosen space. Make sure there is adequate light for your therapist to see your face and avoid setting up in a location where a window will be behind you as this may cast a strong shadow over your face.

〜 Avoid having the session in a public space where confidentiality of the session may be compromised. Find a space where you have privacy and will not be interrupted.

〜 Be on time for your session. This is a given, but we offer a gentle reminder as we want you to get the most out of your session and being late will reduce the time you have with your counsellor.