FREE 15 minute pre-counselling consultation  LET'S TALK
 

Contact me for counselling & groups

WomenHood is located on the Gold Coast, Australia. I provide face to face counselling by appointent at Varsity Lakes.

If you're not local, I provide online video counselling for women all over Australia. Wherever you're located, please get in touch, and we can work out what's right for you.  

Call me now on 0466 121 215 or fill out the Enquire Now form and I’ll email or call you back as soon as I'm available. If you want to register for a Group Program, please note the name of the Group Progam in the message space on the Enquire Form and I'll contact you about registration.

Please note that this is not a crisis service, I'll respond to all enquiries within 24 hours. For crisis support, please call Lifeline on 131114, or Emergency Services on 000.

I look forward to meeting you soon, and walking beside you.

Judy Graham, WomenHood Counselling

 

 
 

FAQs

How long and how often are counselling sessions?

Your first counselling session will be for 90 minutes. 

All subsequent counselling sessions will be for 60 minutes.

Sessions are usually weekly or fortnightly, depending on your situation. If we’ve been working together for a little while, we may decide to make your appointments monthly. We'll review how things are going along the way and adjust things to meet your needs.

How many sessions will I need?

Everyone’s situation is unique. Some people only want a few sessions and others want to work over a longer period. This will become clearer as we begin our work together and establish what your counselling goals are.

You are totally free to stop at any point. When you decide you are ready to finish counselling, I suggest that we talk about that and set up a planned final session. It can be a healthy and supportive part of the process to reflect on the changes and progress you have made throughout counselling and make this ending process a positive experience that keeps you moving towards health and wellbeing.

How much do counselling sessions cost?

Initial counselling sessions are 90 minutes, charged at $165.  *as at 1/7/23

Subsequent counselling sessions are 60 minutes, charged at $110 (online), or $130 (face to face). *as at 1/7/23

Fees for group programs vary and are listed on the website.

I offer a free 15 minute pre-counselling phone call to help you decide if I am the right counsellor for you.

When and how do I pay?

For online video counselling, you will receive an electronic invoice at the end of the session for payment to be made via debit/credit card using Square secure payment system.

For face to face counselling, payment is due at the end of our sessions where you can pay by EFTPOS or in cash.

Groups and workshops require a deposit to secure your place and then full payment prior to the commencement of the session. You will receive an electronic invoice for payment to be made via debit/credit card using Square secure payment system. 

If you cannot pay by debit/credit card online, please discuss with me to arrange a bank transfer payment instead.

Are rebates available?

Counselling and Psychotherapy services are not currently covered under Medicare [Medicare rebates are generally for people with a diagnosed Mental Health condition who complete a mental health plan with a GP and are referred to a psychologist].

I am registered with Medibank Private and AHM Private Health Funds to provide counselling services. If you have the relevant cover for counselling with either of these funds you may be eligible for a rebate. You will need to contact your health fund to see how much cover you have and their claim process. I provide you with my Medibank / AHM Provider Number when I invoice you. If you need to know my provider number ahead of our appointment, just let me know and I can provide it for you.

Is what I say in counselling confidential?

Confidentiality in counselling is of the utmost importance. What you tell me in our sessions is private and confidential and your personal information will not be shared without your consent. The only exception to this would be if there is a serious or imminent risk of harm to yourself or others. If I am aware of such situations, I am ethically bound to enact my duty of care and seek the appopriate assistance. If you are at risk of harm, I would discuss safety options with you in the first instance.

As a registered counsellor with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, I am acountable for working within the professional and ethical standards outlined in the PACFA Code of Ethics. Professional practice includes undertaking regular sessions with a clinical supervisor. This is to ensure my counselling work is effective and ethical, however I do not disclose any identifying details to her about the clients I am working with.

What happens in the first session?

In the first session we have 90 minutes. This allows time for us to talk about why you’ve come to counselling, what you think you’d like to get out of counselling, and to make a support plan. In this session you will also see how I work and gain a sense of if working together feels right for you. 

What if I can’t think of anything to say?

If you come to any session and are not sure what to say, or your mind is a bit blank, we can check in with what's been happening and how you are feeling. This often helps to get the session going and provides material for us to work with.

Are my details kept private?

Your privacy is important to us. It is WomenHood's policy to respect your privacy regarding any information you provide to us, and any information we may collect from you across our website. We only request personal information relevant to providing you with a service, and only use it to help provide or improve this service. You can view our full Privacy Policy here.

What happens if I have to cancel my counselling session?

If you are unable to make it to a scheduled session, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance. This allows me to offer that appointment to someone else. If you don't show up for your appointment, you may be charged the full amount for the session.

In the of event of an emergency that prevents you from notifying me, no-show cancellation fees can be waived at my discretion. Please notify me about your cancellation as soon as possible.

What happens if I change my mind about coming to counselling?

The choice as to whether we continue working together will always be yours. We will have regular opportunities to check in and review our work together along the way.

I ask that you let me know when you would like us to finish working together, and that if possible we schedule an ending session. Endings are an important part of counselling work. We can look at the progress and changes you've made and the strategies that will carry you forward.

I don't live near you, and I'd like to work with you. how does online counselling work?

At WomenHood I offer Online Video Counselling for one-to-one counselling and for group work. I use Sessions for video conferencing. It is secure, easy to use and provides a great opportunity to work together from anywhere in Australia. Online counselling has been shown to be as effective as face-to-face counselling for a variety of mental health presentations, although there are a few extra things to be considered in terms of treatment options and equipment prior to commencing online counselling. Please read through my Online Counselling information sheet for further details, and feel free to contact me for a brief chat before making an appointment.