Counselling is a confidential and supportive process where you talk with a trained professional about your thoughts, feelings, and challenges. It can help you gain clarity, manage stress, improve relationships, and develop healthier ways of coping, leading to greater emotional well-being and personal growth.

You might benefit from counselling if you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or struggling with relationships, stress, or life changes. If you're finding it hard to cope or simply want support to better understand yourself, counselling can offer guidance and tools to help you move forward.

No, you don’t need a referral to see a counsellor. You can reach out directly to book an appointment whenever you feel ready to begin.

In a counselling session, you’ll have a private, supportive space to talk openly with your therapist about whatever’s on your mind. The therapist will listen, ask questions, and help you explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Together, you’ll work on strategies and insights to address your concerns and improve your well-being.

A typical counselling session lasts around 50 minutes. Some sessions may be shorter or longer depending on your needs and the type of therapy.

The number of counselling sessions you may need varies depending on your individual goals and the issues you're addressing. Some people find relief in just a few sessions, while others may benefit from longer-term support. Your therapist will work with you to determine the best approach and can adjust the number of sessions as needed.

If you don’t feel comfortable with your counsellor, it’s important to share your feelings with them. A good therapist will respect your concerns and work with you to improve the connection. If you still don’t feel comfortable, you can always seek another counsellor who better matches your needs and makes you feel at ease. Your comfort and trust are key to the counselling process.

Ending counselling is a personal decision and can look different for everyone. Some people come with a specific goal in mind and feel ready to finish once that goal is met. Others may notice a general sense of improvement—feeling more confident, less overwhelmed, or better equipped to manage life’s challenges. Your counsellor will regularly check in with you about your progress, and together you can decide when it feels right to wrap up or reduce the frequency of sessions. There’s no fixed timeline—it’s about what feels right for you.

Yes, counselling is confidential. Your therapist is legally and ethically required to keep everything you discuss private, however there are exceptions:

• If there is an immediate or specified risk of harm to the client or to others

• There is a legal obligation to do so

• When the client has given consent to do so

Your therapist will explain the limits of confidentiality at the start of your sessions to ensure you feel safe and informed.

At The Pause Button, your comfort and privacy are our priority. If we happen to cross paths outside of a session, your counsellor will take their lead from you. This means:

• They won’t initiate a conversation or acknowledge you unless you choose to.

• If you say hello, they may smile or respond casually, but they won’t mention the counselling relationship.

• Everything about your sessions remains completely confidential, even in public settings.

This boundary is in place to protect your privacy and ensure that you never feel put on the spot.

Psychologists and counsellors both help people with emotional and mental health challenges, however their training and focus are a little different. Psychologists complete more years of university study and are trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions, often using formal assessments. Counsellors focus more on providing support, guidance, and strategies to help people navigate life’s challenges, without necessarily diagnosing a condition. Counselling is generally more conversational and growth-focused.

Counselling sessions are not covered by Medicare or the Better Access program. However, some people may be eligible for partial coverage through private health insurance or may choose to pay for sessions privately. It's always a good idea to check with your health insurance provider to see if any counselling services are included in your plan.

Payment is required on the day of your appointment and is automatically charged to your nominated account, unless you have indicated that you prefer EFT. We do not accept cash or cheque.

Our cancellation policy is as follows: If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, we ask for at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations made within 48 hours will incur a 50% fee of the session cost. For cancellations made within 24 hours or for missed appointments, full payment will be required. This policy helps us manage our schedule and offer timely support to all clients

Currently, we do not offer free or bulk-billed services as we are a private clinic and only work on a fee-for-service basis.

Yes, we do offer online or virtual counselling for clients who prefer or need the convenience of remote sessions. However, we strongly encourage that the initial session be held in person, as it helps to build a stronger therapeutic relationship and allows for a more personal connection. After the first session, we can discuss whether online sessions would be suitable for you moving forward.

At this time, our practice focuses on providing counselling services for adults and couples. We do not offer specialised services for children and teenagers.

At our practice, we primarily focus on providing counselling services for adults and couples. We do not specialise in crisis intervention. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, we recommend contacting emergency services or reaching out to specialised crisis support organisations. For immediate assistance, you can contact Emergency Service on triple zero, Lifeline on 13 11 14, the NSW Mental Health Line on 1300 659 467; or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.