Individual and couples counselling for anxiety, trauma, relationships, loneliness and life transitions.
Available in English, Cantonese 廣東話 and Mandarin 普通話
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is counselling?
Counselling is a confidential space where you can talk openly about what you are experiencing without judgement. It can help you better understand your emotions, relationships, patterns, and the situations that may be keeping you stuck. Counselling is not about someone telling you what to do. We work together to understand what is happening and explore what may help you move forward.
2. Do I need to have a mental health diagnosis to see a counsellor?
No. You do not need a diagnosis or a major crisis to come to counselling. People seek counselling for many different reasons, including anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, grief, loneliness, family concerns, life transitions, feeling stuck, or simply wanting to understand themselves better.
3. What happens in the first session?
The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other. We will usually talk about what has brought you to counselling, what has been happening in your life, and what you would like support with. You do not need to tell your whole life story in the first session, and you do not need to know exactly what you want to work on. We can start wherever you are.
4. What is the difference between a counsellor and a psychologist?
Both counsellors and psychologists can provide therapeutic support, but their training, professional pathways and areas of practice can differ. I hold a Master of Counselling and a Bachelor of Psychological Science and provide counselling and psychotherapy for individuals and couples. My work focuses on understanding emotions, relationships, behavioural patterns, life experiences and personal growth. I do not provide psychological assessment, formal diagnosis or psychological reports.
5. Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can contact Solitude Counselling directly and make an appointment without seeing your GP first. You do not need a Mental Health Treatment Plan to access my counselling services.
6. Can I claim Medicare?
At this stage, sessions with Solitude Counselling are not eligible for Medicare rebates. Because counselling is privately accessed, you can book directly without a GP referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan. If cost is an important consideration, please feel welcome to ask about current session fees before booking.
7. Is counselling confidential?
Yes. Confidentiality is an important part of the counselling relationship. Information you share during counselling will generally remain private. There are, however, some legal and professional limits to confidentiality. For example, information may need to be disclosed where there is a serious risk of harm to you or another person, where there are concerns involving the safety of a child, or where disclosure is required by law. I will explain confidentiality and its limits at the beginning of our work together, and you are always welcome to ask questions about it.
8. How many sessions will I need?
There is no set number. Some people attend counselling for a few sessions to work through a particular situation, while others choose longer-term counselling to explore deeper emotional, relationship or behavioural patterns. We can regularly review how counselling is progressing and whether it continues to be helpful for you. You are not committing to a fixed number of sessions when you begin.
9. Do you provide couples counselling?
Yes. I work with couples experiencing issues such as: Repeated arguments Communication difficulties Emotional distance Trust concerns Differences in expectations Family or cultural pressures Major life transitions Difficulty feeling heard or understood Couples counselling is not about deciding who is right or wrong. The aim is to better understand the patterns developing between you, what may be happening underneath the conflict, and how you can communicate and connect differently.
10. What if my partner doesn't want to attend counselling?
You can still attend individual counselling. Although you cannot control your partner's behaviour, individual counselling can help you better understand your own emotions, needs, boundaries, communication patterns and choices within the relationship. Sometimes changes in how one person understands and responds to a relationship can also change the wider relationship dynamic.
11. Do you offer face-to-face and online counselling?
Yes. Face-to-face counselling is available on the Gold Coast at selected appointment times. Online counselling is also available, providing a convenient option for clients who prefer to attend from home or who live outside the local area. For online sessions, I recommend finding a quiet and private space where you feel comfortable speaking openly.
12. What languages can counselling be provided in?
Counselling is available in: English Cantonese 廣東話 Mandarin 普通話 You are welcome to move between languages during a session if that feels more natural. This can be particularly helpful when discussing family experiences, relationships, culture or emotions that may be easier to express in one language than another.
13. Is your counselling religious or Christian counselling?
You do not need to be Christian or religious to attend counselling. My professional training has been influenced by humanistic principles as well as Christian-informed values such as respect for the dignity, values and experiences of each person. Your own beliefs will always be respected. If faith or spirituality is important to you and you would like to explore it as part of counselling, we can do so. If it is not relevant to you, it does not need to form part of our work.
14. How do I know if you are the right counsellor for me?
Finding the right counsellor is important. A good therapeutic relationship should allow you to feel respected, heard and increasingly comfortable being honest about what you are experiencing. The first session gives us an opportunity to see whether my approach fits what you are looking for. If I believe another professional or service would be better suited to your needs, I will discuss this openly with you.
15. What if I need urgent mental health support?
Solitude Counselling is not an emergency or 24-hour crisis service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department. For 24-hour crisis support in Australia, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you need urgent mental health assistance, you can also contact your GP or your local public mental health service.
16. What if I need urgent mental health support?
You can contact me through the enquiry form on this website, by email, or by phone/message. You do not need to explain everything in your first message. Simply let me know whether you are interested in individual counselling or couples counselling, and we can take it from there.