Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our services for individuals, couples and families.
What is your approach?
Our work is grounded in dialogical practice, informed by Open Dialogue. At its heart is a simple idea: people make sense of what is happening to them within their relationships, not apart from them.
Many therapeutic approaches begin with assessment, a formulation, and a structured plan for working on what has been identified. We start somewhere else. We do not diagnose or categorise, and we do not follow a predetermined protocol. We work from the position that you, your family, or the two of you understand yourselves better than any external framework could.
Instead, we create the conditions for understanding and connection to emerge. We listen closely, ask questions we don’t already know the answers to, and sit with uncertainty rather than rushing to resolve it.
Different approaches suit different people, and some people find a more structured approach is exactly what they need. This is one way of working, not the only one. You can read more on our About Open Dialogue page.
What actually happens in a session?
We move slowly. We value listening as much as speaking, and we welcome pauses and silence.
Sessions usually open with a simple question: what feels important to talk about, what has brought you here, or how you’d like to use our time together. There is no set agenda or script. We follow your lead.
As you talk, we listen carefully. We notice what shifts, what patterns come up, and what is said and what isn’t said yet. Sometimes we’ll offer your own words back to you. That’s an invitation to go deeper, not an interpretation.
At times we’ll reflect openly on what we’re noticing or wondering, rather than keeping private interpretations, and you’re always invited to respond, correct us, or tell us we’ve missed the mark. At the end, we check in about how the session was for you and whether to meet again.
Will you tell me what’s wrong, or what to do?
No. We don’t diagnose, analyse, or decide what’s “really” going on, and we don’t hand out advice or quick fixes. We believe the answers to most difficulties lie with the people living them, and our role is to help you find them.
What we do is ask questions, because we’re genuinely curious, not because we already know the answer. Everyone has an outer voice, the version of things we say out loud, and inner voices we’re often not aware of ourselves. Part of our work is helping those inner voices be heard, so you can get closer to what’s underneath.
We will share what we’re noticing, openly and in front of you, and you’re free to tell us we’ve got it wrong. If we ever think a different approach or service would serve you better, we’ll say so and help you find it.
Do I need a diagnosis or a referral?
No. You do not need a diagnosis or a referral to work with us. In fact, many people come because they feel like they have been over-diagnosed or over-labelled by the system.
What matters is that something feels heavy, or stuck, or like it needs space to be explored. That is enough.
The only time a referral matters is for Medicare. To claim a rebate for individual sessions, you’ll need a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral from your GP.
How many sessions will I need?
There’s no set number, no minimum and no lock-in. Some people come for a few sessions; others meet regularly over months.
We don’t predetermine how often we meet. At the end of each session, we check in together about how it was and whether to meet again. You can decide then, or let us know later. There’s no fixed endpoint. You’ll know when it feels complete.
What happens in the free clarity call?
It’s a 15-minute conversation. We’ll talk about what’s happening right now, what you’re hoping for, and any questions you have about how we work. Together we’ll work out whether this is the right fit, and which of our services makes most sense.
There’s no commitment beyond the call. If it feels right, we can book your first session before we finish. If you already know what you need, you’re also welcome to book a session directly.
How much does it cost?
- Individual Psychology: $220 for 60 minutes
- Couples & Relationship Therapy: $260 for 60 minutes, or $370 for 90 minutes
- Family Therapy (one practitioner): $300 for 60 minutes, or $420 for 90 minutes
- Open Dialogue Network Meetings (two practitioners): $480 for 60 minutes, or $660 for 90 minutes
For couples, family and network sessions, it’s one fee per session, however many people join. All prices are in Australian dollars, and there are no hidden costs.
Can I claim Medicare, private health or NDIS?
Medicare: If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral from your GP, individual sessions may attract a Medicare rebate of $101.55 per session, for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. That leaves an out-of-pocket cost of $118.45. We submit the claim for you after each session. Couples, family and network sessions are generally not eligible for Medicare rebates.
Private health insurance: Depending on your fund and level of extras cover, a rebate may apply. Please check with your fund directly. You can’t claim both Medicare and private health insurance for the same session.
NDIS: We’re not currently a registered NDIS provider, but we’re open to exploring work with NDIS participants. Let us know on your free call and we can talk through options.
What is your cancellation policy?
We understand that life happens. A fee may apply for a cancellation or no-show, depending on how much notice you give:
- 48 hours’ notice or more: no fee
- 24 to 48 hours’ notice: 50% of the session fee may apply
- Less than 24 hours’ notice, or a no-show: the full fee may apply
You’ll receive a link and reminder at least 48 hours before each session, so you have time to let us know if anything changes. All session times are in Sydney time (AEST/AEDT).
Where are sessions held, and can we meet in person?
Sessions are held online by secure video, so you can join from anywhere in Australia, from wherever feels comfortable. Please choose a private, quiet space where you can’t be overheard.
For couples and family sessions, we recommend each person joins from their own device, even if you’re in the same house. It means we can see everyone clearly for the whole session, and so much of what happens in a conversation isn’t said in words.
In-person sessions can occasionally be arranged. If this matters to you, mention it on your free call.
Do you offer evening or weekend sessions?
Yes. We usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, but we know those hours don’t suit everyone, especially when several people need to be in the same conversation. Evening and weekend sessions are available on request, with a surcharge. These can’t be booked online, so email us or mention it on your free call. For individual sessions, the surcharge isn’t covered by Medicare.
What technology do I need?
A laptop, tablet or phone with a camera and microphone, and a stable internet connection. We’ll send you a secure link before your session, and there’s nothing to install. If you’re unsure about the technology, we’re happy to walk you through it.
If the connection drops during a session, we’ll spend 10 minutes trying to reconnect, and if that doesn’t work, we’ll call you.
Is this confidential?
Yes. What you share is confidential. We won’t share your information with anyone, including your GP or family members, without your written permission. Sessions are never recorded, by anyone.
There are a few exceptions required by law: if we believe someone is at immediate risk of serious harm, if there is a legal obligation to protect a child, or if a court orders the release of records. We will always try to talk this through with you first.
For couples and families: we don’t hold secrets between people. If someone shares something with us individually that’s relevant to the work, we won’t raise it ourselves. We’ll encourage that person to bring it into the session.
Will this approach work for me?
We can’t promise outcomes. What we can say is that if you’re tired of being analysed, if you’ve felt unheard in therapy before, or if you want someone to sit with you in the uncertainty rather than rush to fix things, this way of working may be worth exploring.
Therapy can bring up difficult feelings, and progress isn’t always steady. You can pause at any time. Your first session is a chance to see whether this feels like a good fit, with no obligation to continue. If another approach would suit you better, we’ll tell you and help you find it.
What if I don’t know where to start, or what to talk about?
That’s fine, and more common than you’d think. You don’t need to arrive with a clear story or the right words. We usually begin by asking what has brought you here, and go from there. Sometimes the first session is simply about finding the thread.
You set the pace and decide what matters. Nothing has to be said before you’re ready.
Will you take sides, or tell us who is right?
No. We don’t act as a referee, decide who is right, or ask you to agree on exactly how something happened. In this work, our client is the relationship itself, not either of you individually, and we hold both of your perspectives as valid, even when they contradict each other.
We don’t prescribe scripts or tell you how you should relate to each other. What we do is help you both see the pattern you’re caught in, and make enough space for each of you to say what’s going on underneath. When you both feel heard and are no longer defending your position, you usually have a much clearer sense of what you want to do next.
What if only one of us wants to come?
It’s common for one person to feel ready before the other. We want each of you to agree to this in your own right, not just because the other person wants it, so it can help to share this page or join the free call together.
Couples sessions are held with both of you. If only one of you is ready, individual therapy may be a better starting point for now. Because seeing one partner alone can affect working with you both later, we’ll talk through which path makes most sense before anything is booked.
Will this open a can of worms?
Sometimes, it may feel like it. Conversations that have been avoided for years might finally surface, and that can feel uncomfortable or frightening.
But avoiding these conversations does not make them go away. They show up as tension, distance, or the same fights on repeat. Creating space to finally acknowledge them, to sit with them safely, and to understand where each person is coming from, is where things tend to start moving.
We do not rush to tidy things up. We sit with you in the discomfort, and we help you find your way through. If it ever feels like too much, either of you can pause the session.
We’re stuck and exhausted. Is it too late?
Exhaustion is often a sign that something needs space to finally be heard rather than a sign that it is too late.
We cannot tell you what will happen in your relationship, and we would not try to. What we can offer is a space where both of you can say the things that have not been said, and where you can hear each other without it turning into the same argument.
Moving forward doesn’t always mean staying together. For some couples it means repair. For others, it means finding a better way to relate as things change, such as co-parenting after a separation.
Whether you reach out now or later, the invitation stays open.
Will you speak to either of us separately?
We work with complete transparency. There are no private conversations between us and one of you that the other doesn’t know about. If either of you shares something with us individually that’s relevant to our work, we won’t raise it ourselves, but we will encourage you to bring it into the session.
If either of you has concerns about continuing, you’re always welcome to tell us individually. And if one of you would like individual sessions with us, during or after our work together, we’d talk it through with you both first.
What’s the difference between family therapy and a network meeting?
Both are grounded in the same way of working. The difference is who’s in the room.
Family therapy is with one practitioner. It suits families where fewer people are involved, or where things feel more contained.
Open Dialogue Network Meetings have two practitioners, there from start to finish. They suit situations with many voices, professionals involved, or a lot of complexity to hold. At points, the two practitioners reflect together out loud while you listen, and then you respond.
Not sure which fits? That’s what the free call is for. If things change along the way, we can talk about moving between them.
Why do network meetings have two practitioners?
With more people in the conversation, there’s more going on than one person can hold. Two practitioners help keep the space balanced and neutral, so that every voice has room and no single account tips the conversation. Between us, more gets noticed and acknowledged, including the things that are harder to say.
Two practitioners also bring two perspectives. At points, we can turn to each other and reflect aloud on what we’re hearing, in front of you, offering different views rather than one verdict. People also relate differently: someone may feel more at ease with one of us than the other, which can help everyone find their way into the conversation.
Both practitioners are there from start to finish, every time.
What if someone doesn’t want to come?
This is normal and we work with it all the time. Reluctance often means someone is unsure, protective, or has been hurt before.
In your clarity call, we can talk about who needs to be in the room and how to invite people. Sometimes one family member reaches out first. Sometimes we help you think through how to frame this to family members who are hesitant.
We do not force anyone to attend. Each person’s agreement to take part should be genuinely their own, and anyone can step back at any time. It can also help to know that you can come and say nothing. Listening is a valid part of being in the room.
If your family isn’t interested right now, that’s okay too. Sometimes families become interested once someone takes the first step, and sometimes individual therapy is the right place to start.
What if we don’t agree with each other?
Disagreement is completely normal and welcome. We are not here to make everyone agree. We are here to help you understand where each person is coming from.
Often, the goal is not agreement. It is understanding. Sometimes it’s one person no longer trying to change something they can’t, and another no longer needing to resist so fiercely. Sometimes it’s moving from fighting about everything to understanding what each person is protecting.
How do sessions work online with several people?
We recommend each person joins from their own device, even if some of you are in the same house. It means we can see everyone clearly for the whole session. People can also join from different homes, cities or time zones.
Is this suitable for children, young people, or older people?
Yes. This work can involve family members of any age, from young children through to elderly parents and grandparents.
Age considerations are discussed in your clarity call. Where children or young people take part, consent is given by a parent or guardian, and we’ll also check in with them directly about how they feel about being there. We’ll think carefully together about what feels manageable for them. For older family members, we consider accessibility and any other needs.
