Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our services for individuals, couples and families.
General Questions
(These apply to all our services)
Where is this service available?
We offer telehealth services Australia-wide. Whether you are in Sydney, Melbourne, rural Tasmania, or anywhere in between, you can access our services via video call from wherever you are.
Why does Dialogue Room use a telehealth model?
Telehealth removes barriers. You do not need to travel, find parking, or take time out of your day to commute. You can access support from home, in a comfortable space of your choosing. For us, telehealth also means we can work with families and couples across Australia, not just those in our immediate area.
That said, we do occasionally offer in-person sessions by arrangement. If this is something you need, raise it during your clarity call and we can explore it together.
What technology do I need?
You need a device with a camera and microphone (laptop, tablet, or smartphone), and a stable internet connection. We use Zoom or a similar video platform. You will receive the link before your session. No special software or downloads are required.
If you are unsure about technology, we are happy to walk you through it during your clarity call.
Is this confidential?
Yes. All information shared in sessions is confidential and protected under Australian privacy laws and AHPRA ethical guidelines.
Important note for couples and families: What is discussed in the session stays in the session. We do not have separate conversations with individual family members or partners behind closed doors. We work transparently, which means everything is discussed openly in the room with everyone present.
If you have concerns about privacy or confidentiality, please raise these during your clarity call.
How much does it cost?
Pricing varies by service:
- Individual Psychology: A$220 per 60-minute session
- Couples and Relationship Therapy: A$260 per 60-minute session, or A$370 for 90 minutes. Some people choose 90 minutes for a first session, and some prefer it throughout. We will talk through what suits you.
- Family and Network Therapy: A$480 for 60 minutes or A$660 for 90 minutes, with two facilitators. We discuss the right length for your family during your clarity call.
All pricing is discussed transparently upfront. There are no hidden costs.
Can I speak to someone before booking?
Absolutely. We always start with a free 15-minute clarity call. This is a chance for you to tell us what is happening, ask questions, and work out together whether our approach is the right fit for you. No commitment, no pressure.
Simply click “Book a Free Clarity Call” on any service page.
What is Open Dialogue?
Open Dialogue is an approach to mental health care that originated in Finland in the 1980s. It was developed by a team of psychologists and psychiatrists, including Jaakko Seikkula, in response to high rates of mental health crisis in the region.
The core principle is simple: when people experiencing distress are given genuinely safe space to speak and listen with their support network, they have the capacity to find their own way forward.
Open Dialogue is not a technique or a protocol. It is a philosophy about how change happens, through dialogue, connection, and shared understanding rather than diagnosis and treatment.
What is dialogical practice?
Dialogical practice is an approach grounded in the belief that people make sense of what is happening to them within their relationships, not apart from them.
Rather than positioning the practitioner as the expert who diagnoses and fixes, dialogical practice creates space for dialogue where people are recognised as the experts on their own lives.
It draws on multiple traditions: person-centred practice, narrative therapy, trauma-informed care, and Open Dialogue. What unites them all is a belief that you are the expert on your own life.
How is this different from other kinds of therapy?
Many therapeutic approaches begin with assessment, a formulation, and a structured plan for working on what has been identified.
Dialogical practice starts 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 sit with uncertainty rather than rushing to resolve it. We slow down and listen.
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.
Where did Open Dialogue come from and what is it grounded in?
Open Dialogue was developed in Western Lapland, Finland, in the 1980s by Jaakko Seikkula and colleagues. At that time, the region had one of the highest incidences of psychosis in Europe.
Open Dialogue is grounded in several key philosophical and theoretical foundations:
- Family Systems Theory provided the foundational understanding that distress exists within relational contexts, not just within individuals.
- Social Constructionist Philosophy, particularly Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of dialogue, shaped the belief that meaning-making happens through genuine conversation and mutual understanding.
- The Reflecting Team Approach, developed by Norwegian psychiatrist Tom Andersen, introduced the practice of pausing mid-session to reflect on what is being heard, which slows down conversation and introduces new perspectives without the clinician taking authority.
- The Need-Adapted Treatment Model, developed earlier by Yrjö Alanen in Finland, emphasised flexibility, rapid response to crisis, and family-centred approaches.
- Person-centred and trauma-informed principles ensure that the approach is grounded in respect for the person’s experience and awareness of how trauma shapes relating.
When Seikkula and his team brought together the person experiencing distress, their family and support network, and two clinicians in one conversation, they created something new: a space where the dialogue itself is where the work happens.
What does the research say about Open Dialogue?
The early research came from Western Lapland. A five-year follow-up of 42 people experiencing first-episode psychosis (Seikkula et al., 2006) found that 82% had no residual psychotic symptoms, 86% had returned to work or study, and 29% had used antipsychotic medication at some point during their treatment. A nineteen-year follow-up (Bergström et al., 2018) found lower rates of disability allowance and lower mortality compared with national controls.
These were small, non-randomised studies, which is part of why the ODDESSI trial was commissioned. Published in The Lancet Psychiatry in 2026, ODDESSI is the largest randomised controlled trial of Open Dialogue ever conducted, running across NHS services in England with 494 participants followed for two years.
ODDESSI did not find a difference in time to relapse, which was the outcome it set out to measure. It did find that people receiving Open Dialogue were substantially less likely to be admitted to hospital, less likely to be re-referred to crisis services, and rated their own recovery and their care more highly.
We think the honest summary is that this way of working appears to change a great deal about what happens around a crisis, and that the field is still working out exactly why.
How can Open Dialogue help me and my family?
Open Dialogue is grounded in the belief that distress is often a meaningful response to difficult circumstances, not just a symptom to be treated.
When a family comes together in a genuinely safe space, when every voice is heard, and when understanding emerges, people often find their own capacity to move forward. This might look like better relationships, clearer communication, fewer crises, or simply a different way of being together.
Why are there two facilitators in Open Dialogue sessions?
Two facilitators allows for:
- Safety: One facilitator can focus on holding the safety of the space while the other follows what is alive in the conversation. Nobody feels ganged up on.
- Balance: Two people in the room makes it much harder for the conversation to tilt toward one person’s account of things.
- Reflective capacity: At key moments, we pause and reflect with each other on what we are hearing. This slows things down, introduces new perspectives, and models genuine curiosity and presence.
One practitioner alone cannot hold all of this. Two changes the dynamic entirely.
Is Open Dialogue the same as family therapy?
No, they are different, though they can overlap.
Family therapy is a broad category of therapeutic approaches focused on understanding and working with the family system. There are many different types, each with different philosophical foundations: systems-based, structural, narrative, solution-focused, and others. The focus is on the family as a unit.
Open Dialogue is a specific philosophical approach to supporting people in distress. It is grounded in dialogue, relational understanding, and the belief that change happens through genuine conversation and connection rather than diagnosis and treatment. Open Dialogue is not limited to families, and it can support individuals, couples, families, or any relational system. The key difference is not who is involved, but how we work.
At Dialogue Room: Our family therapy and network meetings are informed by Open Dialogue principles. We have adapted Open Dialogue to work within Australian private practice, ensuring accessibility and cultural fit while maintaining the core philosophy. We do not claim to be delivering the full Open Dialogue model as practised in Finland, but rather a dialogically informed approach that honours the same principles and values.
What does the research say about dialogical approaches more broadly?
Across very different therapeutic models, the quality of the relationship between practitioner and person tends to predict outcomes well, and research on relational and collaborative approaches has consistently pointed to stronger therapeutic alliances and better engagement with services.
We would rather be careful here than overstate it. The evidence base for dialogical practice specifically is still developing, and much of what we find compelling about this way of working is not the sort of thing that shows up neatly in a trial.
How is Open Dialogue different from my understanding of it?
Open Dialogue has been adapted and interpreted in many ways across different countries and contexts. If you have encountered Open Dialogue elsewhere and it looks different from what we offer, that is likely because:
- Open Dialogue has evolved significantly since the 1980s.
- Different organisations and practitioners adapt the core principles to their local context.
- Open Dialogue exists on a spectrum, where some services stay very close to the Finnish model and others integrate it more broadly into their practice.
We are transparent about our approach. We are dialogically informed, grounded in Open Dialogue principles, and adapted for the Australian context. If you have questions about our specific approach, please ask in your clarity call.
Do I need a mental health diagnosis to work with you?
No. You do not need a diagnosis to work with us. In fact, many people come to individual therapy 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.
What is dialogical psychology?
Dialogical psychology is an approach grounded in the belief that people make sense of their lives in relationship. Rather than positioning myself as the expert who analyses and fixes you, I create space for dialogue where you are the expert on your own life.
In sessions, there is no template or protocol. We slow down. You set the pace. You decide what matters. And I show up with genuine curiosity, not professional distance.
It is about creating the conditions for understanding and connection to emerge, not about diagnosis or treatment.
Will this approach work for me?
I cannot promise outcomes, and I would be wary of anyone who did. What I can say is that if you are tired of being analysed, if you have felt unheard in previous therapy, 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.
Your first session is a chance for both of us to see if this feels like a good fit. There is no obligation to continue if it does not.
How long do I need to commit?
There is no minimum or maximum commitment. Some people come for a few sessions. Some come regularly over months. It is entirely your choice.
We check in after each session about what feels right for you going forward.
What about Medicare and private health insurance?
Medicare: If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate of A$101.55 per session, for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. We process these claims directly after each session for your convenience. Out-of-pocket cost with the rebate is A$118.45.
Private Health Insurance: Depending on your fund and level of extras cover, you may be eligible for a rebate. We recommend checking with your provider directly. Please note that you cannot claim both a Medicare rebate and a private health rebate for the same session.
Will you take sides or tell us who is right?
No. We do not act as a referee, and we do not decide who is right or wrong. Our only agenda is to help you both hear each other.
What often happens in conflict is that one person feels like they have to defend their position, or the other person feels judged. We create space where both of you can speak and be heard without that dynamic.
Is this only for romantic partners?
No. This space is for any two people in a relationship who want to understand each other better. That includes romantic partners, siblings, co-workers, business partners, or any two people navigating relational tension.
Will this open a can of worms?
Sometimes, yes. 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.
Will you tell us what is right or what needs to change?
No. We do not prescribe communication scripts or tell you how you should relate to each other.
What we do is create conditions for genuine understanding. When you both feel truly heard, when you understand where the other person is coming from, and when you are no longer in defensive mode, you usually have a much clearer sense of what you want to do next.
Our job is not to have the answers. It is to help you find yours together.
We are stuck and exhausted. Is it too late for therapy?
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.
Whether you reach out now or later, the invitation stays open.
What about confidentiality between the two of us?
We work with complete transparency. There are no private conversations between us and one partner that the other does not know about. Everything is discussed openly in the room.
This is intentional. It ensures that neither of you feels like we are taking sides or keeping secrets.
How long is a couples session?
Sessions run for 60 minutes at A$260, or 90 minutes at A$370. Some people choose 90 minutes for a first session so there is room for both of you to say what brought you here. Others prefer 90 minutes throughout. We will talk through what suits you during your clarity call.
What about Medicare and private health insurance?
Medicare: Couples and relationship therapy are not eligible for Medicare rebates under a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Medicare rebates under Better Access are available for individual psychological therapy with the eligible person, not for sessions attended as a couple.
Private Health Insurance: Depending on your fund and level of extras cover, you may be eligible for a rebate. We recommend checking with your provider directly.
Do I need a mental health diagnosis for my family to access this service?
No. You do not need a diagnosis. This service is for families navigating relational tension, communication breakdown, or complex family dynamics, with or without a formal diagnosis.
What matters is that something feels stuck and you want to understand each other differently.
What if someone in my family does not 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. But we do talk about who needs to be part of the conversation for something to actually shift.
What if my family does not want to be involved?
If you are reaching out on behalf of your family and they are not interested, that is okay. We can talk through your options in the clarity call.
Sometimes families become interested once someone takes the first step. Sometimes individual therapy is the right starting point instead.
What if we do not 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. Once people feel genuinely heard, and once they understand the context behind the other person’s perspective, the dynamic often shifts.
Do we have to commit to ongoing sessions?
No. There is no minimum commitment. Some families find what they need in one meeting. Some choose to meet again. You decide.
After each session, we talk about what has shifted and what you need next. You are always in control.
What if we do not agree on whether we need therapy?
That is okay. Sometimes one family member is more convinced than others. Your clarity call is a space to explore whether this approach makes sense for your family, and to talk through any hesitations.
How long is a family therapy session, and what does it cost?
Sessions run for 60 minutes at A$480, or 90 minutes at A$660. Both include two facilitators. Many families find 90 minutes gives them more room, particularly where there are several people in the room or a lot to work through. We discuss the right length and structure for your family during your clarity call.
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 young children are involved, we think carefully together about what their involvement looks like and what will feel manageable for them. For older family members, we consider accessibility and any other needs.
Can we request an in-person session?
We typically work via telehealth, but in-person sessions can sometimes be arranged. If this matters for your family, mention it during your clarity call and we can explore it together.
What about Medicare and private health insurance?
Medicare: Family and network sessions are not eligible for Medicare rebates under a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Better Access rebates apply to individual psychological therapy with the eligible person, not to family or network meetings.
Private Health Insurance: Depending on your fund and level of extras cover, a rebate may apply. We recommend checking with your provider directly.
NDIS: We are not currently registered as an NDIS provider. However, we are open to exploring work with NDIS-funded clients. If you are an NDIS participant, please reach out during your clarity call and we can discuss options.
