Considering therapy but feeling uncertain?
Explore our FAQs to understand how we can support you and your loved ones effectively.

You are eligible for a Medicare rebate if you have counselling with an Accredited

Mental Health Social Worker in private practice, when you are referred by your GP,

paediatrician or psychiatrist. AASW Accredited Mental Health Social Workers are

registered providers with Medicare.

There are no hard and fast rules about who needs therapy. If you are suffering with a mental health disorder, the optimal and recommended treatment plan is psychotropic medications in combination with appropriate therapy. Many others seek therapy because they are seeking support with some issues in their lives, or seeking psychoeducation about particular issues. The bottom line is that anyone can benefit from therapy, if they choose.

The ways that therapy can help are many and varied. From learning to cope with anxiety, learning how to ground yourself and live more mindfully, meditation, or coping with and mitigating more severe mental health symptoms.

When we are in distress, the experience can be incredibly isolating and times frightening. At the centre of the counselling experience is the counselling relationship with your therapist.

A Psychiatrist is a qualified medical doctor whom has done specialist training in Psychiatry. Their focus tends to be in working with acute mental health concerns, and they are specialists in both diagnosis and prescription of appropriate medications for mental health illnesses and disorders.

A Psychotherapist is also a qualified mental health professional whom offers therapy to people experiencing mental health disorders and issues. A Psychotherapist goes into a deeper level of their work with their clients. In psychotherapy we travel into the subconscious levels of a person’s psyche in a therapeutic way in order to align the client with the essence of their inner self. Psychotherapy is often longer-term work than that which is undertaken with a straight forward counsellor.

During our first session, which will last for an hour, there will mostly be discussion about your situation and the kind of help you may need. This is called the assessment and goal setting process. We will also spend time getting to know one another and building rapport. This is also an opportunity for you to ask as many questions as you wish, about what to expect.

During each session, I will focus on addressing the patient’s specific needs, allowing for greater flexibility between the different therapies as treatment progresses.

Discussion and interchange between therapist and client; this usually starts with a discussion about how your time has been between appointments and what you would like to achieve from that day’s session.

Counselling is a very personal journey, unique to each individual. For some people one or two sessions is sufficient to address a time of distress. For others it may take many more. Together with your counsellor, you will develop an agreed plan of treatment, which together you will also frequently review.

Please use the booking tab on the website, or contact Rechelle directly to arrange a suitable appointment time at rechelle@emergewithrechelle.com.au

If you happen to see your therapist / coach in a public setting (such as a party, park, shop, concert etc), please be reassured that your therapist will not engage with you unless you choose to do so first. This is in order to protect your privacy. If you decide to engage with your therapist it is advisable not to engage in conversation about your therapy, but rather to exchange simple pleasantries. If you would like to discuss your treatment, please do so at a later date.

Everything that occurs in a therapy or coaching session is treated with the utmost confidence. Your therapist may take notes during the session, however, these notes are filed securely in a locked filing facility and are not shared with anyone (unless, in exceptional circumstances the notes are subpoenaed by a court of law). There are however, some very important exceptions to this rule, as follows:

• If you express thoughts of harm to yourself or to others, I have a duty of care to contact an appropriate medical professional or other emergency contact (when the risk is considered significant and requires intervention from other services in order to keep you or another safe).

• I may discuss some of our work in clinical supervision with another qualified therapist, however, names are not disclosed and your identity and demographic information remains protected.

• If your records are subpoenaed by a court of law.

I understand that emergencies and things happen that render you unable to attend a scheduled session. If this occurs, please try to give 24 hours notice so that your appointment slot can be filled by someone else in need. If cancellations on a last-minute basis happen on multiple occasions, you will be respectfully asked to cover the cost of the session.

I do not routinely work with adolescents; however, I will in certain circumstances consider working with teens aged 16+

Rechelle’s standard charge is $200 AUD per hour. Clients may be eligible to receive Medicare rebated psychological consultations under the provision of a Mental Health Care Plan, obtained via their GP.

Sessions can be paid for online via credit card, Paypal, Google Pay, TransferWise, direct bank transfer, or via EFTPOS. Please request details prior to your session.

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers are social workers who have extensive

postgraduate training and experience in the field of mental health.

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers may provide services privately under

Medicare. They work independently or as part of a group. Accredited Mental Health

Social Workers usually provide services in a consulting room, and some are able to

see you where you live.

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers can also work for PHNs, Workcover,

Victim Support Services and other government programs in most States and

Territories.

An Accredited Mental Health Social Worker can help you when you experience

difficulties that impact on your ability to manage the demands of day-to-day life.

For example, when you:

- are working through trauma recovery

- are suffering from grief or loss issues

- persistently experience low mood or anxiety;

- have a relationship breakdown;

- experience family, friend or workplace conflict;

- need assistance to re-engage in the workforce after an accident;

- feel socially isolated;

- are diagnosed with or suspect you have a mental health disorder.

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers understand mental health issues and

disorders. They have the training, skills and expertise to assess your situation and

to offer effective treatment to you or someone you know. Some of the treatments

provided under Medicare include:

- EMDR - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

- Interpersonal Therapy

- Relaxation training

- Parenting training

- Interpersonal skills training

Other therapies that can be provided are:

- Relationship counselling

- Family therapy

- Bereavement counselling

- Psychotherapy

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers can also work as a team with other

health professionals from whom you are receiving treatment and support.

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers are bound by a code of ethics, which

includes maintaining confidentiality about what you discuss with them. However,

there may be exceptional circumstances where an Accredited Mental Health Social

Worker may need to discuss your information with others, such as when there is

concern about your safety. You can talk to your local Accredited Mental Health

Social Worker about the situations in which your information might be shared.

To receive a Medicare rebate when seeing an Accredited Mental Health Social

Worker:

1. Make an appointment to see your GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist

2. Take this information with you and ask your GP for a mental health

treatment plan and a referral letter, or

3. If you are being referred by your psychiatrist or paediatrician, just ask for a

referral letter.

You can search for Accredited Mental Health Social Workers in the AASW ‘Find a

Social Worker’ online database: https://www.aasw.asn.au/find-a-social-worker/ or

you can ask your GP to refer you to an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker in

your area.