Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cousnellor?
A counsellor is a trained, unbiased professional with whom you can build a therapeutic relationship to help solve concerns that may arise in life.
What can a counsellor do for me?
Counsellors can help individuals address problems in their life. This is done by identifying concerns, creating and building on goals, exploring options, developing strategies to help manage symptoms of a mental health concern, and just providing a general all-round listening ear.
What approaches and types of therapy do you use?
At BMC, we offer individual psychotherapy, play therapy and group sessions. We use a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches dependent on the client's needs and concerns. By implementing a variety of approaches, we can find the best fit for each client. For more information, read more using the tabs at the top of the webpage.
How much will counselling cost me?
Individual sessions are charged at $156.16 per hour. These fees are on the low side of industry standard. We aim to make our fees as affordable as we can, allowing clients more access to support. Play therapy sessions are charged at a lower rate. Please note that correspondence letters, and reports will incur a fee.
Are there rebates for counselling?
Unfortunately, at this point in time, Medicare does not offer rebates for counselling and psychotherapy sessions. This is something that counsellors Australia-wide are looking to have amended to allow better access to those in our communities!
Who has access to my info? Is it safe?
As with many professions, counselling has strict privacy and confidentiality laws. All personal information of clients (files, case notes, session notes, assessments, supporting documentation, etc.), is safely stored in a confidential manner. Your information remains confidential unless it is requested for legal reasons, or to ensure the safety of yourself, or another person. Any staff or volunteers at BMC are aware of the safety regulations and are required to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to commencing work.
Is there a "lock in period" or "cut off time"?
There is no time limit for how many sessions a client will attend. At BMC, we will offer the support, as long as it is needed.
What if the counsellor is not the right fit for me?
That's okay! We want you to feel comfortable identifying any concerns or goals with the right person. We have two practitioners on staff at BMC and you are more than welcome to see either counsellor to find the best fit. If the counsellor doesn't fit for you, you are more than welcome to keep searching for one that does.
Is every session the same?
Each session is designed to work with specific clients, their concerns and goals they would like to work on. Whilst we all like to have consistency in our lives, there is usually variety in our counselling sessions to ensure we can work on achieving those goals!
Can an adult come in for the session?
At BMC, the young people are the clients, and although we work inclusively with families, we do ask that, where possible, young people are given the session time to work with the counsellor independently. Guardians will be asked to attend the beginning of the initial consultation if necessary and the young person will then work with the counsellor afterwards.