Where do I start?
Choosing a therapist can be a difficult process in itself. I offer a complimentary 15-minute phone call, which you can arrange by emailing hello@good-therapy.com.au. This is an opportunity to connect and ask questions, with no further commitment required.
Quality within the therapeutic relationship is often connected to positive outcomes – and an introductory phone call is an opportunity to instinctively gauge if we may be an appropriate fit.
When and where do you offer therapy?
I currently practice on Wednesdays and Saturdays, based out of WellSpace Fitzroy. The therapy space is located at Level 1 / 105 Victoria St, Fitzroy (Ngár-go), Melbourne (Naarm).
Good Therapy acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities.
What is the cost of a therapy session?
The current cost of a standard 50 minute therapy consultation is $250 (plus $10 for weekend sessions). This is below the Schedule of Suggested Fees set by the Australian Association of Social Workers. If applicable, a Mental Health Treatment Plan provides a Medicare Rebate of $89.50 per session, with the total out of pocket cost totalling $160.50.
Extended EMDR processing sessions, which are only accessible as part of a planned treatment frame, require an 80 minute therapy consultation initially and have a cost of $350 (plus $10 for weekend sessions). If applicable, a Mental Health Treatment Plan provides a Medicare Rebate of $89.50 per session, with the total out of pocket cost totalling $260.50.
I am a registered service provider and accept funding under WorkSafe Victoria and the National Redress Scheme Victoria.
How do I get a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
To obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), you will need to consult with a General Practitioner. GP clinics will often have dedicated appointment bookings for the purpose of obtaining a MHTP.
You are able to arrange initial therapy sessions whilst still navigating a MHTP, however a valid MHTP will be required at the point of your session should you wish to claim a Medicare rebate.
What should I expect for my first session?
I approach therapy through a relational lens and with a frame of curiosity, warmth and transparency. Sessions aim to be a collaborative process where your choice and autonomy is promoted. Your first session will begin with some introductions and orientation to the therapy space. I will invite you to share how you are feeling and consider your goals of therapy.
I generally recommend spending time within our first session to begin building a shared understanding of your presenting concerns. Within this process, we may draw on aspects of your history that you feel comfortable sharing, so that we can begin to make connections between past vulnerabilities and present difficulties.
When formulating a narrative, I aim to consider the broader systemic and structural contributors at play, and not solely locate the problems within the individual. The aim of this is so that we build an appreciation of difficulties beyond the lens of a diagnosis. This in turn supports us to build a tailored support plan, drawing from a range of integrated approaches.
Do you provide diagnostic assessments?
Within my practice, I do not provide clinical diagnostic assessments, however I am experienced in supporting people with a range of diagnoses – including mood and anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders and experiences of psychosis.
What if I need to reschedule my session?
If for some reason you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please provide at least 48 hours notice. If you cancel between 24 to 48 hours prior, you will be charged a cancellation fee of 50% of the consult fee. If I am able to fill the rescheduled/cancelled session, then you will not be charged, however this is not guaranteed.
If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice, you will be charged a cancellation fee of 100% of the consult fee. This also applies for non-attendance to appointments. Please note that any cancellation or missed appointment fees are not claimable via Medicare or private insurance providers.
Can I access phone or crisis support outside of sessions?
Unfortunately I am unable to provide support outside of session times, due the limited time available within my private practice.
If you are in a crisis or experiencing emotional distress outside of session time, you are able to contact the following services which are available 24/7. In the case of an emergency, you are able to attend your local hospital emergency department, contact your local area 24/7 Triage service or contact 000.
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
If you have past experiences of crisis where your safety has been concerned, please consider creating a safety plan, either via the BeyondNow app or Lifeline website.
Is my information kept confidential?
I adhere to legal and ethical obligations which are based on the principle that your personal information is kept private. There may be certain circumstances which give exception to this, such as if there was an acute risk of harm to yourself or others. Before your first session, you will be sent an Intake and Consent form which details these policies further.
Your personal information is gathered and kept securely as part of your assessment and treatment. In the interest of your privacy, your information is only used by your treating clinician and the authorised personnel of the practice (as necessary). Your personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions and enables the provision of an informed therapy service to you.
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy that supports people to process and recover from traumatic and distressing life experiences. EMDR works by guiding you to reactive targeted past memories whilst engaging in bilateral stimulation and strategies that pressure the working memory system. This helps the brain reprocess the memory, reducing its emotional charge and integrating it more adaptively, so it feels less like a current threat and more like a past event.
Good Therapy offers EMDR therapy with trained clinician Daniel Demellis. EMDR sessions are typically longer than traditional talk therapy, however evidence indicates that people may need fewer sessions overall, particularly in the treatment of PTSD. EMDR may be appropriate for you if your present day difficulties are rooted in past adversity. It can be flexibly integrated as part of a broader psychological treatment plan, or be delivered intensively to treat the legacy of past traumatic memories more efficiently.
The majority of official treatment guidelines relevant to Australian practice recommend EMDR therapy as a first-choice treatment for PTSD. This includes the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies ISTSS Guidelines (2020), the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex PTSD (2020) and the World Health Organisation’s Guidelines for the Management of Conditions Specifically Related to Stress (2013). Further information and some short explanatory videos can be found on the EMDR Association of Australia website.
EMDR has shown positive clinical results in more than 30 randomised controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of EMDR therapy for the treatment of PTSD. For further reading, this evidence base alongside additional details of the EMDR protocol have been summarised in an article by Ad de Jongh (2024), entitled State of The Science: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. Whilst EMDR therapy was originally developed to treat PTSD, its clinical application has broadened substantially over the past 30 years to a range of other mental health conditions that may be underpinned by past disturbing life events.
What if I have other questions?
You are most welcome to get in contact via email at hello@good-therapy.com.au