Accredited Mental Health Social Workers are registered providers with Medicare Australia. They have been assessed on behalf of the Commonwealth Government by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) as having specialist mental health expertise

At T n J’s Assessment and Counselling Services, counselling sessions generally run for an hour. During this time, the therapist may ask some questions, and encourage you to talk about what is causing you some concerns and troubling you. Counselling does not give advice but rather helps you to find new ways to think about things, to find new frameworks by providing you with an opportunity to consider things from a different perspective. It is a chance for you to talk through issues or experiences and for the therapist to listen in helpful and non-judgmental ways.

A wide range of experiences, from an everyday concern to a unique circumstance or situation are appropriate for a counselling session. Counselling addresses concerns across many lifestyle and life stage events and circumstances.
Some of the reasons that people seek out counselling include

• Attitudes and beliefs related to relationships, intimacy, sexuality and lifestyle
• Illness, grief and loss.
• Life transition and adjustment issues
• Personal growth and understanding
• Self esteem
• Anxiety, stress or depression
• Problem solving
• Managing emotions
• Social and communication skills
• Self-regulation and self-management skills

Yes, anything discussed within the counselling session will remain private and confidential. As a Mental Health Social Worker I am registered with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and therefore adhere to the code of ethics

Any records that are kept in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Amended 2000). Any notes of our counselling sessions are kept either in a locked cabinet or encrypted on a password-protected computer and destroyed after a period of seven years.

At T n J’s Assessment and Counselling Services’ we use a range of different counselling and therapeutic approaches or counselling ‘modalities’ to offer assistance to you; including cognitive behaviour therapy, narrative therapy and solution focused psychotherapy.

• Cognitive behavioural therapy: focuses on identifying, understanding and managing both thoughts (cognitions) and actions (behaviour) and developing strategies to change unhealthy thinking habits and behaviours.
• Narrative therapy: is a form of psychotherapy that seeks to help people identify their values and the skills and knowledge they have to live these values, so they can effectively confront whatever problems they face.
• Solution focused therapy: is s a short term solution or goal-focused therapeutic approach which focuses on developing solutions rather than dwelling on issues. It focuses on your strengths and capabilities rather than any perceived deficits, weaknesses or limitations.

Counselling services can be subsidised through Medicare if you have an update Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) which you can obtain from your General Pracitioner. Please be advised that a gap fee will be charged. If you have any questions or concerns please discuss this with Tanya or reception staff at the time of making your appointment. If you choose not to obtain a Mental Health Care Treatment Plan (MHTP) counselling services will be charged at private rates. To obtain costings please click on the pricing tab.

If you are unable to make an appointment and have to cancel please provide at least 24 hours’ notice. If you cancel on the day a cancellation fee will be charged of $70.00

Home visits and after hours services are available by appointment only. However, there is a $90.00 charge for travel and after hour’s services.