Frequently Asked Questions

  • Counselling during the perinatal period offers a safe, supportive and confidential space for you to explore the many emotional experiences that can come with pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. Whether you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, navigating birth trauma, or adjusting to a new sense of identity, you're not alone. Counselling is for mild or moderate mental health issues and normal developmental issues.

    Together, we gently work through whatever’s on your mind, at your pace to help you feel more grounded, understood, and empowered. This is your space to reflect, make sense of big emotions, and build confidence as you move through this deeply personal and transformative time.

  • It’s a question I get asked a lot — and it’s a good one.

    As a counsellor, my focus is on supporting you through life’s challenges, especially during the emotional transitions of pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. Counselling is a talk-based, collaborative approach that helps you feel heard, understood, and supported as you make sense of what you’re going through.

    A psychologist, on the other hand, is trained to assess and diagnose mental health conditions and often works with people experiencing more complex or clinical concerns.

    I hold a Bachelor of Psychology and a Graduate Diploma of Counselling, with a strong focus on the perinatal period. I’m also a registered member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), which means I work to high professional standards.

    Unlike psychologists, counsellors aren’t eligible for Medicare rebates — but many people find the personalised, down-to-earth support of counselling to be just what they need, especially during such a tender and transformative time.

    If at any point I feel that you may benefit from additional or more specialised support, I can gently guide you toward a trusted psychologist or other mental health professional. Your wellbeing is always the priority.

  • Your initial no-obligation 15 minute phone call is free. This is a time to see if counselling with me is what you are searching for.

    Consultations last 1 hour and cost $120.00, pre-paid. If you have a Health Care Card, you are eligible for a discount. There is no cap on how many visits you can access, and you don’t need a Doctor’s referral.

    Home visits will attract an additional travel fee.

    Please don’t let the cost be a deterrent; talk to me if you are having financial difficulties.

  • There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to how many sessions you might need — it really depends on what’s going on for you, how often you can come, and what feels doable with everything else on your plate. I usually suggest starting with about 5 sessions to give us time to settle in and really start making progress, especially if we’re working through things like birth trauma, anxiety, or big identity shifts.

    That said, we’ll figure it out together. Some people find that one session is enough! There is no huge commitment if that feels daunting to you. We can talk more about what feels right for you when we first meet.

  • Not at the moment. Most counsellors aren’t covered by Medicare or private health funds like psychologists are, so I’m not able to accept mental health care plans. However, my costs are usually less than the gap between the Medicare or your health fund rebate and what psychologists usually charge.

  • Perinatal Counselling covers anywhere from Trying to Conceive (TTC) through to Early Parenting. I can support you through challenges such as:

    • anxiety or depression

    • bereavement or grief

    • birth planning

    • birth trauma

    • family planning

    • feeding issues

    • gender disappointment

    • general adjustment to parenthood

    • guilt

    • high-risk pregnancy or IVF

    • relationship issues

    • sleeping and settling

    • unexpected outcomes

  • I can see you personally at TLC Birth and Beyond, 737 Burwood Hwy, Upper Ferntree Gully.

    If you are further afield, I can do tele-health, usually via Zoom or WhatsApp.

    If you are finding it too hard to leave home, I can visit you there (Limited areas and travel fees may apply).

  • I chose the Periwinkle flower as my logo to reflect the strength, hope, and resilience I aim to nurture in your perinatal journey. With its soft blue-purple hue, it symbolises calm, new beginnings, and the gentle reminder to grow through life’s challenges, one step at a time.