FAQs

 Our opening hours are as follows: 

Monday – 9:00am – 5:00pm

Tuesday – 9:00am – 2:00pm

Wednesday – 9:00am – 7:00pm

Thursday – 9:00am – 7:00pm

Friday – 9:00am – 4:00pm

Saturday – Morning appointments by special arrangement.

Sunday – CLOSED

 

You do not need a referral, simply email us at info@harmoniousminds.com.au (for a faster response) or you can call us on (07) 3124 7284 to book a session or ask us any questions.

We do not provide a bulk billing service. However, we do provide some reduced fee services for Pension and HealthCare Card holders. We try to keep the fee for these concession card holders to the gap between industry standard hourly rate and the Medicare rebate for mental health plans.

Currently counselling services from clinical counsellors are not Medicare rebateable. However, some private healthcare providers offer a rebate under their ‘extras’ cover.

Harmonious Minds clients who hold BUPA, Medibank, Police Health Fund and Doctors Health Fund Extras policies may be eligible for rebates.

Harmonious Minds is also an NDIS registered provider. This means that if you have an NDIS plan, you can attend Harmonious Minds as a therapeutic support.

You are most welcome to bring a support person to the appointment, however, we have found that it is often easier to create rapport and understand your needs better if all the information comes from you. Your support person is welcome to sit in our comfortable waiting room, sipping herbal tea and relaxing, ready to support you after your session.

Our preference is that you attend your sessions by yourself to maximise the benefits. However, as mothers ourselves, we understand that sometimes life can get in the way and bringing children to session might be your only option.  Please contact us further if you have any questions about this. (info@harmoniousminds.com.au).

Both initial and subsequent sessions will be 60 minutes in duration. If you would like a longer session (90 minutes), this can be arranged ahead of time.  

This is something that is hard to identify before treatment begins. The length of time for therapy is different for every person and every issue. Treatment lasts anywhere from 3 sessions, to ongoing work over a number of months and even years. Ultimately, therapy ends when you are feeling well enough to cope with what life offers you.

In some ways, the functions of counsellors and psychologists are very similar. However, Psychologists are more likely to work with individuals with serious mental illness such as Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder. They are trained to perform psychotherapy with a range of clients, but in many settings, general therapy roles will go primarily to counsellors and other master’s level mental health practitioners.

Clinical Counsellors focus on client’s concerns and difficulties which includes understanding people’s patterns of thoughts, behaviours, feelings and the ways in which these may be problematic in their lives. Counselling involves assisting people to develop an understanding about themselves and to make changes in their lives.

To practise as a Clinical Counsellor in Australia, the therapist must be degree qualified, be a member of a professional counselling association (ACA), commit to yearly professional development, clinical supervision, and maintain a professional client base.

As clinical counsellors we are unable to prescribe medications or perform formal diagnostic assessments for insurance and work-related purposes.

We do not provide psychological reports for GP’s or other practitioners

Yes, you can still see a counsellor if you are seeing psychologist or psychiatrist. Counselling can be a great way to compliment your existing treatment, as the focus of your sessions may be different to the therapy you are already receiving.

At our first meeting you should keep these questions in mind:

• How easy is it to talk to her?
• Does she seem like somebody I could trust?
• Is she really listening to me?
• Does she seem to know what she is doing?
• Does she seem confident and competent?
• Do I feel comfortable with her?
• Could I ever show this person the deepest, ugliest parts of myself?
• Does she seem to have the capacity to handle me
• Mostly, “Do I like her?”

If you need to cancel or postpone your appointment, please give us at least 24 hours notice by email to info@harmoniousminds.com.au so that others can be offered that session time.

Where 24 hours notice is not given on more than one occasion, you will be charged the full session fee.