FAQs
1. Who is this service suitable for?
This counselling service is suitable for people aged 18 years and over, who live in Australia. This service focusses on providing help to people experiencing mild to moderate levels of stress and anxiety when dealing with everyday types of life challenges like issues related to work, relationships, social situations, life dissatisfaction, finances, health, and managing personal resources (e.g., time).
This service is not appropriate for:
- people dealing with severe levels of stress and anxiety
- For more on this, refer to the FAQs section “How do I know if my stress and anxiety levels are severe?” which also includes information on how to seek support.
- people who have a diagnosable mental health condition or are dealing with severe and complex mental health issues, including trauma and severe addiction
- It is recommended that you see your doctor and a mental health practitioner for assessment and treatment. To find a psychologist you can search the Australian Psychological Society (APS) or Psychology Today directories.
https://psychology.org.au/find-a-psychologist
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au
- people currently involved in legal proceedings and seeking psychological services for support in these matters
- people on WorkCover or TAC
- people experiencing domestic violence or are at risk of harming themselves
- Please contact Lifeline on ph: 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT on ph: 1800 737 732, or call 000 if your life is in danger.
If you are unsure if this service is suitable for you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If at the initial consultation this service is identified to be unsuitable for your needs then referral options will be discussed.
2. How are counselling sessions delivered?
Counselling sessions are all delivered via video (a link will be emailed to you) or by phone if video is not an option.
For tips on how to best prepare yourself for online counselling sessions please click here.
3. Is online counselling effective?
Yes, research studies have shown that both video conferencing and telephone sessions (i.e., telehealth psychology) can be just as effective as meeting in person when it comes to providing therapy for a range of psychological conditions like anxiety and depression (Varket et al., 2019).
People tend to be quite happy with telehealth psychology, citing benefits like saving time and having easy access to professional treatment (Backhaus et al., 2012).
4. What is brief counselling?
Brief counselling, also known as short-term counselling, refers to a time-limited form of counselling that focuses on addressing specific issues or problems over a relatively short period of time. It typically involves a more focused and goal-oriented strategy to help people overcome immediate challenges or difficulties.
At our service, should clients find that they need more than 8 counselling sessions, guidance and support will be provided through appropriate care navigation. Options may include having a few extra sessions with Dr. Linda Troselj or considering referrals for longer-term therapy.
5. How is this service different to obtaining counselling through my Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) at work?
There are several differences between the counselling offered by Dr. Linda Troselj and an EAP provider:
- Receive Support from a Qualified Psychologist
- Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) counsellors come from a variety of educational backgrounds, including degrees in counselling, psychology, or social work. At our service, you know that you will receive support from Dr. Linda Troselj who is a qualified clinical psychologist, who holds a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology qualification. Dr. Linda is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) which is the organisation responsible for the registration and accreditation of health professionals in Australia.
- Learn Research-based Coping Skills
- EAP counselling predominantly uses a solutions-based counselling approach, an approach that helps people harness and use their existing coping skills. Whilst there is value in this, in Dr. Linda’s experience of working with professionals struggling with everyday stress and anxiety, she often found that the first thing many clients would say to her is:
“I need coping skills”
In her work, Dr. Linda uses research-based psychological skills, along with a solutions-based counselling approach. Research-based psychological skills refer to skills that have been derived from therapeutic approaches that have substantial research evidence backing their effectiveness like cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical-behaviour therapy (DBT).
6. What can I expect will happen in my counselling sessions?
First session:
The aim of the first session is to cover the following:
- Psychological wellbeing measured
- Using a short four-item wellbeing measure, you rate how you have been feeling in four main areas of your life.
- Presenting challenge discussed
- Your presenting challenge is explored and discussed.
- Counselling goals identified
- Coping skills offered, if applicable and time permitting
- Relevant coping skills will be offered based on your needs and relevance to the specific challenges you are facing, taking into account time constraints.
Sessions 2-8:
- Wellbeing is measured at every session to monitor progress.
- Focus on goal attainment and learning coping skills.
- Relevant action steps between sessions are identified.
Working together with you
We believe in using a collaborative approach, where we work together with you to help you achieve your goals. To support you in your journey, we aim to:
- listen to you and understand you
- explore the strategies and skills you are already using
- offer helpful insights, strategies and skills tailored to your needs
While our counselling sessions aim to follow the structure outlined above, it’s important to note that the structure may vary based on individual needs and unforeseen circumstances. Your wellbeing is our priority, and we’re committed to addressing any emerging issues or concerns that may arise during our time together.
7. How often do I need to have sessions?
It is recommended that you schedule weekly or fortnightly sessions to begin with and then gradually space them out as needed. Research indicates that more frequent sessions appear to accelerate the rate of improvement compared to less frequent sessions (Robinson, Delgadillo, & Kellett, 2018).
8. What coping skills o you provide?
At our counselling service, we offer research-based psychological skills to empower people to enhance their coping ability. These skills are drawn from therapeutic approaches that have substantial research evidence backing their effectiveness, including cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical-behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR).
9. What is the cost of a session?
The fee for an individual 50 minute counselling session provided by Dr. Linda Troselj, Clinical Psychologist, is $275.
Please note that no Medicare rebates are provided for our counselling services. If you have Private Health Insurance you may be eligible for a partial rebate which you can check with your insurance provider.
Payment method: By credit card
10. Do I need a doctor’s referral?
No. Our service provides private counselling on a fee paying basis. A doctor’s referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) are not required to access this service.
11. Can I receive a Medicare rebate?
No. Medicare rebates are not provided for the counselling services provided at our service.
If after completing counselling at our service a person requires ongoing long-term therapy they can make an appointment to see their GP who will assess their eligibility for a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) and organise a referral to a psychologist. With a MHTP a person can receive Medicare rebates for their long-term therapy needs. To assist with the transition to long-term therapy, upon your request and with your consent, Dr. Linda Troselj can provide your GP with details about your psychological wellbeing.
12. Can I receive a private health rebate?
You may be eligible to claim a partial rebate for telehealth counselling from your private health insurance provider if your health insurance policy provides benefits for individual psychological treatment/counselling (extras). Check with your insurance provider for further information about your eligibility.
13. Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes. We require reasonable notice if you are unable to attend an appointment. When you book an appointment, that time is reserved especially for you. If an appointment is cancelled too late, a cancellation fee will be charged if the appointment slot cannot be filled.
We kindly request a minimum of 24 hours notice to avoid any cancellation fees. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will incur a charge of 50% of the session fee (waived if the appointment slot can be filled), while a no-show or cancellations with less than 2 hours notice will incur a charge of 100% of the session fee.
In exceptional circumstances, discretion will be exercised accordingly.
Please note that the cancellation fee is not rebated by any providers and will need to be covered in full by the client.
14. What is stress and anxiety?
Put simple, stress is characterised by feeling a sense of overwhelm, whereas anxiety is characterised by feeling a sense of fear that something bad is going to happen. Stress and anxiety often co-occur, with stressful events often setting off anxiety, and for this reason this counselling service focuses on supporting people with both.
15. What is the difference between counselling and therapy?
The terms “counselling” and “therapy” are often used interchangeably, however, they are different in various ways.
Counselling is considered more short-term and focuses on specific life issues or challenges. It is suitable for people who want to address immediate concerns and provides guidance on problem-solving, decision-making, and coping strategies. Counselling is not about diagnosing or treating a mental health disorder.
Therapy is often a more long-term process, encompassing a comprehensive assessment that delves deeply into the exploration of emotional and psychological issues and delivering relevant treatment. It may include providing a diagnosis for a mental health disorder. Therapy is suitable for people dealing with more complex mental health challenges.
16. How do I know if my stress and anxiety levels are severe?
Following are several signs that suggest your stress and anxiety levels are severe:
- your social life is severely impacted (e.g., you are avoiding social gatherings, isolating from family and friends, finding it difficult to maintain relationships)
- your find it hard to work (e.g., high absenteeism, inability to concentrate, poor performance)
- it interferes with the quality of your life (e.g., unable to do the things you enjoy)
- you find it hard to perform everyday activities (e.g., driving, preparing meals, housework)
- your anxiety and/or stress is present most days and is long-lasting (e.g., for 6 months or more)
- you are experiencing significant emotional pain
- your find it hard to control your anxiety and stress levels
- you experience frequent, intense and long-lasting unpleasant physical symptoms like muscle tension, rapid breathing, an increased heart rate, sweating and nausea
- you find yourself always wanting to escape or avoid anxiety-provoking situations
If you notice that you are experiencing some of these signs of heightened stress and anxiety, it is recommended that you seek help from your doctor and a mental health practitioner for assessment and treatment. To find a psychologist you can search the Australian Psychological Society (APS) or Psychology Today directories.
Need urgent help?
Please note:
This is not a crisis service and we are unable to support people who are at risk of harm or currently experiencing domestic violence. Please contact the following services which provide 24/7 support: Lifeline on Ph: 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT on Ph: 1800 737 732, or call 000 if your life is in danger.
Backhaus, A., Agha, Z., Maglione, M. L., Repp, A., Ross, B., Zuest, D., Rice-Thorp, N. M., Lohr, J., & Thorp, S. R. (2012). Videoconferencing psychotherapy: A systematic review. Psychological Services, 9(2), 111–131. doi.org/10.1037/a0027924
Robinson, L., Delgadillo, J., & Kellett, S. (2018). The dose-response effect in routinely delivered psychological therapies: A systematic review. Psychotherapy Research, 30(1), 79-96. doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2019.1566676
Varker, T., Brand, R. M., Ward, J., Terhaag, S., & Phelps, A. (2019). Efficacy of synchronous telepsychology interventions for people with anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and adjustment disorder: A rapid evidence assessment. Psychological Services, 16(4), 621–635. doi.org/10.1037/ser0000239