ON YOUR FIRST VISIT
You’ll be greeted at reception by a friendly staff member who will ask you to fill out a Intake Form and a Consent Form. Questions that will be asked on the intake form are identifying information such as name, address, date of birth. The intake form them asks questions around your profession, occupation, your education, your marital status, your children, medication, drinking, drug and smoking habits and any court procedures.
This information is used to help the counsellor to best identify any issues that need to be addressed as a priority or taken into account when therapy plans are set. We also ask for your GP phone number and ask for permission to contact your GP if the counsellor deems this as necessary.
The consent form is used to inform you of confidentiality, fee structure, cancellation policy and rights of the client and counsellor.When with the counsellor you will be asked to tell your story including any goals you have. This is to help therapy plans. Feel free to ask the counsellor about their own experiences.
COSTING
| Grouping |
Explanation |
Cost |
Coding |
| Doctor Referal |
For clients who have a Mental Health Care Plan or Allied Health Plan |
Bulb Billled |
M |
| Health Care Holder |
|
$55 |
|
|
|
|
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| Combined income up to $40,000 pa |
|
$66 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Combined income over $40,000 pa |
|
$77 |
|
|
|
|
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| Student |
Student Counsellors are currently studying counselling and are supervised by a Clinical Counsellor. |
$33 |
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All Life Bridge counsellors are covered by relevant insurance.
To meet our counsellors, click here.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
“If I go to marriage counselling, whose side is the counsellor on?”
Neither. The marriage is the client, not the individuals. “As long as you leave equally unhappy, then counselling has been successful” because each of you will play into the dynamics of the conflict. The counsellor will point out the road blocks you’ve used by each to prevent deep and meaningful communication and conflict resolution.
“My friends tell me I should speak to a counsellor but it just seems that it will bring up the pain all over again”
Sometimes the only way forward is through the pain, however the counsellor will be very aware to address the issues at the right time and you as the client are in charge of the session and you may choose to address other issues instead.
“I want to talk to someone but I don’t want anyone else to know that I’m going to a counsellor. How do I know that my privacy will be respected?”
We’re all professionals and abide by a code of conduct. If your counsellor sees you in any other setting other than as a counsellor she/he will not behave or speak in a way that informs others of your relationship. All information you give Life Bridge is dealt with confidentially and all paperwork is kept in locked files in locked rooms.
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