Welcome

Thank you for choosing Sydney Relationship Counselling.

Beginning counselling is an important step, and I appreciate the trust involved in sharing your experiences, thoughts, emotions, and relationships with me.

I am a PACFA Clinical Registrant and a member of the Society of Australian Sexologists (SAS). I hold a Master of Science in Sexual and Reproductive Health, with specialised training in psychosexual therapy pathways. I support adults navigating relationship challenges, intimacy and sexual wellbeing, communication difficulties, life transitions, and recurring relational patterns.

My approach is grounded in creating a respectful, supportive, and non-judgemental space where we can explore your experiences, understand the patterns that influence your relationships, and work towards meaningful change at a pace that feels appropriate for you.

Before your first appointment, please take some time to read through the information below and complete the client intake form. This will help you understand how counselling works, what you can expect from sessions, and how your personal information is collected, used, and protected.

The information you provide before our first session will help me understand your circumstances and prepare for our time together. You are welcome to share only what you feel comfortable sharing. Some topics may feel personal or sensitive, and we can explore them together during our sessions.

If you have any questions before your appointment, please feel welcome to contact me.

Practice Information

About Sydney Relationship Counselling

Sydney Relationship Counselling provides individual counselling for adults seeking support with relationships, intimacy, sexual wellbeing, and personal growth.

I work with clients who may be navigating dating, long-term relationships, separation, family dynamics, friendships, or recurring relationship patterns. Together, we explore the experiences, beliefs, attachment patterns, emotional responses, and relational dynamics that may influence how you connect with yourself and others.

My areas of focus include:

  • Sexual difficulties, including low desire and arousal concerns

  • Differences in sexual desire within relationships

  • Trauma-related impacts on intimacy and sexual wellbeing

  • Attachment-related relationship patterns and difficulties

  • Anxiety, stress, and mood concerns affecting relationships and intimacy

  • Emotional disconnection, shutdown, or relational avoidance

  • Communication difficulties and boundary-setting

  • Cultural, family, or identity-related relationship stressors

My Approach to Counselling

I believe counselling is a collaborative process built on trust, respect, and curiosity.

Our work together will focus on understanding your experiences, exploring patterns that may be affecting your relationships, and developing greater awareness of your thoughts, emotions, needs, and values.

Counselling is not about judgement or providing quick solutions. Rather, it is a space where we can work together to explore what is happening, develop insight, and support meaningful change.

Who I Work With

I provide telehealth counselling services for adults aged 18 years and over.

I work with individuals seeking support with relationship concerns, intimacy and sexual wellbeing, emotional connection, communication, and personal growth.

At this stage, my practice does not provide emergency counselling services. If you require immediate support, please refer to the emergency and crisis support information provided below.

Sessions and Fees

Counselling sessions are offered via telehealth.

Available session options:

  • 60-minute session — $150

  • 75-minute session — $190

The length of session that is most suitable will depend on your needs and what you would like to explore.

Payment and Private Health Insurance Rebates

Payment details will be provided when booking your appointment.

I do not offer Medicare rebates or NDIS services.

If you hold private health insurance with extras cover, you may be eligible to claim benefits for counselling and psychotherapy services. Eligibility and rebate amounts vary between health funds, so please check directly with your provider.

Some health funds may provide rebates for eligible counselling services, including:

  • Medibank

  • AHM

  • Bupa

  • HCF

  • Australian Regional Health Group (ARHG)

Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please provide at least 24 hours' notice.

Appointments cancelled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours' notice may incur the full session fee.

I understand that unexpected circumstances can occur, and I encourage you to contact me as soon as possible if you are unable to attend your appointment.

Communication Between Sessions

Counselling sessions are the primary space for therapeutic work and exploration.

You are welcome to contact me by email between sessions for appointment-related matters or brief communication. Please allow 3–5 business days for a response.

Email is not monitored continuously and should not be used for urgent or crisis support.

Telehealth Counselling

Sydney Relationship Counselling provides counselling through secure video platforms, including Google Meet and Microsoft Teams.

Telehealth counselling offers flexibility and accessibility; however, it also has limitations. These may include technical difficulties, internet interruptions, or challenges maintaining privacy depending on your environment.

To support your privacy and the quality of your session, I encourage you to:

  • Attend sessions from a private and quiet space

  • Use a reliable internet connection where possible

  • Avoid participating while driving or in situations where you cannot engage safely

  • Use headphones where appropriate to support privacy

For your first appointment, I will collect your home address and emergency contact details. This information is collected to support your safety in the unlikely event that urgent assistance is required during a session.

Emergencies and Crisis Support

Sydney Relationship Counselling is not an emergency or crisis service.

If you are experiencing an immediate risk to your safety or the safety of someone else, please contact:

  • Emergency services: 000

  • Lifeline: 13 11 14

  • NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511

If you are experiencing a crisis, please seek support from an appropriate emergency or crisis service rather than waiting for a counselling appointment.

Informed Consent for Counselling

What Counselling Involves

Counselling is a collaborative process that provides a confidential and supportive space to explore your thoughts, emotions, experiences, relationships, and personal challenges.

Our work together may involve developing greater awareness of your patterns, exploring past and present experiences, building emotional understanding, strengthening your relationship with yourself and others, and identifying meaningful ways forward.

Counselling is a collaborative process. While I will support and guide you through this work, you remain the expert on your own experiences, and we will work together to determine the focus and pace of our sessions.

Benefits and Possible Challenges of Counselling

Counselling can support personal growth, self-understanding, emotional wellbeing, and healthier relationships. Many clients find that therapy helps them develop greater clarity, self-compassion, and new ways of responding to challenges.

At times, counselling may involve exploring difficult emotions, memories, relationship experiences, or sensitive topics. This process can sometimes feel challenging or uncomfortable, particularly when exploring areas such as intimacy, sexuality, attachment, trauma, or relational patterns.

I will work with you to ensure our sessions proceed at a pace that feels appropriate and supportive.

Your Choice and Participation

Counselling is a voluntary process. You have the right to:

  • Ask questions about your counselling and the therapeutic process

  • Discuss any concerns you have about our work together

  • Share only what you feel comfortable sharing

  • Take an active role in deciding the direction of counselling

  • Pause or end counselling at any time

If you decide to end counselling, I encourage you to discuss this with me where possible so we can consider the ending of our work together in a thoughtful and supportive way.

My Role as Your Counsellor

My role is to provide a professional, respectful, and supportive therapeutic environment. I will work with you using approaches informed by counselling theory, relational approaches, attachment-informed perspectives, and my professional training.

I will maintain appropriate professional boundaries and continue to develop my practice through ongoing professional development, supervision, and consultation.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is an important part of the counselling relationship. Information shared during sessions is treated as private and will not be disclosed to others without your consent, except in circumstances where disclosure is required or permitted by law or professional obligations.

There are some limits to confidentiality, including situations where:

  • There is a serious and imminent risk of harm to you or another person

  • There are legal requirements to disclose information

  • Information is required to be shared for professional supervision or consultation to support safe and ethical practice

When supervision or consultation is required, I will take reasonable steps to protect your privacy and avoid sharing identifying information wherever possible.

Telehealth Counselling Consent

Sydney Relationship Counselling provides counselling through telehealth platforms, including Google Meet and Microsoft Teams.

Telehealth provides convenient access to counselling; however, it involves some limitations and risks, including:

  • Technology failures or interruptions

  • Reduced ability to observe some aspects of communication compared with in-person sessions

  • Privacy risks related to your physical environment or technology use

By choosing telehealth counselling, you acknowledge these limitations and agree to take reasonable steps to participate in sessions from a private and suitable environment.

For safety purposes, I will collect your residential address and emergency contact details during the intake process. This information will only be used where necessary to support your safety or respond to an urgent situation.

Privacy Collection Notice

Your Privacy Matters

At Sydney Relationship Counselling, I respect the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. This Privacy Collection Notice explains how I collect, use, store, and manage your personal information when you access counselling services.

I handle your information in accordance with applicable privacy obligations, including the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), as well as my professional ethical responsibilities.

What Information I Collect

To provide safe and appropriate counselling services, I may collect personal information and health information relevant to your care.

This may include:

  • Name and contact details

  • Date of birth

  • Residential address

  • Emergency contact details

  • Information about your health and wellbeing

  • Relevant personal history and life experiences

  • Information about relationships, intimacy, and emotional wellbeing

  • Information you provide during counselling sessions

  • Information required for administration, scheduling, and payment purposes

Some of this information may be considered sensitive information under privacy legislation, and I take additional care in managing and protecting it.

Why I Collect Your Information

I collect and use your information to:

  • Provide counselling services

  • Understand your circumstances and support your therapeutic goals

  • Manage appointments and communication

  • Process payments

  • Maintain appropriate clinical records

  • Support safe and ethical counselling practice

  • Meet professional, legal, and regulatory obligations

Providing some information is voluntary; however, if you choose not to provide information that is necessary for safe and appropriate counselling, it may affect my ability to provide services.

How Your Information Is Stored and Protected

Client information and counselling records are securely stored using Google Workspace account and Google Drive.

I take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These steps include using appropriate account security measures and limiting access to client information.

While I take reasonable care to protect your information, no electronic system can guarantee absolute security.

Third-Party Service Providers

To provide counselling services and manage my practice, I may use third-party service providers. These providers may process personal information as part of delivering their services.

These may include:

Squarespace

Used for website hosting, client information forms, and website-related services.

Squarespace Scheduling and Squarespace Payments

Used for appointment scheduling and payment processing.

Google Meet

Used to provide telehealth counselling sessions.

Microsoft Teams

May be used as an alternative telehealth platform.

These services have their own privacy policies and security practices. I take reasonable steps to select reputable service providers and manage information appropriately when using these platforms.

Professional Supervision and Consultation

As part of maintaining safe and ethical counselling practice, I participate in professional supervision and consultation.

At times, aspects of client work may be discussed for the purpose of professional reflection, clinical support, and improving the quality of care. I take reasonable steps to protect your privacy and avoid sharing identifying information wherever possible.

Use of Technology and AI-Assisted Tools

From time to time, I may use technology-assisted tools to support administrative processes, documentation, or organisation of professional tasks.

Where AI-assisted tools are used, I will take reasonable steps to protect client confidentiality. Any information used with such tools will be de-identified wherever possible, and identifying information will not be entered into AI systems.

Clinical judgement and responsibility remain with me as your counsellor.

Disclosure of Your Information

Your information will not be disclosed to others without your consent except where permitted or required by law or professional obligations.

Examples of circumstances where information may need to be disclosed include:

  • Where there is a serious and imminent risk of harm to you or another person

  • Where disclosure is required by law

  • Where disclosure is necessary to respond to legal obligations or regulatory requirements

  • Where information is shared as part of professional supervision or consultation in accordance with ethical practice

Where possible and appropriate, I will discuss any required disclosure with you.

Accessing and Correcting Your Information

You may request access to the personal information I hold about you or request correction of information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date.

To make a request, please contact me using the details provided on the Sydney Relationship Counselling website.

I may need to verify your identity before responding to requests.

Retention of Records

I retain client records in accordance with applicable legal, professional, and ethical requirements.

For adult clients, counselling records are generally retained for a minimum of seven years from the date of the last contact, unless different requirements apply.

Records are securely managed throughout the retention period and securely destroyed when they are no longer required.

Privacy Concerns and Complaints

If you have any concerns about how your personal information has been handled, please contact me directly so that I can respond and work towards resolving your concern.

You also have the right to seek further information or make a complaint to the relevant privacy authority if you believe your privacy has not been appropriately managed.