Support that starts with you

There is no single reason people seek counselling or psychological support. Some arrive with a particular concern they would like to address. Others are experiencing several pressures at once or find it difficult to explain why things have become overwhelming.

You do not need to have your story organised before making an enquiry.

At WIRU, we aim to provide a respectful, non-judgemental space where you can discuss your concerns, ask questions and participate in decisions about your support. The focus is not on telling you how to live, but on working alongside you to understand your experiences and explore the changes you would like to make.

Your priorities may involve addressing a current difficulty, making sense of past experiences, developing practical coping strategies or strengthening your confidence in everyday life.

What we may support you with

The following areas reflect the focus of our private counselling and psychology service. Suitability will be considered individually and within the available practitioner’s expertise.

Stress and feeling overwhelmed

Support may focus on the pressures you are experiencing, how you respond to them and what feels manageable or difficult at present.

This may include exploring competing responsibilities, expectations, personal boundaries and opportunities to respond differently to day-to-day demands. Recognising sources of stress and your responses to them can be part of developing more useful ways to manage stressful periods.

Anxiety and ongoing worry

You may wish to discuss persistent worries, uncertainty, difficult situations or patterns of thinking that are affecting your daily life.

Depending on your needs and the practitioner’s expertise, sessions may focus on understanding these experiences and developing ways of responding to them. A psychologist can also discuss whether your concerns require a particular form of psychological care.

Grief and loss

Our counselling service provides space to discuss loss and what it means in your life.

You may want to talk about someone you have lost, changes in an important relationship or the experience of adjusting to circumstances you did not choose. The focus is on understanding your experience rather than expecting you to feel or respond in a particular way.

Life transitions and change

Support may involve working through changes in relationships, employment, family responsibilities, living arrangements or your sense of direction.

Sessions can provide time to consider the practical and emotional aspects of a transition, reflect on your priorities and explore what you would like the next stage of your life to involve.

Relationship concerns

Individual sessions may explore communication, conflict, boundaries, separation or recurring difficulties in your relationships.

The focus may include understanding your own needs, recognising patterns, considering your choices and identifying how you would like to respond. This describes individual support around relationship concerns; any request for joint sessions should be discussed separately with our team.

Emotional wellbeing, confidence and resilience

You may wish to focus on how you understand yourself, respond to difficult emotions or manage setbacks.

Sessions may explore your strengths, expectations of yourself, sources of support and the changes you would like to make. Resilience does not need to mean managing everything alone; the focus can also include recognising when support, boundaries or a different approach are needed.

Other psychosocial concerns

Some concerns do not fit neatly into one category.

You may want to discuss how personal circumstances, relationships, social pressures and practical difficulties are affecting your wellbeing. We will consider your enquiry individually and discuss whether the available service is an appropriate fit.

What to expect at your first appointment

Your first appointment is an opportunity for you and your practitioner to begin understanding whether the service is the right fit.

The conversation may include what has brought you to seek support, relevant background, your current circumstances, previous experiences of support and what you hope to work towards. It is also an opportunity to ask about the practitioner’s experience and how sessions may proceed.

Your practitioner will explain the proposed service, consent arrangements and how your information is handled. You should also have an opportunity to clarify the appointment fee, session duration and other relevant conditions before proceeding.

You do not need to prepare a detailed account of your life. Bringing a few notes about your concerns or questions may be helpful, but it is not essential.

Ongoing appointments

The direction of ongoing sessions will depend on your goals and the approach agreed with your practitioner.

Appointments may involve reflecting on experiences, exploring patterns, discussing relationships, practising strategies or reviewing how things are progressing. Your practitioner may suggest activities or reflections between sessions where appropriate, and you can discuss whether these feel useful and realistic for you.

The number and frequency of appointments should be discussed individually. Your needs may change, and the approach can be reviewed as the work progresses.

Where your needs fall outside the available practitioner’s expertise or the scope of the service, the next step may involve discussing another professional or service.

Telehealth and in-person appointments

Telehealth

Telehealth appointments allow you to meet with a practitioner remotely, subject to suitability and availability.

For a video appointment, you will generally need a suitable device, a reliable internet connection and a quiet, private place where you can speak without being interrupted or overheard. Checking your camera and microphone before the appointment can help avoid technical difficulties.

Please discuss any concerns about technology, privacy or communication with our team when making an enquiry.

In person

In-person appointments are available by arrangement.

Please contact WIRU to confirm the available practitioner, appointment location and suitable times. All appointments must be arranged in advance.Fees and appointment informa

Fees and appointment information

Private counselling and psychology services start from $244 per hour.

‍Please confirm the practitioner’s rate, appointment duration and total fee before booking. You should also ask about any applicable payment arrangements and cancellation conditions.

These services are offered privately to non-NDIS clients and are separate from WIRU’s NDIS Specialist Navigation service.

Medicare and private health insurance

Rebates should not be assumed. Eligibility depends on the particular practitioner, service, referral arrangements and your circumstances. Medicare-funded mental health services have specific practitioner and client eligibility requirements.

Please confirm any potential Medicare eligibility with WIRU before booking. For private health insurance, check the practitioner and service with your insurer before relying on a rebate.

Privacy and confidentiality

We recognise that counselling and psychology involve sharing personal information.

Your practitioner will explain how information is collected, recorded, used and shared, including who may have access to it and the limits of confidentiality.

Confidentiality is important, but it is not absolute. Information may need to be disclosed in particular circumstances, including where disclosure is required or authorised by law or necessary in response to a serious safety concern. These limits should be discussed as part of informed consent.

You are encouraged to ask questions about privacy before or during your appointments.