the most asked questions

how much does counselling cost

individual sessions of 60 minutes for counselling or supervision are $185 AUD. Clients with health insurance through Police Health, Medibank Private, AHM or BUPA may be entitled to a rebate, please contact your provider to find out the percentage. Rate is reduced to $125 AUD per hour for holders of a current Australian Health Care card and for all Indigenous Australians. Payment is required prior to appointment. Click for more info on counselling, supervision, or for training

do you accept mental health plans

Counselling is not covered under medicare, however my fee is comparable to or lower than most Psychologist’s gap fee but it is important for your health that cost is not the only consideration when deciding on professional services. There are important differences in the services of a Psychologist and a Counsellor and a Psychotherapist. Please gather as much information as you can to determine which profession would suit you best in your current situation. If you require a mental health diagnosis, engaging the support of your GP for a referral to a Psychologist or Psychiatrist via a mental health care plan may be the most suitable option. Click here for more info on the Australian Government Mental Health Plan

what is your confidentiality policy

all yarns, whether Counselling or Supervision, are confidential and no information will be shared with other parties, including employers paying for supervision, fellow work colleagues, family members or other supports (professional or personal), without the express consent of the Client and an agreement with the Client on the exact wording of that information. In Australia, Mandatory Reporting, may override part of this confidentiality in that Counsellors and Supervisors are legally bound to seek help from a third party if a Client makes serious claims of harm to themselves or others. If this case arises, I yarn with the Client about what our next steps could be

where does the business operate

Hobajing Practice is an Australian Indigenous business, situated on Gundungurra / Tharawal land (Robertson NSW) and abides by Australian business practices. Sessions are available for other states and countries but note that we work on Australian Eastern Standard Time, or Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time between 1st Sunday in October and 1st Sunday in April. At present sessions are only delivered in English

Therapy rooms are on Gundungurra / Tharawal land (Robertson, NSW) Australia and services are available in person, by phone, Zoom and Teams. There are also in person opportunities every 5th week for in person visits between Robertson, Dubbo and Bourke.

where can i make a complaint

you can email or ring me to have a yarn about your concerns. I am guided by the ACA Scope of Practice so you can also contact the ACA if you feel I am not working within the agreed bounds

how long should i see a therapist for

exploring ways to reduce the challenges of life depends on the person, the problem, and many other variables so it is unknown how long one person needs to share with a therapist. I have worked in EAP and Solution Focused Brief Therapy, so it has been possible for people to find relief strategies within one or a few sessions. For others though, speaking with a professional opens up a safe space where they feel comfortable with a longer term commitment

why does a counsellor’s culture make a difference

I believe that the experiences and beliefs of a Counsellor should never get in the way of professional services but sometimes clients feel that they could more open if their counsellor has particular experiences or beliefs. I am a female Aboriginal Australian over 50 with one immigrant parent and am the eldest of a large family where there are no brothers. I know the impacts of being born during the stolen generations, during the times when girls and boys were the only recognised genders, when there was no white passing and when teen pregnancy was worse than bank robbery. I have overcome addictions, self loathing, divorce and many other adventures. I don’t agree that those experiences make me a better or worse counsellor but I do encourage people to find the type of therapist that they need. So if my past experiences and open sharing of my life helps them with that decision, I see it as a benefit. For more on me and my approaches, click here

isn’t doing an acknowledgement getting a little “old”

for more about my view on acknowledging my culture, click here, in short though, it is my obligation, not yours

what’s with the funny name

in the late 1990s, one of my children came skipping away from watching a kid’s tv show singing hobba-jing hobba-jing hobba-jing and I have loved the word ever since