Counselling And Mediation

Imagine being heard and coming up with solutions that fit you!

We are here to help you get back on track again.

Mediation

What is Mediation?
Mediation is described as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) where an independent person (the mediator) helps people in dispute to try to sort out the issues between them.  ADR can help people to resolve a dispute before it becomes so big that a court or tribunal becomes involved.

Who is mediation for?
Couples who are separating or have separated and want to come to agreements regarding the care of their children or the sharing of their assets.  Mediation is much less expensive, quicker, and less emotionally stressful than court.  The family law system encourages parents to develop cooperative parenting solutions without going to court. Mediation (Family dispute resolution) is a practical way of separating families to try to resolve any disagreements and make arrangements for the future.

(For family law matters, mediation is referred to as Family Dispute Resolution (FDR). A mediator must be registered with the Federal Government’s Attorney General’s Department to conduct an FDR. Under the Family Law Act, it is now compulsory for people who wish to go to court to first try resolving disputes that involve the care and wellbeing of their children with a qualified “Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner” (FDRP). Some exceptions may apply to this compulsory requirement - for example, in situations involving family violence or child abuse, or in urgent matters.)  Sometimes mediation is not appropriate.  If this is the case then I will discuss other options that might be available to you.

Is mediation confidential?
For matters under the Family Law, mediation is a confidential process and that all information disclosed or shared in our Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) cannot be used in any Court in Australia or in any proceedings before a person authorised to hear evidence as stated in the Family Law Act Section 10J. What are the advantages of such confidentiality?  With this in mind, both parties should be able to explore ideas and solutions freely to help work towards generating agreeable and workable solutions. Obviously, there are exceptions when serious concerns regarding the safety of others, including children, are identified.

What are the benefits of our Mediation services?
Reaching an agreement with the other party offers many advantages, such as:
You make your own decisions
It greatly reduces the financial and emotional costs of legal proceedings
For families - your continuing the relationship as parents is likely to work better
The opportunity to move forward and make a new life for yourself, and
You may develop new ways to communicate with the other person and be better able to resolve disputes in the future

What is the process?
We design each individual mediation session with the aim to maximise the benefit for you.  Generally, each person attending mediation will have a confidential and private initial appointment of approximately 1 hour.  At this stage, the mediator will listen to your wants and wishes, gain some history of the situation and complete a screening for suitability for mediation.  They will also explain the mediation process and cover key important points about mediation. Once all participants have completed their intake, then the tailored mediation appointments are arranged. 

What are the costs?
Our mediation process is designed to help reduce the financial and emotional impact conflict can take. The fees are:- Intake Appointment $150 for the first hour.  Mediation is $130 per person per hour (if mediation occurs at one of our locations or online). Where there are more than 2 people involved in the dispute, a fee structure will be discussed and agreed to prior to mediation.
There may be other incidental fees, for example, out of hours fee, or developing agreements and notes. These will be discussed fully at your first appointment. Rest assure that no extra fees will be charged without your consent. As a guide, each mediation session is up to 3 hours long which allows enough time for discussion to be had and work towards agreements. The number of sessions people require is dependant on the number of topics and the complexity. 

Counselling

Do you want to enrich your personal life or coupleness?  Set positive goals, explore your purpose to life, or manage life changes?  We will work with your situation and needs to help you generate rewarding outcomes. 

Counselling and Coaching provides the opportunity for growth and self-discovery in the context of a supportive and professional environment.

Who is it for?
For individuals, couples, and families who wish to explore:

• Marriage coaching
• Generating personal goals
• Distress
• Anger
• Depression and Anxiety
• Relaxing
• Friendships
• Emotional challenges
• Grief and loss
• Lifestyle changes
• Spirituality issues 
• Relationship concerns

How many sessions would I need?
This varies from person to person. A usual time frame would be 4 to 10 sessions, however, it is entirely your choice. 

How much does it cost?
$125 for a single consultation of up to one hour in duration (the initial session is $150 for 1 hour duration).  An additional $20 per hour for out of hours appointments may be charged.

Can I claim health rebates?
Some health insurance will provide rebates for counselling.  Please check with your provider if they cover counselling or psychotherapy. 

Do I need a referral from my GP before booking? 
No, you do not need a referral from your GP. However, if you have a mental health plan, please bring this along to your appointment. Some health insurance will provide rebates for counselling.  Please check with your provider if they cover counselling or psychotherapy. 

Supervision and Training