Services
General Counselling in Narre Warren
Not everything that brings you here needs a diagnosis to be worth talking about.
I'm happy to talk through your situation and how I work, to see if it feels right for you. Call me on 0479 171 121.
Support for Whatever Life Brings
A safe, confidential space to talk things through, whatever you're facing, and wherever you're starting from.
Not every reason for seeking counselling fits neatly into a diagnosis. Sometimes you're going through a difficult life transition, feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply want an experienced, objective person to talk things through with.
With 20 years of clinical experience across individuals and couples, my approach adapts to you, rather than fitting you into a fixed program. Whether you need a handful of sessions to work through a specific issue, or longer-term, open-ended support, I'll shape the work around your goals, and toward a life that feels more like your own again.
What General Counselling Can Help With
- Life transitions, career change, relocation, retirement, becoming a parent
- Stress, overwhelm, or burnout
- Low self-esteem or confidence
- Difficult decisions or feeling stuck
- Life direction, identity, and meaning
- Relationship or family difficulties
- Adjustment to illness, injury, or major change
- General emotional support during a hard period
- Wanting an objective, confidential space to think out loud
General Counselling and Therapy
Counselling is, by definition, relational. The quality of the relationship between you and your counsellor is central to how useful the work is, so sessions tend to move through a few natural stages as we find our footing together.
Understanding What's Brought You Here
We start by getting clear on what's actually brought you to counselling, and what you'd like to get out of it, without needing it to fit a specific diagnosis.
Read more ↓Understanding the Patterns
Together we work through a specific decision, transition, or life change, and look at patterns that keep showing up in different areas of your life.
Read more ↓Building a Plan That Fits You
We build practical coping strategies for stress and overwhelm, and work toward rebuilding confidence, direction, or a sense of meaning.
Read more ↓Counselling Sessions
Sessions are 60 minutes, available in person in Narre Warren or via telehealth Australia-wide. Your first session is about understanding what's brought you to counselling and what you'd like to get out of it. There's no set number of sessions, and the pace and focus are shaped around you.
Counselling is not only for crisis. Sometimes the most valuable work happens when you simply want to understand yourself a little better.
Wondering about cost? Session fees and private health insurance rebate details are on the Fees page.
Whatever you're facing, call on 0479 171 121 or Contact Me.
Common Questions
General Counselling FAQs
General counselling is a safe, confidential collaboration between a qualified counsellor and client to promote mental health and wellbeing, build self-understanding, and work through concerns that don't necessarily fit a specific diagnosis, such as life transitions, stress, or relationship difficulties.
No. Many people come to counselling for support with life transitions, stress, low self-esteem, decision-making, or simply wanting a confidential space to talk things through, without a formal diagnosis.
A counsellor is a trained, impartial professional bound by confidentiality and ethical standards, who uses evidence-based approaches to help you understand and work through what you're experiencing. Unlike a friend, a counsellor has no other stake in your life and can offer an objective, skilled perspective.
This varies widely depending on what you're working on. Some people benefit from a handful of sessions focused on a specific issue, while others prefer ongoing, open-ended support. The number and frequency of sessions are shaped around your goals.
Yes. A substantial body of research supports the effectiveness of psychotherapy and counselling across a wide range of concerns, with people typically experiencing meaningful improvement in psychological distress, mood, and daily functioning.
Yes. Thoughtful Strides Counselling and Psychotherapy offers general counselling via telehealth Australia-wide, as well as in person in Narre Warren, Victoria.
The terms are often used interchangeably in Australia. Broadly, counselling tends to be more present-focused and issue-specific, while psychotherapy can involve longer-term, more in-depth work, though in practice many practitioners, including at Thoughtful Strides, draw on both.
Ready to take the first step?
Appointments are available now. Reach out today and we'll find a time that works for you.