WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER A RANGE OF SERVICES FOR ALL MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS

Our Services

Individual counselling

We all want to live in a state of mental well-being. Sometimes we simply need a little support, encouragement or guidance to help us manage what life throws at us. Counselling provides a safe and empathetic environment within which you can uncover unresolved issues and address problematic beliefs and behaviours.  

Individual counselling is provided in our Southport office, or through video and telephone calls. Wherever you are, as long as you have an internet connection, a computer or a telephone and a quiet space, then we can work together. Whether you have a busy lifestyle, enjoy the convenience of not having to travel, or you live in a more remote community with limited mental health services, there is an easily accessible platform for personal and professional counselling..

What counselling can support with:

  • Learn practical coping strategies and uncover your strengths

  • Recognise and solve problems in your life

  • Understand and take control of the past, present and future

  • Emotional issues; anger, anxiety, sadness, emptiness

  • Helping you to find peace with yourself

  • Help to recognise current patterns in daily life contributing to your current situation

  • Supporting you to work toward healing and recovery; rehabilitation

  • Breaking the cycle and make positive changes to develop your own personal story

  • Gender identity support

individual psychology

Psychologists help a wide variety of people and can treat many kinds of problems. Some people may see a psychologist because they have felt depressed, angry, or anxious for a long time. Or, they want help for a chronic condition that is interfering with their lives or physical health. Others may have short-term problems they want help navigating, such as feeling overwhelmed by changes in life circumstances or grieving the death of a family member.

Psychologists can help people learn to cope with stressful situations, overcome addictions, manage their chronic illnesses, and tests and assessments that can help diagnose a condition or tell more about the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. These tests may evaluate cognitive strengths and weaknesses, personality characteristics, or neuropsychological functioning.

What psychology can support with:

  • Support with managing anxiety and depression

  • Dealing with PTSD and processing trauma

  • Navigating grief and loss

  • Difficulties with emotional regulation

  • Adjustment to big life changes and coping with acute stress

  • Understanding attachment and fostering healthy relationships

  • Dealing with health-related issues and chronic pain

  • Challenging limiting beliefs and becoming unstuck

  • Diagnostic clarification and psychological assessment (where appropriate)

couples counselling

Couples counselling can be of huge benefit to any relationship, regardless of the nature or severity of your problems. With the help of a professional therapist, couples can learn to manage conflict, improve their bond and create healthier communication habits. Couples generally come to couples counselling when they realise that their relationship is in trouble. Sometimes the problem is so significant, or has been ignored for so long, that the relationship is already in severe crisis. Ideally, a couple will seek help as soon as they realise they’re struggling to solve problems on their own.

The way a couple interacts, their communication style and way they manage conflict can predict, with significant accuracy, whether a relationship lasts or not. The sooner problems are addressed and resolved, the less chance there is that the couple will hit crisis point or that the relationship will dissolve. Whatever trouble your relationship is in, almost all couples can benefit from couples or relationship counselling at some stage in their relationship.

What couples counselling can help with:

  • Managing conflict and improving communication

  • Healing after infidelity

  • Coping with big life changes and stressors

  • Rebuilding and re-igniting the flame after children

  • Deepen connection and renew intimacy

  • Managing change and staying connected

personalised coaching

Are you tired of working hard and putting in the effort with little result? Do you feel as though things are too hard and life is working against you? Perhaps your own internal beliefs about yourself are holding you back.

Coaching focuses on the present and future, clarifying goals and developing action plans. Your coach acts as a motivator, mentor and helps you to identify obstacles and assist with problem-solving including recognising limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging behaviours. Coaching gives you a head start, as you are able to recognise unhelpful patterns from a different perspective. A coach will be able to see what’s not working for you and to guide you to make changes that will allow you to reach your goals. As your coach I will ask you many questions, listening carefully to recognise your current position and future goals and motivations. Having a coach has many benefits, including making you accountable. 

What coaching can help with:

  • Set and achieve goals

  • Consider and tackle obstacles as they arise

  • Challenge and shift your mindset and limiting beliefs

  • Recognise your potential

  • Move forward in life and become unstuck

  • Get to know yourself on a deeper level

  • Work on self-development and growth

courses and education

Online, structured and self-paced wellbeing courses to further support your personal development journey and get you closer to your goals. Education, tools and strategies from a range of evidence-based modalities presented in a way that is simple, effective and easy to follow, all from the comfort of your own home.

If you are interested in hearing more about our courses and being the first to know when our next course is available, submit your details below to join our mailing list.

OUR FEES

  • Individual Psychology Sessions | 50 minutes | $220

    If you have a Mental Health Care Plan, you may be entitled to a Medicare rebate of $93.35 (out of pocket cost - $126.65)

    If you have private health insurance, you may be entitled to a rebate from your insurer.

    Please contact us for further information and quotes related to diagnostic assessment and testing.

  • Individual Counselling Sessions | 50 minutes | $120

    Couples Counselling Sessions | 50 minutes | $150

  • Individual Coaching Sessions | 50 minutes | $120

    Group sessions also available. Enquire for more information.

  • Please enquire for further information about our courses.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • You do not need a referral to see our psychologist or counsellor. However, please note you won't be able to claim a Medicare rebate with our psychologist without a Mental Health Care Plan. Some private health funds will pay a rebate even if you don't have a doctor's referral. However, each health fund is different, so please check the terms of your health fund before attending. You cannot claim both Medicare and private health against the same session invoice.

  • At Shifting Sands, we accept a number of different referral pathways. If you are unsure which referral is best for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can assist you with understanding and obtaining the most suitable referral.

    The referral pathways that we accept include:

    • Mental Health Care Plans

    • Department of Veterans Affairs

    • Private Health Insurance

    • Work Cover

    • NDIS

    • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

    If you do not have a referral you can access our services as a private client.

  • A Mental Health Care Plan is a plan you make with your doctor to access mental health support. A Mental Health Care Plan lets you claim up to 10 sessions with a mental health professional each calendar year.

    To start with, your doctor or psychiatrist will refer you for up to 6 sessions at a time. If you need more, they can refer you for further sessions.

  • A psychologist and counsellor are both qualified professionals that can offer a range of mental health support. While there are overlaps in terms of supports offered, as a general rule counsellors often support with short-term and specific mental health support offering a safe environment to explore challenges and offer practical strategies to cope. Psychologists offer expertise in assessing, diagnosing and treating various mental health conditions using evidenced-based intervention, and often see clients who have been struggling with mental health for a long time or have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. There are also differences in training and costs.

    At Shifting Sands, we are proud to offer the ability to see either a psychologist or counsellor depending on your mental health needs and circumstances. We also offer to opportunity the collaborate with both our psychologist and counsellor which may be beneficial if you are wanting to spread out your 10 Medicare-rebated sessions, you are finishing with psychology and needing ongoing support or are wanting additional support in between psychology sessions.

  • We are proud to offer a range of mental health support include psychology, individual counselling, couples counselling, group therapy, coaching and self-paced workshops to cater to each individual’s unique circumstances, preferences and needs. To work out which support is best for you, please contact us on 0435 771 691 for a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your options.

  • Every individual is unique in their circumstances and journey, and thus the number of sessions required will depend on your personal needs and goals. Therapy may be short term (3-6 sessions) or longer-term (12+ sessions). Sessions may be set weekly, fortnightly or monthly. We will discuss what is right for you during your first few sessions and create a plan together.

  • Firstly, congratulations on taking the first step and looking into support! That in itself can often be one of the hardest parts of the process. It is very normal and understandable to feel nervous or worried about starting therapy. Maybe you have never been to therapy before, have had negative experiences or are just nervous about the uncertainty of meeting someone new. At Shifting Sands, we completely understand this and aim to support you in feeling as comfortable as possible in the lead up to and during the initial session.

    Before your session, we encourage all clients to contact us and schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation to discuss your needs, get a feel for who we are and to answer any questions you may have. The initial session with both our counsellor and psychologist is a very gentle introduction to therapy. We will spend some time getting to know each other and collaboratively discuss your needs and goals in a gentle, self-paced and nurturing environment. Think of the first session as a bit like dating! There’s no commitment and you’re allowed to change your mind if you don’t feel it’s the right fit. If you have any specific concerns or worries about starting therapy, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email.

  • Currently, counselling sessions are not eligible for Medicare rebates. However, you may be eligible for a rebate with some private health insurers. Please contact your insurer for more information.

Questions before getting started? Get in touch.