When first approaching couples counselling or therapy of any type, it's important to gather as much information as possible.
Researching, exploring and feeling comfortable with your decision is vitally important. It is also reassuring if you can see and hear your therapist before coming into an appointment. You can do both of these things here on the Hills Couples Counselling site.
Developing a sense of trust and rapport with your counsellor may be essential for full and comfortable disclosure.
On this page the Hills Couples Counselling Clinic has endeavoured to answer some of the more popular and often heard questions we receive in relation to Couples Counselling.
Unfortunately, due to our clinic being very busy and employing popular in demand practitioners, we do not have the ability to provide 'free' introductory chats prior to your appointment. While we are more than happy to answer general questions and enquiries, we cannot provide mini sessions outside of your paid consultations.
If you have any questions or concerns which have not been addressed below, please feel free to email us Here
Do I need a referral?
No, you don't need a referral to see us at Hills Couples Counselling. Some people like to bring a referral along to their appointment with a brief description of why you may be visiting us, however, referrals are not required.
Why don't we take mental health care plans for couples counselling?
In short, couples counselling is not covered by Medicare under mental health plans.
The Medicare rebates offered with Mental Health Care Plans are for the treatment of individual clients only, as such, relationship counselling is not claimable through Medicare.
While people with mental health issues may also experience relationship problems, under the current Medicare system couples counselling is not eligible for Medicare rebates, even if both partners have an eligible Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP).
All mental health care providers in Australia are unable to take/use Mental Health Care Plans for Couples Counselling purposes.
Start Improving your Relationship Today.
There are many reasons why a relationship may falter.
Undertaking couples counselling can benefit you as an individual and strengthen your resolve to have the type of relationship you have only previously dreamed about.
Benefits of Individual Counselling Include:
Less Anxiety
Greater Self Confidence
An ever-evolving and enhanced relationship/s
Ability to regain emotional balance
Increased positive assertiveness
Stress Relief
Ability to set healthy boundaries
Trauma Resolution Strategies
Rebuilding or reclaiming self esteem
Gaining clarity and focus
Understanding your own personal and relationship needs
Benefits of Couples Counselling Include:
Improved Communication
Conflict Management
Improved Intimacy
Reigniting Passion
Increased awareness of needs
Shared meaning
Empathy for and of one another
There is no real definitive answer to this question.
For some couples - couples counselling provides a pathway to enhance, repair and rebuild their relationship into an even better model than the one previously experienced.
For other couples, the process of therapy provides guidance and insight into why it may, in fact, be a healthy decision overall to end the relationship, if both parties deem the union as being irreparable.
The good news is that with Hills Couples Counselling exacting profiling systems, we are able to very precisely pin down the areas within a relationship where disharmony and unrest may be brewing.
Our wide range of therapies, including the Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Prepare-Enrich Stronger Relationships, Love Languages, and ACT, combined with many years of highly qualified experience will offer amazing insight into the dynamics of your unique relationship.
Profiling involves comprehensive assessment, which will show areas of strength (what you are both really great at) and what needs to be strengthened (what you may not be so great at).
Provided you are both willing to be transparent and open to change there's a very real chance you will rediscover all of the wonderful qualities you each possess.
Please Note
While we love seeing couples repair and enhance their relationships there are cases where no amount of therapy or tools will reconnect a couple. This is often the case where one person has already moved on with another partner into a new relationship or where a person has already emotionally checked out long before physically checking out.
We do not guarnatee that we can 'fix' your relationship.
Sessions
All sessions excluding our programs are 60 minutes in duration, unless stated otherwise. Initial Consultations may go up to 90 minutes in duration, depending on couple requirements.
The process of how long the entire therapy method will take depends on the couple and how much work needs to be done to bring you to your end goal in terms of the agreed Therapy model.
This may take as little as 3-6 sessions, or it may take a full 12 weeks. The frequency of therapy sessions will be discussed and agreed upon after your first session.
Akin to visiting a GP with a broken bone, there is a process that we follow, similar to that of sending you off for an X-Ray and subsequent visit to a Surgeon.
Therapy Process
An agreed Therapy model and the likely number of sessions are normally discussed at or after your initial session.
Many times the impetus for Couples Counselling is initiated by the person who may be struggling the most. At other times, we receive calls from a desperate individual who has been threatened to attend Couples Counselling or face dire ramifications.
A partner who is forced to attend counselling sessions will no doubt present with a certain amount of resentment and on occasion outright hostility. For any type of counselling to be effective, both parties need to be committed to the process.
Change in any type of relationship comes from choice, change generally doesn't happen simply by chance.
If you're faced with a situation where a partner refuses to attend with you, you are much better off to simply attend on your own.
The skills and techniques we offer can be effectively employed in the relationship and we have found that after a resistant partner witnesses the positive beneficial changes counselling makes, they often agree to attend too.
Please visit our Individual Therapy Page
Yes. Sessions are strictly confidential. In accordance with our ongoing Registration requirements, we adhere to the following:
Disclaimer - Should the safety of a child be in question or there be an issue of self-harm or disclosed domestic violence we are legally and morally obliged to seek outside assistance.
Similarly, if your records are subpoenaed by a court of law we are legally required to supply our case notes.
The short answer is no. Children are not involved in the physical sessions. However, as children often form part of a relationship, it is understood that they may be openly discussed during therapy.
Individual sessions for children can be organised at your request.
Please note due to the intimate nature of Couples Counselling we cannot accommodate babies or children to be present in Therapy Sessions.
There are no exceptions to this rule. Our 10 + years of experience show that when a baby or young child is present in a session, there will always be an element of care required, that means you cannot be fully present, resulting in the client feeling they didn't get to experience a 'full session' due to having to attend to the child.
Couples Counselling requires your full and undivided attention. Please organise a babysitter to ensure your child is safe while you attend your sessions.
This has nothing to do with not liking children. We have 8 Grandchildren. This is a company based decision. Our rooms include other professionals who also require a professional environment.
As part of the Hills Couples Counselling philosophy, we are open and transparent with our Fee Structuring.
Couples Counselling Initial Consultation with James Childs.
60 -90 minutes.
Working exclusively with Relationship Specialist, James Childs.
$220 per session.
Couples Subsequent/Second/Follow Up Visits with James Childs.
Subsequent/Second and follow up visits are 60 minutes in duration.
$220 per session.
Couples Counselling Initial with Vicki Childs.
60-90 Minutes
Working exclusively with Relationship Expert, Vicki Childs.
$250 per session.
Individual Relationship Therapy with James Childs
Initial Consultation. 60 -90 minutes.
$160 per session.
Individual Subsequent/Second/Follow Up Visits with James Childs.
Subsequent/Second and follow up visits are 60 minutes in duration. $160 per session.
Prepare Enrich Profiling & Counselling Package.
Includes comprehensive profiling for each individual (partner), 90 minute counselling and debriefing session and either a hardcopy 20 page workbook or PDF. $300 per session.
Family Therapy. 2 Adults and up to 4 children.
Initial and subsequent consultations. 90 minutes. $350 per session.
'RECALIBRATE' 4 Week Personal Coaching with Vicki Childs.
Full 4 week personal coaching program with Vicki Childs $1000.
The HCC has EFTPOS facilities available. We take all major credit cards including American Express, GPay and Apple Pay.
Report Writing, Document Preparation and Court Appearance Fees.
Written reports or preparation of any Government Agency Documents, along with Court Appearances on behalf of our clients will be charged at our hourly rate of $220 per hour.
After Session Communication. Emails & Telephone Calls.
While we take every measure to ensure you have received all support materials during your session, please note that we are unable to provide session 'debriefing' Counselling Services via phone or email outside of your nominated session times. If you require urgent assistance please contact one of the following 24/7 Support Lines:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Mensline 1300 78 99 78
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659467
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
qlife 3pm-midnight 1800 184 527
Sexual assault, family and domestic violence Line 1800 424 017
Alternatively, you can call The New South Wales Mental Health Access Line who will put you in touch with your local mental health service. Call 1800 011 511.
Refusal of Services
We reserve the right to refuse service to any person deemed to be aggressive, threatening or under the influence of drugs and alcohol which may impede our ability to carry out therapy.
Additionally, we reserve the right to refuse service to any person presenting as unwell, with a temperature or visible signs of flu, cough and cold or virus. Please keep everyone safe by rescheduling your appointment.
Immediate Termination of Session
We reserve the right to immediately terminate a counselling session if there is any threat of abuse. Should you choose to leave the session violently or repeatedly we will immediately terminate the remainder of the session and you will forfeit your session payment. We do not guarantee 'reconnection' with your partner and cannot make a person reconcile with you or stay with you if they have clearly stated otherwise.
Any person regardless of gender showing hostility or verbal abuse towards our Therapists will be asked to leave the session immediately.
Cancellation and Non Attendance Policy
We require a minimum of 24 hours notice for cancellation of appointments.
You can cancel your appointment by phoning James on 0403 326 288 or the Hills Couples Counselling general phone number of 0406 456 643.
An email can also be sent Here. Please note your email will also require the full 24 hours notice.
Failure to provide 24 hours notice or 'no shows' will result in rentention of the full service fee as session time has already been allocated from our calendars and client caseloads.
If you provide the required 24 hours notice or more, you will be entitled to a refund of the original amount paid, less a one off $10 administration fee.
The $10 administration fee is charged for administration processing of refunds. Your refund is normally in your account in no more than 3 days.
All appointments after 5 pm and on weekends must be pre-paid in advance to secure your nominated time as these time allocations are normally very popular and in demand.
All Saturday appointments are non-refundable as Saturday's are our most requested appointment time with long wait lists to secure these appointments.
While we are happy to reschedule and accommodate appointment changes, no shows and less than 24 hours notice, mean another client misses out on often popular and in demand therapy times.
If you have already undertaken your Initial Consultation and happy to proceed with therapy, you can book your suggested package easily and quickly by clicking any of the buttons below. Alternatively please visit the Programs/Packages Page
Packages can be delivered weekly, fortnightly or monthly. All packages require pre payment.
We look forward to working with you.
4 Week Intensive Program Package
4 Week Intensive Program Package
4 Week Intensive Program Package
Unfortunately Registered Counsellors are not able to provide Medicare rebates for Couples Counselling, in fact, Couples Counselling is not an item which is covered under the MBS.
However, if you have private health cover with extras, there are a small number of Funds who do issue rebates.
Our industry associations are lobbying hard for Registered and Qualified Counsellors to be included in the Medicare MBS Item Number Schedule.
We hope this will come to fruition soon.
Medical Funds Issuing Rebates for Counsellings Sessions are:
Medibank Private
AHM
Police Health Fund
Teachers Health Union
Doctors Health Fund
Avant Mutual Health
Grand United Health
Phoenix Health Fund
St Lukes Health
Emergency Services Health
Westfund
AIA
Vicki Childs Counselling Provider Numbers:
Medibank Private Provider Number is A072934A
AHM Provider Numbers are #21221121 or #21219534
Police Health, Teachers Health Union, Emergency Services Health, St Lukes Health, Phoenix Health, Westfund, AIA, Use Provider Number AC03749T.
Doctors Health Fund use Provider Number ACA3749.
ACA Australian Counselling Association registration is #3749.
James Childs Counselling Provider Numbers:
Police Health, Teachers Health Union, Emergency Services Health, St Lukes Health, Phoenix Health, Westfund, AIA, Use Provider Number AC17843T.
Doctors Health Fund use Provider Number ACA17843.
ACA Australian Counselling Association Registration is #17843
Please check with your Health Fund to clarify if you are eligible for a rebate. Our provider numbers will be issued on all invoices and receipts, along with the relevant item number.
Receipts are issued electronically, after your visit. Please note each fund has its own codes and provider number requirements.
Ensure you are in a well-lit room.
Ensure you are in a comfortable space of your choosing.
Have your laptop at the right height to show your face and head.
If using a phone try using a phone stand for stability.
If possible for couples counselling be in separate rooms on separate devices and use earbuds or headphones for complete privacy.
Ensure you have plenty of charge on your devices.
Ensure your screen and camera are clean.
Have water available to remain hydrated.
Check your environment and that you are emotionally ready for therapy.
Zoom Sessions for Therapy in the privacy of your own home
