Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Counsellor and a Psychologist? | A counsellor will help you to make sense of your life. They will help you to understand where you are at right now and assist you to get to where you want to be. A counsellor will help you live your life to the best of your abilities, by reflecting the tools you already use and providing new tools and strategies. Counselling involves assisting you to develop an understanding about yourself and to empower you to achieve anything you set your mind to. A Psychologist concentrates more on the human mind and statistical behaviour. A Psychologist can provide you with a more comprehensive understanding of behavioural and mental processes. A psychologist will diagnose and treat mental health disorders. |
Why should I choose a registered Counsellor? | A counsellor who is a registered member of a professional organization such as Queensland Counselling Association (QCA) or Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) has to be highly qualified and must receive ongoing professional development and supervision every year in order to remain a member. These high standards ensure that practitioners are well qualified to work with you. Dealing with registered and accredited counsellors provides members of the public with an accountability process should anything go wrong. It is also important to note that registered counsellors are obliged to carry professional indemnity insurance which provides you with a measure of protection. Unqualified and therefore unregistered counsellors do not qualify for professional indemnity insurance which could leave you vulnerable. |
What does a Counsellor do? | Counsellors provide a service for a very wide range of relationship, lifestyle and emotional issues who operate with many different modalities and tools to help their clients. Seeing a counsellor can remain confidential and is not recorded on your medical health record. If you elect to see a counsellor, you may be able to receive a rebate from your private health fund, but you will not be eligible for a Medicare rebate. |
What kind of issues could I bring to a counsellor? | Any lifestyle issues. Any problems that you would like to talk through with regard to areas such as - Relationship issues, Family and Parenting, Emotional issues, any Crisis, Depression, Anxiety, Grief and Loss, Drugs and Alcohol, and also Suicidality. |
Will a counsellor give me advice? | It is not the counsellor’s role to give you advice. A Counsellor will help you to work through issues so that you can feel confident to make good decisions for yourself. |
Can I have a rebate on the fees from a private health fund? | Yes, as a Registered Clinical Counsellor with PACFA (Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia) if you have private health cover with the following providers you can ask for your fees to be refunded to you if you have ticked "extras" cover. They are: - Medibank, AHM, Bupa, HCF and ARHG (encompassing St Lukes Health, Police Health, Westfund, GMHBA, Emergency Services Health, Phoenix Health, CUA Health, AIAI Health and Teachers Union Health). |