When you arrive, you'll likely meet our resident therapy pup Beanie and your counsellor Ash (me!). You can expect a warm and welcoming environment where we'll talk through your concerns, questions, goals, and expectations. We'll piece together the narrative so far and collaborate on a rough plan for future sessions.

In some rarer cases, clients book in for a situation-specific session. If this is you, then your session will spend less time covering broader aspects of your life and more time focused on your current concern.

As a counsellor, my style is relational and collaborative. I use a range of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, trauma-informed care, and of course Animal-Assisted Therapy. This means I can tailor my approach to best suit your individual needs and preferences, ensuring the most effective support for your personal growth and progress.

I'm a registered provider with Bupa, CUA, Teacher's Union Health, Police Health, Emergency Services Health, St Luke's Health, Phoenix Health, GMHBA and Westfund. If you have counselling sessions included in cover with one of these funds, you may be eligible for a rebate for your sessions. Contact your fund with any coverage questions, and be sure to let us know if you're claiming so we can make sure your invoice has your fund-specific billing details. 

With AHM or Medibank? Stay tuned - we're hoping to add them to this list in future.

A counsellor, psychologist, and psychiatrist are all mental health professionals, but they have different areas of focus and expertise. Understanding the differences can be confusing because in the industry, all three are known for providing counselling to clients. However, training as a psychologist or psychiatrist involves broader skills than just counselling therapy, including things like diagnosing and working with people with severe mental illnesses using a medical model. In addition to this, psychiatrists are qualified medical doctors, and can not only diagnose but also prescribe medication. 

Counsellors are trained to help clients find the right diagnosis/medical support if needed, but many clients attend counselling for support with day to day things that impact mental health like relationships, work stress, trauma, parenting, life transitions, and more.

There's no right or wrong answer - the frequency of counselling sessions varies depending on your needs and goals. At the beginning, weekly or fortnightly sessions may be recommended to help establish a strong therapeutic relationship and build momentum. As you progress, the frequency may be adjusted based on your needs and my recommendations. It's important for you to consider your unique experience of counselling and variables such as the time commitment, budgeting, and energy.

Whether you choose a 60-minute or 90-minute session depends on your personal preference and the complexity of the issues you're working on. A 60-minute session is often sufficient for many clients, but some may benefit from the additional time in a 90-minute session to explore their concerns more deeply.

The duration of counselling varies greatly from person to person, as it depends on your specific goals, challenges, and the pace of your progress. Some people find relief in just a few sessions, while others may require ongoing support for several months or even years. Many clients find that they benefit from routine maintenance sessions to check in and talk things through, while others simply value knowing they have that connection there if they ever need it again. We'll work together to determine what might be most beneficial for you.

Session cancellation or rescheduling is free up until 48 hours before your reserved session time. Between 24-48 hours before your appointment, cancellation is charged at 50% of your session fee. Cancellation, rescheduling or non-attendance within 24 hours incurs the normal session fee. To cancel or reschedule, email hello@goldenthread.com.au.

Of course! We offer both Zoom and phone counselling options to accommodate your needs and preferences. These alternatives to in-person sessions at Maroochydore can be just as effective and provide greater accessibility, especially for those with busy schedules, mobility issues, or those who live in remote areas.