Question 1

When are counselling, dementia and end of life support appointments available?

Accepted Answer

I offer appointments Monday to Saturday, including after hour options, to make it easier to find times that work for you.

Wait times can vary - from a few days to a couple of weeks - depending on the time of day you are after and current demand.

I offer individual counselling, couples and family therapy, and doula services both in person at my Spring Hill Rooms and online Australia-wide via phone or Zoom. Where mobility is an issue, I may be able to come to your place of residence if you are located in Brisbane. Please get in touch directly to see if this might be possible.

These flexible options mean you can access support irrespective of your location. If you do require a face to face appointment and live beyond my service area, please be assured that I will recommend other counsellors or doulas who are in your region.

To check availability or arrange a free 15 minute enquiry call, please contact me at  kategroundzero@gmail.com

Question 2

How will I know if Ground Zero Counselling and Dementia Services is a good fit for me?

Accepted Answer

Finding the right counsellor and doula is important as you need to feel comfortable working with them. A good place to start is looking at the ABOUT section where you can get a feel for my experience, approach and the areas I work in.

I have been supporting individuals, couples and families for over twenty years in a variety of settings including the private sector, education sector and within the community. I have supported people across the lifespan, from a diverse range of backgrounds.

I offer a free 15 minute phone enquiry call - this call isn't a counselling or doula session, but a chance to talk through what you are needing support with to see if we are a good fit and I can meet your needs. During the call, I can share with you how I work, what appointments are available, answer queries about fees, and find out whether you prefer face to face appointments or sessions by phone or Telehealth.

If we are not the right fit for any reason, I am happy to refer to someone who might be.

Question 3

How long is a counselling or support session?

Accepted Answer

Individual counselling and doula appointments are typically 60 minutes, unless we have made other arrangements to meet your needs.

For couples and family therapy or support sesisons, it is more common for people to need 90 minutes giving us time to understand your concerns, relationship dynamics, needs and goals. Ongoing sessions can be 60 minutes or extended depending on what works best for you.

At the end of your first session, we will discuss a plan for future appointments, including how often you might like to meet according to your needs, time and personal circumstances.

Question 4

How often should I go to counselling or use the services of a doula?

Accepted Answer

The most meaningful and lasting results in counselling do tend to happen when sessions are attended regularly. While every person and situation is different, research suggests that it typically takes 3- 4 months of consistent therapy to create long term change. This is because you need time between sessions to put into practice what you are learning in therapy and observe how your life is changing as a result. Early progress is a strong sign you are on the right track, open to counselling and committed to making change. Regular checkins allow you to share the results of trying new things and provide feedback on your progress.

Having said this, some clients feel relief within a few sessions, while others benefit from ongoing support. Naturally this has a lot to do with the complexity of the issues being explored in our work together.

Most clients like to attend weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on their goals, their issues and their availability. Personally I have found people like to meet weekly or fortnightly when starting their work. As they begin to actively make small changes to how they respond to their circumstances, gain a deeper awareness of patterns which hold them back, or resolve long standing themes, they might scale this back to once a month or engage in maintenance sessions as needed.

Doula services are often more broader in nature, allowing you to connect when needed at particular key points in your journey. For example, you might work with a doula for a couple of sessions to support you navigate a new diagnosis, then connect again when needing practical strategies to support a family member who is exhibiting challenging behaviours, or when a loved one is moving into care. You can have a one off session with a doula or you might pay up front for a package of 5 or 10 sessions that your use when, and as you need, throughout the duration of your journey with a life limiting diagnosis.

Question 5

What types of families does Ground Zero Counselling work with?

Accepted Answer

I work with all types of families, acknowledging that family can look different for everyone. It includes not only biological family members but people chosen by you as family.

This includes blended families, extended families, same sex parented families, same sex partnerships, separated and single parent families, as well as adoptive and foster families.

My focus in on the relationships and dynamics between the people involved, rather than how the family is structured.

Question 6

Why do families attend family therapy?

Accepted Answer

Families typically attend therapy when they are facing challenges that strain relationships or affect the day to day functioning of the family unit. This can include parenting issues, family of origin issues, behavioural challenges with a family member, cultural clashes, domestic violence, financial stress, separation or divorce, illness, disability or coping with grief and loss.

Ground Zero Counselling provides specialist support for families navigating grief and loss, a relationship rupture, a life limiting diagnosis or illness, the impending death of a family member or bereavement support following a death.

Family therapy provides a space to work through these challenges together, open and improve communication, understand each family member's attachment style and response to stressors, help repair ruptures and strengthen the connections within the family.

Question 7

Do I need a referral to use your counsellor, dementia or end of life services?

Accepted Answer

No, you don't need a referral to access counselling or doula services at Ground Zero Counselling.

You are welcome to contact us directly to book an appointment or arrange a free 15 minute enquiry call. Irrespective of your needs, you can get started at any time without needing a GP or mental health care plan.

Ground Zero Counselling services are not covered by Medicare but some clients may be eligible for private health rebates through their health funds. Others with NDIS or Support At Home funding may be eligible to have counselling covered completely (Clinical support) or be able to use partial funding depending on nthe service.

You can find more about rebates in the FAQ below.

Question 8

Can I claim Medicare or private health rebates for counselling services?

Accepted Answer

Ground Zero Counselling services are not eligible for Medicare rebates as I am a registered psychotherapist and counsellor specialising in individual, couples and family therapy.

To access Medicare rebates, you would need to see your GP for a mental health assessment. If appropriate, they might provide a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) and refer you to a Medicare - registered psychologist or social worker.

It is worth noting the following -

Medicare does not cover couples or family counselling, even under a MHCP.

Many people opt to see a counsellor rather than go through the process of seeing a GP, getting a MHCP and then being referred to a psychologist. Reasons for this vary but key factors include:

Wait times to get into their GP and then be referred to a psychologist can add weeks, and in some cases months, to a person getting support

Many people opt not to get a MHCP through their GP as they do not want this sitting on their medical record, they do not need/ want a formal diagnosis or do not feel comfortable with the more medicalized approach often associated with psychology

GPs do not always know good practising psychologists and social workers in their area so you are still left to source your own practitioner

Counselling sessions are usually more affordable, or equivalent to, the costs of using a psychologist

Private Health Funds

A growing number of private health insurers now offer rebates for counselling. Your ability to claim will depend on what your policy covers you for. As a guide rebates may be available through a number of private health funds, including but not limited to : Bupa, Medibank, HCF, AHM, AIA, Teachers Health, Teachers Union Health and Police Health.

Question 9

How do I pay for my sessions?

Accepted Answer

FOR COUNSELLING AND DOULA SERVICES ( as a private client) :
You will be asked to provide your credit card details securely as part of your intake form. These details are stored securely and used for billing purposes only. 
If you are attending couples or family counselling, you will need to nominate one person as the account holder responsible for payment. This can be done at the time of booking or when completing the intake form. 
Alternatively you may choose to pay for your session via direct debit to the nominated account listed on your invoice.

FOR COUNSELLING SERVICES ONLY : 
If you are eligible to access the Self Refer Program (QPS),  have an eligible claim with WorkCover QLD or your employer uses ACCESS or CONVERGE as its EAP provider, you may be able to use these pathways to cover your counselling sessions as I am a registered provider with these organisations.

If you have a Support at Home package you may be able to access counselling with me as a clinical support without having to pay any co- contribution.

Question 10

Can I use my NDIS funding and Support at Home package to pay for services?

Accepted Answer

NDIS
I currently provide services to clients with NDIS funding provided they are self-managed or plan-managed participants. 
Depending on your specific NDIS funding and package, you can claim counselling as a Capacity Building Support, specifically listed under the Improved Daily Living category.

Topics typically addressed with NDIS clients in sessions and which are speciality areas for Ground Zero Counselling include:

anxiety and depression management 
grief, loss and trauma
stress, emotional regulation and anger management 
social isolation and building communication skills 
self esteem, confidence, and navigating life transitions

Support at Home 
Currently Ground Zero Counselling is building partnerships with SAH Registered  Providers to work as an associate provider for them. This allows me to deliver counselling services, dementia doula services and end of life doula services using Support at Home funding.

Alternatively, some people are choosing to pay for Ground Zero Counselling and Doula services privately without using their SAH package. This is either due to personal choice preferences or economical reasons.

For more information on pricing, please see FAQ or contact me via kategroundzero@gmail.com

Frequently asked questions