Session Expectations

During your first session at Amity, your counsellor will conduct an assessment to explore your individual needs and situation and to better understand the factors around your reason for presenting. You will be asked questions around your problematic behaviour as well as other information such as your personal, family and social history. Following this assessment, you and your counsellor can negotiate goals, strategies and the future direction of your counselling.

The first session is usually 1.5 hours long and ongoing sessions are for approximately 1 hour.

Confidentiality is taken very seriously at Amity Community Services. None of the information you discuss during counselling is released to anyone else (except for issues around the mandatory reporting of child abuse or family violence and our Duty of Care requirements). Other than these areas, we require your written permission before being able to discuss anything about you with anyone else.

Your rights for confidentiality and privacy will be discussed with you during your first session.

At Amity, our Counsellors are qualified and skilled to discuss your mental health concerns with you.  All Counsellors at Amity are trained in working with clients experiencing co-morbidity (for example, a substance/gambling issue and a mental health issue).  If you have any concerns about this, please feel free to call and speak to a counsellor.  

Counselling at Amity is donation based. This means that if you can afford to make a donation it will be greatly appreciated however if you cannot afford it, then you are still most welcome to attend.

If you require any formal reports to be written then a cost will be involved. Please feel free to contact Amity to request this fee.

Attendance at Amity is on a voluntary basis. Therefore you do not need to attend if you do not want to. In terms of the frequency for ongoing sessions, this will be negotiated with your counsellor. Usually, sessions are scheduled on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

No. As long as counselling is deemed necessary and remains helpful for you, then there is no limit to how many sessions you can attend.

Telephone counselling is available for clients who are not able to attend for face-to-face sessions. When you call to make an appointment, tell the staff member that you would like telephone counselling and a mutually-agreeable time can be scheduled.

Counselling sessions can occur Mon-Thurs between 8am-4.30pm. After hours sessions may be negotiated with your counsellor however this is not always possible.

To make an appointment you just need to call us – 8944 6565. There is no need for a referral.