To help you on your counselling journey, here is some information on our services, our terms and conditions, and the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. Can't find what you're looking for? Get in touch with us and we'd be happy to help!

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Cost & Duration

All sessions run for 60 minutes, unless agreed on otherwise.

The costs involved are:

Individual and Children's Therapy - $135.00 AUD

Couples and Families - $220.00 AUD

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Payment

If you are a booked in for a Telehealth consultation, or are a new client attending the centre for an initial appointment, payment will be processed 2 business days prior to your scheduled session.

For all other clients and appointment types, payment is made at the end of each session.

We accept card and cash.

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Do I need a referral? 

You do not need a referral to attend counselling, however, if you have been referred to us by your GP, lawyer, psychologist, or other professional, we will ask you to provide us with their contact information when completing your intake form. If you have been referred by your doctor or psychologist, you may request that we contact them to collaborate on your treatment or to keep them up to date on your progress.

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Do you accept the Mental Health Care Plan?

The Mental Health Care Plan covers individual psychology services. It does not cover counselling, meaning we are unable to accept mental health care plans.

Are there rebates available with Medicare? 

Medicare does not offer rebates for counselling services.​

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What about private health insurance?

Rebates are available with Police Health Fund, Emergency Services Health, Phoenix Health, St Lukes Health, GMHBA, CUA Health (Telehealth only). Rebates are available with Bupa only if you are working with Toni Stephan. If you are with one of these providers and are covered for counselling services, you may be able to claim some of the cost back. If you are with a private health fund not listed above, you will need to contact them directly to check your coverage.

At this time, rebates are not available with HCF or Medibank.

Disclaimer: Please note that counselling and psychology are different, and some health funds will only cover psychology services. Even if you have coverage for counselling services, there may be restrictions on the services or providers you can claim. This is unfortunately beyond our control, so we recommend checking with your provider prior to booking with us to avoid any disappointment.

 

How do I make a claim?

You will be required to pay for your session in full. Upon payment, an itemised invoice will be emailed to you, which you can submit to your health fund to make a claim.

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Commitment

For counselling to be effective, you will need to make a commitment to our work, be open to look at what you bring into your life and relationship (both positive and negative), and commit to creating change where it is needed. If you attend counselling sporadically, you may not achieve the results you are looking for. To help to ensure your counselling journey is a successful one, it's important to attend frequently and consistently, as recommended by your counsellor. When these conditions are met, there is an excellent chance that we can not only help you get your life and relationship back on track but take you to an even stronger place.

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How long will I have to wait for my appointment?
Hills Relationship Centre is the leading provider of relationship counselling in the Hills District and surrounds, as such our service is in high demand. There can sometimes be a wait for appointments on certain days or times. Usually, you will be able to make an appointment within a week or so of contacting us. For the high demand times, there may be a wait list. Booking in advance is your best bet to secure your preferred day and time and avoid long waits between appointments. Please check our availability here.

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Do you offer weekend, after hours, or urgent appointments?​​

After hours appointments are available with Hailee and Toni. Saturday appointments are available with Toni. Please note these appointment times are in high demand and are subject to availability. While we will always do our best to accommodate your preferred day and time, there may be a wait before we are able to offer you a weekend or after hours appointment. Please check our availability or contact our team for more information.

Counselling services are provided by appointment only. If you need urgent or crisis support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or your local acute care mental health team.​

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What is the difference between counselling and psychology?

Counsellors work with individuals, couples, children, and families to help them cope with everyday stressors, relationship issues, personal or mental health challenges. Counsellors will use a range of therapeutic tools and techniques to help clients understand and explore their behaviour, experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Although there can be some crossover with counselling and psychology, working with a psychologist often also includes clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of more severe mental illness.

Do you work with individuals or only couples?
We work with individuals, couples, children, teens and families. We also work with couples and individuals to support them after their relationships have ended.

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My partner doesn’t want to come to relationship counselling. Should I go on my own?

If your relationship needs help and your partner is not willing to attend relationship counselling at this stage, you can work with us on your own. While it is ideal if both partners attend relationship counselling, it is not completely necessary. You can still achieve excellent results attending relationship counselling without your partner being present. You will learn new tools and strategies that can help your relationship. When one person makes changes, it can and does change the dynamic in the relationship.

How many sessions will we need?
The number of sessions needed to see change varies between each individual and couple. The unique challenges you bring into counselling will affect the number of sessions required. Some individuals and couples only require one or two sessions. Some couples have been suffering for many years with complex and intricate challenges and require more long-term relationship counselling. It is vitally important that you attend relationship counselling regularly. In fact, regular attendance is directly related to having a positive counselling experience and achieving your therapy goals. 

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Where is your office located?​

Our office is located at 3.15/20A Lexington Drive, Bella Vista, NSW 2153.

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I don’t live in Sydney. Can we still work together?

Absolutely! If you don't live locally or are unable to attend in person, we also offer counselling services online via Telehealth.

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Privacy & Confidentiality

Confidentiality is very important to us because it helps you to feel more comfortable and have trust in us. We typically keep all shared information confidential, except in specific situations:

a) If legally required by a court subpoena.

b) If we believe you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or if someone else is harming you,

c) With your written consent, we may collaborate or share specific information with another individual or organisation if you would like us to, for example, a doctor, psychologist, parent, partner, or employer.

Please take the time to read our Privacy & Confidentiality Policy or you can contact our team to chat with us more about this.

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Cancellation

We ask for 2 business days' notice for cancellation or rescheduling of appointments. Any appointments cancelled or rescheduled outside of this timeframe will be required to pay the full fee, regardless of the reason. If you fail to attend your scheduled appointment, you will also be charged the full fee.

Please take the time to read our Cancellation Policy.

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Our Policy

Hills Relationship Centre offers a supportive, inclusive environment where our dedicated team is committed to providing you with the best possible counselling experience. Our policy helps to ensure a respectful, empathetic, and therapeutic experience for every client, and answer any other questions you may have. Please take a moment to review our policy.