Frequently Asked Questions

Standard rates for counsellors can be found online, and they can vary considerably around speciality and professional expertise. For counselling and coaching sessions, my initial consultation is $80 for the 1 hour session, then $120 for individual clients p/h, and for couples and families up to two children it is $150 p/h. Client circumstances are taken into consideration in setting fees. Given the wide variability in the size and nature of services and organisations, rates for consultations and training sessions are negotiated during the enquiry and contracting phase.

Sometimes clients are uncertain what this outlay represents. The fees charged represent only a fraction of the time dedicated to pre-session preparation, each direct session and the post-session write-up, administrative tasks and review all of which is to ensure that each client receives quality support and consideration.

Have a chat with your GP, employee or insurer to see if you are eligible for any fee support or when making a claim. At this time I am exploring the requirements for Medicare and NDIS approval to see if that might help some clients.

I offer a range of services that I have experience and expertise in delivering, all of which have a particular focus on the role and impact of animals on people and organisations. For instance:

• Providing support, non-judgemental understanding and a safe space to talk in counselling sessions
• Identifying goals and implementing strategies to achieve them through practical life coaching
• Working with services and businesses to develop a more animal-inclusive culture in their client environments, practices and activities that demonstrate understanding, respect and safety.
• Training and awareness-raising presented to front line staff and management about Human Animal Interaction and implementing related policies and practices in business and other service environments.
• Special interest community/ group education and awareness-raising sessions on topics of choice eg. grief and loss regarding domestic companions, the role of animals in supporting people through isolation and pandemics.

I am happy to discuss with you how I can tailor my services to your particular needs.

The short answer is no. My services encompass general counselling and consultation through to counselling, consultation, coaching and training regarding issues in relation to animals, but stop short at directly providing Animal Assisted Therapies and Animal Assisted Activities. There are a number of professional practical, insurance and licencing issues in relation to providing such speciality services, plus I don’t have the space for anything larger than a good size Labrador!

Instead, my focus is first and foremost on yourself and the issues that are preoccupying you, and how current or historical animal-related events might be impacting on your issues and/or how they might help you in dealing with them.

If further animal-assisted therapy or activities are what you are considering after sessions with me, then I would be happy to discuss any such referrals, along with how they may or may not be of benefit to your unique circumstances.

And I recall reading about some counsellors and therapists providing direct services to animals presented with mental health or behavioural issues, and dogs and cats can be prescribed anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication on occasion – so if that is what you are looking for, explore this online or have a chat with your veterinarian.

I always pause to explain HAI as a concept because it sounds more technical than it is, and people expect some sophisticated explanation. Interaction in this context means when humans and animals communicate, react to each other or are otherwise affected through contact. So once you consider how you interact with animals it seems quite straightforward, because, like nearly 8 billon other people, you have been doing it all of your life, and pretty much every day. For example:

• Growing up with family pets and domestic companions such as dogs, cats, chicken, birds.
• If you grew up on a farm, property or animal dependent commercial enterprise, then add cows, cattle, horses, pigs llamas, alpacas, sheep and any other animal species that can be commercially harnessed and harvested.
• Activities like visiting aquariums, animal farms, circuses, horse riding, petting zoos and its bigger versions – even dolphin cruises and whale watching!
• Interacting with pets and animals of friends, at services and pet shops – even patting one on the street.
• Consuming animal products like meat, milk, yoghurt, cheese and eggs.
• The commercial, industrial, military, therapeutic, scientific, sporting, practical and social use of animals, including as transport, food, protection, security, physical assistance, entertainment, companionship, and in research.
• Wearing clothes or having furniture made from leather, wool, feathers, skin and bone.
• Dreaded allergies, or suffering from animal-transmitted viruses and bacteria such as, rabies, salmonella, tetanus – even coronavirus is a zoonotic (animal borne) transmission, from animals to humans.
• Episodes of trauma or stress involving animals that result in phobias, avoidance, fear and anxiety.
• Growing up watching animal documentaries, movies, television shows, reading animal-themes books and stories, listening to music about or referencing animals, various media stories.
• Streaming videos and drops online – who hasn’t had a laugh watching the antics of cats and dogs on YouTube?
• Wearing animal prints, displaying posters on walls, animal totems for sporting clubs and tribal groups, spirit animals or symbols in religions and identifying as an animal, such as in star signs across cultures.
• In our language eg ‘cute as a kitten’ (looks) ‘’eye of the tiger’ (purpose) ‘black dog’(mood), ‘raising your hackles’ (aggression).
• Supporting worthy charities and organisations such as the RSPCA and Guide Dog Associations in their rescue, protection and training of animals.

As you can see, animals in one way or another are interwoven into our lives on a regular and fundamental level –a universal, pervasive ‘lived experience’ across societies. Our culture, history, day-to-day lives, practical and emotional needs, supports and challenges in many ways are dependent on the other species we share the world with – a grand human-animal bond.

Looking at this list, take a moment to think about how many times animals presented in your day and how they may have affected you – I think you will be surprised to see how many times they do.