Service Information

Additional Information

Appointments: Are available either in person at Thought-Full Counselling's office space in Port Macquarie, online via video or telephone. Individual appointments are 50 minutes long. NDIS appointments are 60 minutes long. Appointments that are part of relationship or family counselling and include more than one person in the session may be 80 minutes long and this will be discussed with your counsellor. 


Under 18:   Thought-Full Counselling requires the consent of at least one parent, carer, or legal guardian before providing counselling services to anyone under the age of 18. Where a young person has two parents, carers, or legal guardians, consent from both parties is preferred wherever possible.

The level and nature of parental or carer involvement will depend on a range of factors, including the young person’s developmental age, the type of therapeutic support that is appropriate, and their comfort level with sharing information.

At times, the involvement of parents or carers can be beneficial in supporting a young person’s therapeutic progress. However, as children develop into adolescence, they may have greater expectations of privacy and may feel less comfortable with their parents or carers being involved in their counselling. Thought-Full Counselling does not want concerns about confidentiality or parental involvement to become a barrier to a young person seeking support.

Parents and carers are therefore asked to respect the young person’s right to privacy and confidentiality, within the limits outlined in the confidentiality policy. The counsellor will work collaboratively with the young person to determine what information they are comfortable sharing with their parent or carer, while also considering their safety, wellbeing, and therapeutic needs.

This approach is intended to ensure that young people can access a safe, respectful, and supportive counselling environment where they feel comfortable seeking help and engaging openly in the therapeutic process.


Reasons you might seek help:    

There are many reasons that you might choose to seek counselling support, including: 

  • anxiety, stress or worry
  • burn-out or being overwhelmed
  • shame, guilt or fear of rejection
  • feeling lost or lack of belonging
  • sadness
  • family and relationship challenges
  • cultural identity challenges
  • impacts of adoption, foster care or family separation
  • peer/friendship challenges
  • experiencing grief or loss
  • past or present trauma
  • anger, frustration
  • difficulty managing thoughts and behaviours
  • sleep challenges
  • confidence building and motivation
  • thoughts of suicide, self-harm
  • self-esteem


Crisis Support

 Thought-Full Counselling does not provide immediate crisis support. If you or someone you know needs immediate support please utilise the following services: 

Emergency: 000

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

Suicide callback service: 1300 659 467

Other services of interest: 

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Mental Health Access Line (NSW):

1800 011 511

13 Yarn (Indigenous Crisis Line): 13 92 76

Parent Line (NSW): 1300 1300 52

ADIS (Alcohol and Other Drugs Information Service): 1800 250 015

MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78

Gambling Hotline: 1800 858 858

1800 RESPECT (DFV) Hotline: 1800 737 732

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach out at mali@thought-fullcounselling.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

This will depend on the availability of your counsellor and their current caseload. Your counsellor will let you know if there are expected wait times when sending you the intake forms. The sooner you are able to complete these the sooner you will be able to complete your first session. If you have an idea of a few times that you may be available when you make your initial contact this can help streamline your first appointment time. 

No, your counsellor is not able to provide you with a diagnosis. This will need to be discussed with your GP. If you do not have a diagnosis but are requiring this, you will need to speak with your medical practitioner (GP). If your GP requires a support letter your counsellor is happy to provide this to them, with your consent. 

Counsellors are not able to provide Medicare rebated sessions. If you have a Health Care Plan from your GP and wish to use this, you will need to access a Registered or Clinical Psychologist who is also registered with Medicare provisions. Health Care Plans from your GP allow for a 'gap fee' when seeing a Registered or Clinical Psychologist. This means that there will still be a fee applied. Psychologists that are able to provide Bulk-Billing Services may allow for no or limited fee options. 

Thought-Full Counselling is a Registered NDIS Provider and can provide supports for clients/participants accessing Plan-Managed, Self-Managed or NDIA Managed supports. 

No. You do not need a referral. If you do have one you are welcome to send this in. 

You absolutely do not need to have a diagnosis to see a counsellor. Counselling is about providing support and working through challenges regardless of a diagnosis. If you have a diagnosis, it is also your choice if you wish to share this with your counsellor.