Starting counselling can come with a lot of unknowns. Here are honest answers to the questions people most often ask before their first session.
Frequently asked questions
Getting started
What happens in the first counselling session?
The first session is mostly about getting to know each other. We’ll talk through what brings you to counselling, what you’re hoping for, and a little of your background. There’s no pressure to have it all figured out — many people start by simply saying they want to “feel better” or “feel different,” and that’s a completely valid place to begin. You’re welcome to ask me questions too, about my training, my approach, or how I work.
Do I need a referral or a Mental Health Treatment Plan to see a counsellor?
No. Unlike seeing a psychologist under Medicare, you don’t need a GP referral or a diagnosis to book a session with a counsellor. You can reach out directly whenever you feel ready.
How do I know if counselling is right for me?
If something in your life feels harder than it should — your thoughts, your relationship with food or your body, your stress levels, your sense of self — that’s reason enough to explore counselling. You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from it.
What should I ask before choosing a counsellor?
It’s completely normal to want to know more before committing. Useful questions include: What’s your approach? What’s your experience with concerns like mine? What does a typical session look like? What are your fees and cancellation policy? A free 15-minute intro call is a low-pressure way to ask all of this.
How sessions work
How long is each session, and how often will we meet?
Standard sessions run for 50 minutes. Most clients start with weekly sessions, especially early on, then move to fortnightly as things start to feel steadier. We’ll review this together as we go — there’s no fixed schedule that suits everyone.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies a lot from person to person. Some people come for focused, short-term work over a few months; others prefer ongoing support over a longer period. We’ll talk honestly about progress and pacing throughout, so it never feels open-ended without direction.
What actually happens during a session — is it just talking?
Sessions are a structured conversation, not just free-flowing chat. Depending on what’s useful for you, we might explore patterns and history, practice grounding or regulation techniques, work through a specific situation, or simply create space to be heard without judgement. The approach adapts to what you need in that moment.
Will the counsellor tell me what to do?
No. My role isn’t to hand out instructions or rules, but to help you understand your own patterns clearly enough to make changes that actually fit your life and values. Change that lasts tends to come from insight and motivation that’s yours, not from being told what to do.
Online counselling
Is online counselling as effective as in-person therapy?
Yes. Research consistently shows telehealth counselling achieves similar outcomes to in-person sessions for anxiety, body image, and related concerns. For many clients, the convenience and privacy of being at home actually supports deeper, more consistent engagement.
What do I need for an online session?
Just a private space where you won’t be interrupted, a stable internet connection, and a phone, tablet, or computer with a camera. Many clients use headphones for extra privacy.
Can I have sessions from outside Sydney, or even outside Australia?
Yes. Online sessions are available to clients anywhere in Australia, and to Australian expats or Russian-speaking clients abroad, with scheduling adjusted for time zones where needed.
Cost and logistics
How much does counselling cost?
Session fees are outlined on the booking page. An initial 15-minute introductory call is offered at no cost, so you can ask questions and see if it feels like the right fit before committing to a full session.
Is counselling covered by Medicare or private health insurance?
Counselling isn’t Medicare-rebatable (that applies to registered psychologists under a Mental Health Treatment Plan). However, many private health funds offer partial rebates for sessions with an ACA-registered counsellor. Yana Counselling is a registered Bupa provider — it’s worth checking your own fund’s extras cover.
What’s your cancellation policy?
Cancellation terms are provided when you book, along with the option to ask directly during your intro call and on the cancellation policy page.
Confidentiality and trust
Is what I share in counselling sessions confidential?
Yes. Sessions are held to professional confidentiality standards in line with ACA’s Code of Ethics, with the standard legal exceptions around safety (such as risk of serious harm). This will be explained clearly before we begin.
What’s the difference between a counsellor and a psychologist?
A psychologist can formally diagnose mental health conditions and is Medicare-rebatable under a Mental Health Treatment Plan. A counsellor focuses on the emotional and psychological work of supporting change, without requiring a diagnosis first. Research consistently points to the relationship between client and practitioner as the strongest predictor of good outcomes — more so than the title on the door.
What qualifications do you have?
I hold a Master of Counselling and am a Level 2 registered member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), alongside specialised training in eating concerns and body image work and mental health for psychology counsellors. I’m also a registered Bupa provider. Read more about me on the ABOUT page.
Specific concerns
Do you work with binge eating and emotional eating?
Yes — this is a core part of my practice. We work on understanding what eating is doing for you emotionally, rather than focusing on food rules or meal plans.
Do you work with body image issues?
Yes, including body checking, body avoidance, and the kind of chronic self-criticism that often goes alongside it. This work draws on somatic and psychological approaches together.
Do you offer sessions in Russian?
Yes. I work bilingually in English and Russian, and sessions can be conducted in either language, or a mix of both, depending on what feels most natural for you.
I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help. Why would this be different?
That’s a fair and common concern, and it’s worth talking about directly in our first conversation. Often it’s not that therapy itself doesn’t work — it’s that the approach or the fit wasn’t right for that moment. We can talk through what didn’t land previously before deciding whether to move forward together.
Still have questions?
If your question isn’t answered here, a free 15-minute introductory call is the easiest way to get a direct answer — no pressure, no commitment.