Mental health counselling
for young people
Wholehearted, practical counselling for 12 to 25 year olds, located in the western suburbs of Brisbane.
counselling sessions
on Medicare
Over 15 years
clinical mental health
experience
Get to know
us before
committing
- Claim up to 10 counselling sessions on Medicare
- Over 15 years clinical mental health experience
- Get to know us before committing
seen(x)heard can help if...
You’ve experienced a frightening or overwhelming event, or chronically stressful environments.
You find yourself using unhelpful coping strategies such as harmful substances, hurting yourself, unhealthy eating patterns.
You’re having difficulty getting along with people at school, home, work, or anywhere else that’s important to you.
You’re struggling with low mood, lack of motivation, no energy, dark thoughts.
You’re struggling to do the things that are important and necessary to live the life you want.
seen(x)heard can
help if...
You’ve experienced a frightening or overwhelming event, or chronically stressful environments.
You find yourself using unhelpful coping strategies such as harmful substances, hurting yourself, unhealthy eating patterns.
You’re struggling with low mood, lack of motivation, no energy, dark thoughts.
You’re overwhelmed by worries, nervousness, decision-making, body agitation.
You’re having difficulty getting along with people at school, home, work, or anywhere else that’s important to you.
You’re struggling to do the things that are important and necessary to live the life you want.
A little bit about Crissy,
Mental Health Counsellor
for Young People
Hi there ✌🏽
As a proud and self-confessed introvert, I firstly want to let you know that I’m exquisitely uncomfortable with talking about myself. Here at seen(x)heard our philosophy is about getting to know you — not about me touting heroic sentiments about how I can change your life. But I also understand that you need to know a bit about me to ensure I’m safe, qualified, and experienced in what I have to offer.
I’m a Counselling Mental Health Occupational Therapist, with over 15 years mental health experience. I call myself a wholehearted practical therapist. I combine my counselling skills and OT experience to offer a safe space where we can process what diminishes satisfaction and meaning in your life, whilst also exploring practical ways of dealing with your concerns to restore hope and function.
Why see a counsellor?
It's effective
Research shows that individuals who see a counsellor are 75-80% better off than those who are left untreated. Plus it can be as effective as medication, with fewer side-effects.
(Smith & Glass, 1977; Brown et al., 2005; Mitte, 2005)
It feels liberating
A burden shared is a burden halved. There are just some things we feel we cannot share with our friends and family. In counselling, you can talk about anything and everything.
They can help unlock your innate capabilities
A counsellor can empathically listen to your concerns, and be a source of support and guidance. They encourage reflection, and help you generate new perspectives and creative solutions that would otherwise lie dormant within us.
It's like having your own personal cheerleader
We’ve all experienced feeling stuck and troubled. Seeing a counsellor who can create a safe space can activate your courage, and help you stay committed to the promises you make to yourself.
How to get started...
Step 1
Book an Appointment
Click on the green “Make a booking enquiry” button, or call 07 3323 9598 to make an appointment.
Step 2
An Initial Consult
This will be a 70-minute
session to gather information and formulate goals with you.
Step 3
Ongoing Support
sessions to work through
your concerns and goals.
How to get started...
Step 1
Book an Appointment
Click on the green “Make a booking enquiry” button, or call 07 3323 9598 to make an appointment.
Step 2
An Initial Consult
This will be a 70-minute
session to gather information
and formulate goals with you.
Step 3
Ongoing Support
sessions to work through
your concerns and goals.
seen(x)heard can support you if you’re struggling with...
Complex trauma
Anxiety
Depression
Self-harming
Life transitions & adjustments
Psychosis
Relational issues
Stress management
Emotion regulation
Time & energy management
Problem-solving
Socialising
Communication
Day-to-day functioning
Got questions?
We’ve got answers!
Here’s some info for some common questions we get asked.
At seen(x)heard we see 12 to 25 year olds.
This is a unique developmental stage that sees a young person transition through a number of important milestones. Because we’re familiar with the unique challenges and strengths this age group presents with, we can use a developmentally appropriate and targeted approach to supporting them.
You don’t need a referral to see us. However, if you would like to claim the Medicare rebate you will need a referral and Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
You can view our full fee schedule and available rebates here.
Seeing an effective counsellor will create a safe space where you’ll gain clarity and support to move forward in your mental wellness. This is done in a number of ways depending on your needs (please see “What kind of therapy do you offer?” below).
It’s very common to feel anxious and uncertain about seeing a counsellor, whether it’s for the first time or not. At seen(x)heard our priority is to provide psychological safety, compassion, and acceptance.
No matter how many self-help books, blogs, videos, and podcasts we consume, nothing is as powerful as being in the presence of someone that makes you feel “seen and heard”.
Wholehearted practical therapy!
This means we offer a range of therapeutic approaches that suits the needs of the young person. Therapeutic approaches include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focussed Therapy, trauma recovery, expressive therapies, and sensory approaches.
But fundamentally, all our therapeutic approaches are strengths-based and client-centred. This means we focus on you and what you need to live your most fulfilling life.
Please read below, “How are you different to a psychologist?”
Great question!
As a counsellor and mental health OT I like to gain a deeper understanding of the meaningful roles you perform (e.g. student, friend, partner, worker, family member, citizen), the environment you function in (e.g. school/uni, work, home, social settings), and the everyday meaningful activities (we call these ‘occupations’) that you want/need to perform. I then combine this with my knowledge of psychosocial development, psychopathology, neurobiology, and systems theory to see where there may be strengths or barriers that may help or hinder your wellbeing and functioning.
It’s not just about understanding what causes your issues, but what maintains or perpetuates them.
How long is a piece of string?!
This really depends on a number of factors ranging from how distressed or shut-down the young person is, time available, finances, and external factors outside of the young person’s control.
Experience has shown that often weekly to fortnightly sessions are helpful at the beginning to get the therapeutic process kick-started. Then it may extend to longer periods between sessions as the young person feels better able to cope. This may change back to more frequent sessions if something comes up that requires extra support.
Medicare will rebate 20 sessions per calendar year if you have a Mental Health Care Plan. Originally it was only 10, but this has now increased to 20 due to the impact of COVID-19 on mental wellbeing — at the time of writing this, the additional 10 sessions are available until 30 June 2022.
- If you’re at risk of hurting yourself
- If someone is hurting you
- If you’re hurting someone
- If the law requires your client files
If it’s necessary to break confidentiality, where possible I will let you know beforehand and we will figure out the best way to inform the important people in your life. As part of assessment and treatment we are required to collect personal information, and this will be treated sensitively and as confidential. Information is stored securely on our computer system, or in locked facilities only accessible by the therapist.
Pause.
We all have habits and patterns of communicating and relating with our young ones that don’t serve us or them.
Pause.
Recognise and acknowledge that things need to be different and you’ve taken the next steps by seeking therapy for your young person — this is significant.
Pause.
Seeking therapy for yourself or surrounding yourself with supportive and non-judgemental people will help you to help them.
We are not a crisis service, so it’s important that if at any time you are worried about your child’s safety that you call 000 or present to your nearest hospital. The following helplines may also be useful:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
- Parentline: 1300 301 300
