Grief Counselling

Grief is a normal and appropriate reaction to loss. Grief describes a range of emotions that are experienced when things change in your life. Experiencing a loss can feel like your life has been turned upside down, while the rest of the world appears unchanged. It is common to feel completely alone and that no-one can understand the pain you are experiencing. You might crave social contact with family and friends, or prefer solitude to deal with your loss privately. There is no ‘right way’ to experience grief and no way of predicting the length of a grieving period. However grief affects you, counselling can help you process your loss and find more helpful ways of coping.

Different types of loss

Loss can take many forms. In some circumstances, you may have had time to prepare for a loss, while others can be unexpected. Sometimes a feeling of loss can be surprising if you chose to change something, for example ending a relationship or changing careers. Example of loss are:

Loss of a loved one
Relationship breakdown
Life transitions
Job loss or employment change
Miscarriage
Loss of mobility or physical health
Migration
Loss of identity
Retirement

Signs of grief and loss

Grief is a deeply personal experience so it can be felt or experienced in a variety of ways. Some symptoms that can accompany a loss are:

Anxiety or worry
Changes in sleep habits – little to no sleep/excessive sleep
Changes in appetite
Loss of energy
Numbness
Feeling detached
Loss of concentration
Restlessness
Guilt
Intense sadness
Anger
Substance use

When to seek professional help

We each experience grief in different ways, so there are no rules about when grief counselling should be sought. Sometimes grief can be stubborn, and emotions or intrusive thoughts can stick with you. You may find that the grief is significantly impacting your ability to function in your everyday life. Sometimes grief can be so overwhelming that you are unsure how to deal with it. If you are experiencing these difficulties, it may be time to speak with a professional about your loss.

Some individuals engage in counselling because they want a safe, non-judgemental space to discuss their experience and their feelings. Others seek counselling to gain strategies to manage difficult feelings like sadness or guilt, or to respond better to intrusive thoughts. Either way, speaking with a professional can help you integrate your feelings and move forward with living well.

How our practitioners can help

At the ACT of Living, we use a variety of evidence-based psychological therapies for grief counselling. These therapies include, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and existential and narrative psychology. Often a combination of techniques works best for our clients. We can help you identify patterns in your thinking and challenge intrusive thoughts that are common after suffering a loss. We also use strategies to help reframe life events, rebuild self-confidence and alleviate distress. We will help you to gain an awareness of your own strengths to allow you to build the satisfying and rewarding life you deserve.

Our Grief Counselling Practitioners

Josh HobsonPsychologist

Josh Hobson is a compassionate and supportive psychologist who works with his clients to identify their inner strengths, and to draw on these strengths so that his clients […]

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Patch CallahanClinical Psychologist

Patch has been working as a clinical psychologist since 2010 in public youth mental health, child/developmental, health psychology, headspace, and hospital-based outpatient group therapy […]

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Dayana NoorPsychologist

Dayana is a Registered Psychologist with the Psychologist Board of Australia. She is also a full member of the Australian Psychological Society and a member of the Association […]

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Steve FaheyPsychologist

After previously working in the corporate and tertiary education sectors, Steve Fahey has been a registered psychologist since 2004. He has worked as a counsellor in community and […]

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Brock BastianPsychologist

Practising as a psychologist for the past 15 years I have worked with a great variety of people from a wide range of backgrounds. My approach draws on […]

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Deborah HartACT Therapist, Counsellor & Coach

I have spent the first three decades of my working life as a professional horn player with orchestras around Australia and The Netherlands. Most of that time […]

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Get Your Life Back On Track, Find A Way Forward, Experience Peace of Mind

We’re here to help you find the way into a life you love. You may be facing one of life’s everyday setbacks like separation or a relationship breakup, loss of a loved one, conflict at work or change of job, loneliness, family problems and so on. Or you may be experiencing a mental health condition like depression, anxiety, addiction or trauma. Perhaps you’re just trying to understand yourself, your thoughts, emotions, sexuality or relationships, or perhaps to understand and find purpose in your life. A skilled Melbourne psychologist expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other scientifically supported therapies, will work with you, putting your strengths and new insights in the service of a more fulfilling life. Phone today to chat with one of our friendly psychologists, or complete this form and we’ll call you back.

Get In Touch

If you have any questions, please call our Intake Staff on (03) 9939 9437 or complete the form below and we can call you back.

Commonly Asked Questions

Should I come in for my appointment? Are you still open? – COVID-19Julian McNally2020-04-21T19:16:22+10:00

Should I come in for my appointment? Are you still open? – COVID-19

No. Under Stage 3 restrictions, we are seeing clients only in telehealth sessions (via videoconference or phone). (Updated April 21 to take into account current Victorian and Commonwealth Government instructions). When Stage 2 restrictions are re-introduced, the following measures will be taken to continue to protect you, our practitioners and the general community.

What we are doing to prevent COVID-19 transmission

Our staff have been instructed to follow these safety measures to reduce contamination:

Cease physical contact between staff and between staff and clients
Each hour, wipe with disinfectant, door handles and the EFTPOS machine
Routinely use disinfectant spray and wipes to clean pens, pencils, whiteboard markers, tissue boxes, light switches and tables and desks.
Ask clients not to touch any door handles or light switches
Stop using the tablets for collecting data from clients
Increase the frequency of cleaning the bathroom and kitchen area

The number of people coming through our premises is quite low – about 20 per day, so safer than many other places you might routinely visit such as shops, cafés and most workplaces.

What you can do during Stage 2 restrictions

You can help to keep you, us and the community safe by following the government recommendations on social distancing, hand-washing, avoiding touching your face and sneezing or coughing into a tissue that you immediately dispose of.

We would also appreciate your cooperation in:

cancelling your appointment if you are unwell, and especially if you have early symptoms of cold or flu such as:
- high temperature
- shortness of breath
- cough
- runny or blocked nose
- sore throat
likewise cancelling if someone in your household or with whom you come into regular or prolonged contact shows these signs or has recently returned from or through a country experiencing a COVID-19 epidemic, or if that person is being tested or has been tested for COVID-19, or is self-isolating. Cancellation fees will be waived in these situations during the crisis.
not touching door handles, light switches or any devices or objects that you don’t absolutely need to
using the plastic cups for drinking water that we are providing. Please don’t touch the water jug, the practitioner will pour the water for you. Ideally, bring your own water bottle. We are also for the duration of this crisis, no longer providing hot drinks. When you are finished with the water cup or if you have brought a takeaway hot drink, please dispose of the cup in the bin in the counselling room or the bin marked ‘Waste’ in the kitchen.

Please go to our contact form to arrange a telehealth consultation.

What are my options during the COVID-19 crisis?Julian McNally2020-04-21T18:52:42+10:00

What are my options during the COVID-19 crisis?

Medicare psychology items during COVID-19

Clients with a Mental Health Care Plan under Better Access can now attend telehealth psychology sessions.”Telehealth” sessions can be conducted by videoconference or by phone.

Note that these counselling sessions are conducted under the same criteria as regular Better Access sessions (items 80100 and 80110). So if you have had 5 ‘regular’ in-person Better Access sessions, you can now have 5 bulk-billed telehealth sessions. This initiative has a 6 month limit from March 13, so may not be available after September 13. On the other hand, the government may decide at that time to extend it.

If you don’t have a Mental Health Care Plan, or prefer not to go through the Medicare system, you can book a telehealth session during the COVID-19 crisis (or in fact, any time). During the crisis, private health insurance companies, as well as TAC and WorkCover have allowed telehealth sessions to be eligible for their rebates or third party payments. Check with your health fund before booking to ensure your eligibility and determine your rebates.

Booking telehealth appointments

You can book a telehealth appointment by contacting your regular psychologist, or if you are a new client, completing our contact form, and we can arrange an appointment with your preferred practitioner.*

*Subject to availability.

Are there Medicare rebates for telehealth sessions? Or private health rebates? – COVID-19Julian McNally2020-04-21T19:22:16+10:00

Are there Medicare rebates for telehealth sessions? Or private health rebates? – COVID-19

Yes. The government have made a special range of items, just like the regular Medicare items 80110 and 80100, and these COVID-19 telehealth sessions are available to all Australians with a Medicare card.

Rural telehealth appointments

In addition, in 2018, the government made telehealth psychological counselling available to clients in rural and remote Australia. To see if your area is eligible, search for your town/location here https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/health-workforce-locator/health-workforce-locator and click on “Modified Monash Model” in the filter on the left. Zones 4-7 are eligible for these telehealth items. Find out more about these items here: https://www.psychology.org.au/getmedia/fd748495-90e7-40d8-bedb-c3d7999cbb2d/18APS-Telehealth-Consumers.pdf%22.

Medicare Bushfire Recovery initiative

If you have been affected by the 2019-2020 bushfires, even if you don’t live in one of the above rural or regional areas, you may also be able to claim Medicare rebates for additional telehealth sessions with our psychologists in Melbourne. More information on this initiative is here: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/01/mental-health-support-for-australians-affected-by-the-2019-20-bushfires-mental-health-support-for-australians-affected-by-the-2019-20-bushfires_0.pdf. These sessions are available until 31 December 2021 and do not require a Mental Health Care Plan or GP referral.

Non-Medicare sessions

Regular non-Medicare sessions can also be conducted by telephone or videoconference. Check with your health fund as to whether they will provide a rebate for these sessions.

What is a telehealth session? How do I set one up? – COVID-19Julian McNally2020-04-21T19:28:47+10:00

What is a telehealth session? How do I set one up? – COVID-19

A telehealth session is simply a counselling session conducted by phone or videoconference. Our practitioners have experience using the software and hardware involved. We can’t set up your equipment and software, but we can make sure that things are working properly on our end.

What you need

A reliable internet connection (can be mobile, but a video session may use a lot of data – check your plan), so broadband is recommended.

A quiet room where you will not be interrupted. Just like a session at our rooms, we recommend you turn your phone off unless that’s the device you’re using.

A headphone or earphone set with a microphone. You can use your computer’s speakers and microphone, but we find that this configuration sometimes leads to people talking louder than normal and depending on who is around, might make your session a bit less private than you’d like.

Some of our practitioners use platforms like Skype or zoom.us which mean that you may have to install an app or download software to connect with them. Our psychologists’ personal pages show what kind of telehealth services they offer and which platforms they use. If you need them to explain any details just call them directly on the numbers on their page. Note that most of our practitioners work part-time and all are busy at this time, so please be patient – we make take a day or two to return your call.

Making a Telehealth appointment

You can make an appointment in the normal way by calling our landline, emailing us or using one of the contact forms on our website. Some practitioners will have a direct link for making a telehealth appointment with them on their webpage.

Security and privacy

Our psychologists will all be taking steps to ensure as usual that your health information is secure and your privacy and the confidentiality of your sessions is respected. The ethical guidelines and privacy principles that govern in-person sessions are the same ones that apply to these telehealth sessions.

What Is A Psychologist?Julian McNally2020-03-20T15:14:24+11:00

What Is A Psychologist?

The term “psychologist” refers to a person professionally-trained and certified to provide psychological assistance to clients ailed by a wide variety of conditions that range from mild to more severe issues. The psychologists at Act of Living are university-trained and have professional training and skills allow them to deal effectively with various psychological issues.

What Is Therapy And Counselling?Julian McNally2020-03-18T23:09:34+11:00

What Is Therapy And Counselling?

Counselling is the professional service psychologists offer that is designed to help individuals deal with issues and concerns in life that may be affecting them emotionally or mentally. Unlike simply giving advice, counselling allows psychologists to apply particular techniques and strategies that are specifically designed to deal with concerns of mental and emotional health.

When Should I Get Counselling?Julian McNally2020-03-18T23:12:36+11:00

When Should I Get Counselling?

There is no set rule for when someone should seek counselling. People seek counselling for many different reasons and at different points in their life. Common reasons are to help manage symptoms of a mental illness such as anxiety or depression, to provide clarity, support or motivation. Counselling provides an opportunity for you to talk freely with an empathetic and non-judgmental professional that can help you work through your everyday experiences and issues. For more information on how our practitioners can help you click on the ‘our team’ tab to see our different practitioners. Alternatively, you are welcome to call or email the clinic.

Is Counselling Private?Julian McNally2020-03-20T15:19:26+11:00

Is Counselling Private?

All counselling sessions at the Act of Living are private and exclusive only to you and to your psychologist. As our psychologists and therapists are accredited and licensed, we make sure all correspondence during sessions are kept confidential. The only exception to this is if your information is specifically requested by the courts, or if you request this data yourself.

What Should I Expect For My First Session?Julian McNally2020-03-20T15:22:32+11:00

What Should I Expect For My First Session?

For your first session, you can expect this to be something that will help you and your therapist zero in on your particular concern or issue. This means your psychologist will more or less begin the session by asking you about things that are happening in your life and about your particular issue. How much you open up about your issue is up to you. From this session, your psychologist should be able to plot out a basic overview of the approach they will take throughout the course of your sessions together, in order to get your desired result. Your first session is important as it allows both you and your therapist to identify aspects of the problem that need focus. It also marks the beginning of the therapeutic relationship and will allow you to feel more comfortable when discussing issues with your therapist.

Can I Stop Seeing My Therapist?Julian McNally2020-03-20T15:22:58+11:00

Can I Stop Seeing My Therapist?

As much as we’d feel sad seeing you go, you are allowed to cancel your sessions with our team and your psychologist. Do clarify with our customer service representatives regarding the specifics of your cancellation of our service. However, remember that our team will always be here should you want to start seeing us again, as we understand that our customers also tend to exit their sessions because of a wide variety of reasons. Our doors will always be open to accommodate you and help you find the best solutions in order to solve your particular concerns.

Is Counselling Effective?Tristan2020-03-20T15:23:28+11:00

Is Counselling Effective?

Yes, over 80% of people who see a counsellor experience improvement, and generally fewer than 10% will be worse off after effective counselling. At The ACT of Living we measure the outcome achieved for each client and publish our aggregate effectiveness. In fact we’ve been certified as effective by the Center for Clinical Informatics.

What approach do you use?Tristan2020-03-20T15:24:00+11:00

What approach do you use?

We mainly use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, but we are trained in other methods such as humanistic and existential counselling, cognitive-behavior therapy, solution-focused therapy, functional analytic psychotherapy, positive psychology, motivational interviewing and more.

How Much Does It Cost?Tristan2020-03-20T15:24:29+11:00

How Much Does It Cost?

See the fee and rebate details for each practitioner by clicking on the ‘Practitioners’ menu above and choosing the practitioner you’re interested in.

How Long Does It Take?Tristan2020-03-20T15:24:52+11:00

How Long Does It Take?

That depends on many factors. Most people achieve a significant benefit by around 6-10 sessions. The average client who achieves any improvement with us does so in around nine sessions. This varies a lot though from one client to the next.

To understand more about our approach to counselling and therapy email or call us today!