Frequently Asked Questions

I am so glad that you're here, and all people are welcome here. Everyone deserves the space to move through their own experience, and to have a safe and sacred space where their experience is honoured, and held with kindness. I encourage you to shift your perspective, and re-learn what you may have been taught, that therapy is only for when I am beyond the point of breakdown - although of course that can absolutely be the case. Think of therapy like you think of going to the gym, we are continuing to access and find new strengths in our mind, through validation and understanding of our experience. Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, you have experienced some changes in life, relationship breakdowns, even a disconnect from self. Emotions are feeling heavier, thoughts are trickier to unpack and interpret, you need some support in processing. You’ve noticed your behaviours are becoming unfamiliar with who you see yourself to be. I like to bring both of our humanness to the therapy space. Messiness, with no judgment. I welcome tissue-filled tears, and embodied emotion, raw reflection, and a light touch of humour. The Kind Collective is a safe and secure space for healing, where you are invited to show up authentically. We move away from the textbook because life is never that scripted. I look to connect with you as a whole person, exploring the ways you have learned to navigate this world. Patterns developed that once helped to make you feel safe, and still now no longer serve you, and no longer fit with where you want to be, or maybe, who you want to be.

To me, The Kind Collective comes from a place of meeting ourselves with kindness, when things feel messy and raw, imperfect and beautiful. Being gentle with, and holding space for all parts of self, including those authentic parts we have hidden, and those that we have adapted to keep us safe. Knowing with compassion that you’ve never been this version of you before, exactly as you are now, so allowing yourself grace while you figure it out. The Kind Collective sees these parts as a collective of all the people we have known, and those we have loved before. A mosaic of all our relational experiences; ones that filled us with warmth, ones that filled us with terror, sometimes an amalgamation of both, and sometimes everything in between. Maybe, the trauma of neglect and abandonment by a loved one, abuse and pain at the hands of someone who was supposed to protect us. Though maybe also the friend or sibling who taught us to stand up for ourselves, the teacher who encouraged our dreams, the parent or grandparent who always showed up, and the love that felt like sunshine. The movies, books, and music we love because someone we love loved them first. The collective parts that have shaped, influenced, and left fragments of themselves in how we show up today.

Absolutely! We know that the therapeutic relationship is a key factor in our treatment. It is so important that you feel comfortable with your therapist, and that we both feel aligned in our approach. Please feel very welcome to reach out if you would like to schedule a free brief intake call, where we can get to know each other, and answer any questions you may have.

Therapy is such a personal thing, and I believe that connection within the therapeutic relationship is so important. My aim as a psychologist is to ensure you feel completely comfortable in taking your first steps [or maybe your second or third steps] toward seeking support. The first appointment itself can be daunting - it can bring a whole range of emotions, on top of those you are already holding. We spend this time getting to know each other through questions around your life, childhood, relationships, and experiences, and it is up to you for how much or how little you would like to disclose. The Kind Collective is a trauma-informed psychology practice, and feeling physically and emotionally safe with the psychologist is a core value of ours. Clients have commented on my warm, gentle, and nurturing nature, as well as my down to earth, and soft yet direct approach. I ask the tough questions, ensuring you feel safe and supported to reflect, navigate, and find the answer that fits. The journey of growth and self-discovery looks different for everyone, and we work collaboratively to break down the walls for where you are feeling stuck.

Each individual session is approximately 50 minutes in length. As sessions are scheduled on the hour, this allows the psychologist space to also write case notes reflecting your session time [as part of their ethical requirements], prepare for your next [or the next client’s] appointment, provide progress letters to GPs, and allow space between you and the next client, in the case that the session runs longer than anticipated. It is helpful if sessions are spaced closely together while getting started, to allow you and the psychologist to build momentum and really get to know each other, as well as building a space of comfort for vulnerability. This may look like weekly or fortnightly appointments, before moving to a longer duration between session times when the need for sessions has reduced. This can look different for everyone – you are uniquely you, so we work together to find what fits best! Remember, you are not a machine to be fixed – you are a human being, a soul, with very real feelings, and emotions. I am not in the business of ‘fixing,’ rather of understanding, evolving, and honouring our own experiences. And you are not broken, just human.

Therapy means different things and serves different purposes for different people. During session, we work to empower you, to provide you with tools and strategies that you need, and to develop and cultivate sound insight and awareness into your own behaviours and responses, so that ongoing therapy isn’t needed. Of course, some people like to continue with sessions to support maintenance, and that is perfectly okay. In fact, many people might start therapy hoping it will take a few months [some even hoping it will only take one session], though in the therapy space they find there is more they want to understand about themselves and their experiences. Alternatively, there is no obligation to continue with sessions, and you are very welcome to let us know at any time if you would like to pause or stop sessions. You will always be so welcome to return to this space, when you need. It’s a good idea to identify your early warning signs for when it might be time to return to therapy. Relapse or re-experiencing mental health difficulties is very common, and life can have a way of throwing things at you, sometimes when you least expect it. The sooner we can reconnect, the sooner we can process your experience and navigate the next steps of healing. Of course, during session you might feel as though we aren’t quite the right fit, and that is so okay. The therapeutic relationship is so important, in which case we can also work together to find another therapy space that might be the right fit for you.

Unfortunately, The Kind Collective is not a crisis service, including provision of emergency appointments. If you or a loved one is in crisis, please contact emergency services on Triple Zero [000] or go to your closest emergency department. You may like to contact the below support services: · Ambulance, Police, Fire - 000 · Lifeline - 13 11 14 · Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 · NSW Mental Health Line – 1800 011 511 · Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467 · MensLine Australia - 1300 789 978 · 13YARN - 13 92 76 · Domestic Violence Line - 1800 RESPECT [1800 737 732] · Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800 As a boutique private practice with a solo practitioner, The Kind Collective is unfortunately unable to provide the level of care required for individuals experiencing acute mental health challenges [eg. high suicidal risk, significant self-harm, psychosis]. If you are unsure whether this fits your presenting needs, we can explore this together during a brief intake call prior to scheduling an initial appointment. We understand that mental health needs can evolve over time. If your needs significantly change and exceed the scope of support that we can safely provide, we will discuss this with you and your referring doctor to explore suitable referral options.

The Kind Collective is honoured to work with a range of clients from all different backgrounds, though we keep a minimum age range of 18+. The beauty of telehealth means that we are able to connect with individuals all across Australia!

The Kind Collective is a private practice and charges private fees for psychology services. As a small business, we are unfortunately unable to offer bulk-billed services. A standard consultation with The Kind Collective is $230.00. An initial consultation with The Kind Collective is $260.00. The AAPi Recommended Fees 2025-2026 has the standard 46 to 60-minute consultation fee at $330. Though, to ensure accessibility to good quality and affordable health services for individuals requiring psychological services, The Kind Collective’s fees for Psychological Therapy are notably lower than the AAPi’s recommendations to accommodate for a greater range of individuals in need of services. Rebates can be provided through Medicare and Private Health - https://www.the-kindcollective.com.au/fees-and-rebates (https://www.the-kindcollective.com.au/fees-and-rebates) The Kind Collective is pleased to offer mental health services for veterans under DVA arrangements. For DVA White Card holders, you can confirm your eligibility by calling the DVA Health Provider Line on 1800 550 457. If you are eligible, or if you hold a DVA Gold Card, kindly request a referral from your GP [including your accepted mental health condition, for White Card holders]. Payment will then be processed by DVA. at the time of your appointment, following confirmation of your DVA Number. The Kind Collective is also pleased to offer mental health services to ADF Members, eligible to access therapy through BUPA Open Arms arrangements. Eligible Persons include current and ex-serving ADF personnel, their partners, and family members.

Officially, no – you do not need a referral to schedule or attend an appointment with The Kind Collective. However, with a valid referral and Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you may access a Medicare rebate of $92.90, for up to ten sessions per calendar year. Many Private Health Funds offer a rebate, and you may like to confirm with your individual insurance provider for further information about your individual coverage. These do not require a GP referral, however please note you are unable to claim from both Medicare and your Private Health Fund. If you are accessing treatment through your DVA Gold or White Card, a valid referral will also be required.

To access the Medicare rebate, you will require a Mental Health Care Plan and referral from your GP. It is helpful if the GP is able to provide you a copy of both the referral and a Mental Health Care Plan, though if the Mental Health Care Plan also includes the below, it can be counted as a referral. - Date - Client's name - Name of the GP - GP provider number and signature - Symptoms, diagnosis, and request for a psychologist to provide the service - Number of initial sessions before review [generally 4 or 6]

Medicare allows for psychologists to accept referrals addressed to other psychologists. If you decide that you would prefer to attend The Kind Collective rather than the psychologist indicated by your GP on the referral, you will not be required to return to your GP for a new referral. However, we would just need to confirm how many sessions you have remaining through Medicare, that you have not already accessed on the referral. Following our initial appointment, the psychologist will also provide correspondence to your GP confirming that we have commenced treatment, to ensure our collaborative care.

The Kind Collective uses Halaxy, a secure practice management software, with Medicare processing integrated. During intake, you are invited to securely provide your Medicare card and bank details, so that we may process the rebate for you on our end at completion of your appointment. With your bank details stored on file [or if Medicare has them], the rebate should reach your account within two business days.

The Kind Collective understands that life gets busy, and that things come up! We also really know the value and importance of your commitment to therapy. You can always reschedule, and you will receive SMS reminders of your appointments, however if you choose to cancel within the 48-hour time frame, or fail to attend the allocated appointment time without cancellation, a cancellation policy will apply. 100% of your session fee will be charged if less than 24 hours notice is provided. 50% of your session fee will be charged if 24-48 hours notice is provided. The cancellation policy is in place to ensure availabilities are optimised to clients needing urgent appointments, and to minimise waiting periods. When you book an appointment with a psychologist, you are committing to buy exclusive use of their time. The practice incurs multiple costs when this appointment space is protected for you, and when we are not provided adequate notice for non-attendance. This includes the significant time and care dedicated to session planning and preparation for your appointment. Please note that no rebates are paid by Medicare for missed appointments, as their policy indicates that an individual must be present at a session to obtain a rebate.

The Kind Collective currently offers appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with some availability for after-hours appointments.

Any request for reports will need to be discussed and agreed to. Should you request a psychological report or summary of intervention, there will be additional cost for those documents. These additional fees will be advised prior to work commencement.

No, psychologists are not trained to or able to prescribe medication. Where appropriate, you may like to review this with your general practitioner, or psychiatrist.

Absolutely - we are nestled in the heart of Miranda. You will be provided comprehensive details for where to find us, best spots for parking, and access to public transport during our initial intake phone call, and by email upon scheduling our initial appointment. There are options for on-site parking, as well as alternative parking options, including paid options, timed options, and free options. The Kind Collective is easily accessible via foot, and public transport, including train and bus.

During session, the psychologist will need to collect and record personal information. The information is gathered as part of the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of your condition, and is seen only by the psychologist. Electronic records and paper records are kept in secure storage by The Kind Collective. As a psychologist and member of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority, I abide by a code of ethics. Information that is disclosed in session will remain confidential and secure. With your consent, I may disclose or exchange information with your GP or other treatment providers. Limits to confidentiality may occur if there are concerns surrounding your safety or the safety of others, serious criminal activity, or in the case that information is subpoenaed by a court of law. This will be discussed with you in further detail during intake.

The psychologist/s at The Kind Collective may live in the local area that they work, though, to protect your privacy and confidentiality [as well as that of the psychologist], The Kind Collective do not connect with clients outside of session, or outside of their professional role. This means that if you were to encounter each other in the community, the psychologist will not greet you personally, though will of course be polite and interact in a manner appropriate to the situation. This interaction can be discussed during the next scheduled appointment. Our social media policy also exists to protect your privacy and ensure the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship are not blurred. You are certainly welcome to follow The Kind Collective on social media, though it is certainly not expected that you do. You are also welcome to unfollow at any time, without concern that you may offend the psychologist. Should you have questions regarding any of the content posted online, you are welcome to discuss this during your scheduled appointment. We kindly ask that you do not attempt to connect with any personal accounts of the psychologist. Disclaimer: social media content is for psychoeducational purposes only. No content on these platforms is to be assumed as a professional service or advice, therapy or a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, treatment or intervention. For any queries, please contact the psychologist directly through email at aimee@the-kindcollective.com.au,(mailto:aimee@the-kindcollective.com.au) as it is a much more stable platform than social media.

Yes, The Kind Collective provides Telehealth services either via video or phone call, when clients are unable to attend face-to-face services. Research has shown that for the most part, Telehealth psychology services can be just as effective as in-person, though of course they may not be appropriate for everyone. Video calls are often preferred by the psychologist as they more closely reflect face-to-face therapy. This ensures the psychologist is able to access the non-verbal information you provide, including your facial expressions and body language, and therefore minimise any misinterpretation during session. When a Telehealth appointment is scheduled, The Kind Collective will email you a secure link to access your session via the Telehealth platform, Zoom. Should there be any technical difficulties, or disruptions during your Telehealth session, the psychologist will contact you via your nominated phone number to discuss how to proceed with the session, either by reconnecting to the video session, or continuing via phone call [if video reconnection is impacted].

Both face-to-face and telehealth sessions cannot be recorded by the psychologist or the client to ensure confidentiality is maintained. The Kind Collective will not make any video or audio recordings of sessions, and kindly asks those participating to agree not to make recordings, nor to use any material from sessions for purposes other than therapy [i.e. posting to social media].

All doorways at The Kind Collective are wheelchair accessible, while the upper levels can be accessed by the lift on ground floor.

Our collective health and wellbeing is paramount to The Kind Collective, and practices are in place to allow us to be able to support you now and in the future. The psychologist continues to wear a face mask for Covid-19 safe practices, though it is completely up to you if you choose to wear one or not. Hand sanitiser is also made available in the therapy room. If you are showing signs of illness, it is preferred that we arrange to continue our scheduled session through Telehealth. Telehealth appointments will also be made available if your psychologist is advised to stay home and is well enough to continue working.

Please feel very welcome to send an email to aimee@the-kindcollective.com.au,(mailto:aimee@the-kindcollective.com.au) to send a text or call 0416 709 247, or to fill in the contact form available on this website.