Mental health exists on a spectrum.   We all have the capacity to experience positive mental health and a sense of wellbeing, and we all of the capacity to experience significant mental distress.  Our position on this spectrum is never fixed.  There is always movement.  Counselling is one possible way of intentionally supporting movement towards positive mental health and wellbeing.  

If you are struggling with mental health challenges at the moment, whether you identify with a diagnosis of a mental illness or not, you may find counselling with Lightly helpful.    

What to expect from counselling

When it comes to mental health there is no single approach that works for all people, all of the time which is why Lightly individually tailors counselling to meet your needs.  

Lightly takes what you know works for you and integrates this with the best of traditional evidence-based therapies and complementary mind and body approaches that resonate with you.  

You can expect to spend the first few sessions building trust, sharing parts of your story that you feel comfortable to share, exploring how you are making sense of your experiences, discussing your hopes for counselling and what you want to get out of the sessions.  Together with your counsellor you will reach an agreement about how often you want to attend counselling and for roughly how long.  

You can expect to encounter curiosity, openness, gentle persistence and an emphasis on building your own capacity to be with your distress, hold it lightly, move through and grow in the process.  

Who can access counselling

Lightly works with adults of all genders who are seeking to make sense of, and find meaning in mental health challenges, and be better resourced to navigate difficult and troubling life experiences.  

People who access counselling from Lightly often reach out for assistance with: 

• Persistent low mood, lack of energy and feelings of numbness 

• Overwhelming worry, anxiety and sense of dread 

• Unexplained and persistent physical health issues 

• Unhelpful patterns of relating to others – in intimate relationships, with family members, friends or at work

• Perfectionism 

• Navigating life transitions and identity crises

• Processing traumatic events 

• Difficulties processing grief after a loss 

• Existential dread and spiritual concerns

• Integrating experiences from altered states of consciousness 

When you are drawing on the expertise of the biomedical model these experiences may be referred to as: 

• Adjustment Disorder

• Depression 

• Anxiety 

• Complicated Grief 

• Complex Trauma 

• PTSD

• OCD

• Personality Disorders 

• Substance dependence and misuse

• Psychotic Disorders

How to access counselling

You can access counselling by directly reaching out to Lightly.  There is no need for a referral.  However, if you are working with a health professional or organisation and would prefer that they submit a referral please send referrals to contact@lightlymh.com.au   

You can also access counselling via a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.  If your GP assesses you as eligible the Mental Health Care Plan will enable you to access a Medicare rebate of $79.05/session.  

Cost

50 minute counselling session — $180

There are a small number of bulk-billed places available for people with a Mental Health Care Plan.  Please get in touch if you would like to discuss access to bulk-billed sessions. 

Where to access counselling

Sessions are available in-person in Coorparoo or via tele-health.  

Interested in booking a session or have some questions you want answered?

Please feel free to get in touch.