At Full Circle we are experienced in working with individuals who are experiencing a range of common mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and trauma. We also have specialist skills in drug and alcohol counselling.
Individual Therapy (or Counselling), is an undertaking by a client to engage in a one-on-one exchange with a trained counselling professional. At Full Circle, therapists work with individuals using evidence-based techniques that allow the unfolding of memory, revelation and a will to change emerge in a safe and supported environment.
Individual Therapy (or Counselling), is an undertaking by a client to engage in a one-on-one exchange with a trained counselling professional. At Full Circle, therapists work with individuals using evidence-based techniques that allow the unfolding of memory, revelation and a will to change emerge in a safe and supported environment.
common queries about one-on-one therapy
WHAT IS INdividual therapy?
Individual Therapy (sometimes called Psychotherapy or Counselling), is the process of working with a therapist in a one-on-one setting, with the aim of resolving or coping with a distressing problem or life event.
HOW LONG WILL INDIVIDUAL THERAPY TAKE?
How long therapy takes or how many sessions you attend will depend on many factors. This includes the problem you are presenting with, how long you've been experiencing it and what resources you can call on to make necessary changes. At Full Circle we will help you to identify your immediate goals and work towards these.
HOW OFTEN ARE THE APPOINTMENTS?
Only as often as you and your therapist decide. To start with, it is beneficial to meet weekly in order to build momentum, establish a good relationship with your therapist and gain some continuity in the process of therapy.
Depending on the nature of the problem and the progress you have been making, you may wish to extend the time between sessions to bi-weekly or even monthly in order to provide more time for personal reflection and to practice techniques and strategies outlined in previous appointments.
Depending on the nature of the problem and the progress you have been making, you may wish to extend the time between sessions to bi-weekly or even monthly in order to provide more time for personal reflection and to practice techniques and strategies outlined in previous appointments.
are all therapists the same?
Not all therapists have the same level of qualification and training.
Most counsellors will have completed some training and attained a counselling qualification. This does not mean they are a psychologist or family therapist. These are specialist roles that require a university attained Masters degree ie. the level of education of our founder, Paul Medew.
Different therapists will use different approaches or methods depending on their specific training and the type of problem that you have.
It is essential that your therapist uses “evidence based” methods of therapy. These are approaches to counselling that are backed up by rigorous scientific evidence and have a proven track record of being effective in helping people with their issues.
Regardless of what methods are used or the qualifications your therapist has, research has consistently shown that it the quality of the “therapeutic alliance” that determines if therapy leads to positive outcomes.
The therapeutic alliance is the relationship between you and your therapist. This does not mean you need to be best friends with your therapist (in fact that is not a good thing), it means that you feel safe with your therapist to say or feel whatever you need to, that they can listen to and understand you in an empathetic way without burdening you with their own issues and that you trust that they always have your best interests at heart.
A good therapist will ensure you always feel safe when you are at your most vulnerable but will also challenge you and question you. This is the “hard work” of therapy that propels your growth and leads to a more balanced life.
A good therapist will want to know what you feel, and will try to help you understand why you feel it but will also challenge the thinking and beliefs that have lead you to where you are and provide tools that will help you make the changes you want to make.
A therapist cannot “fix” you in the way a doctor fixes a broken arm. A therapist can only be an informed guide, an ally and a source of unconditional support as you go through the process of understanding yourself.
Most counsellors will have completed some training and attained a counselling qualification. This does not mean they are a psychologist or family therapist. These are specialist roles that require a university attained Masters degree ie. the level of education of our founder, Paul Medew.
Different therapists will use different approaches or methods depending on their specific training and the type of problem that you have.
It is essential that your therapist uses “evidence based” methods of therapy. These are approaches to counselling that are backed up by rigorous scientific evidence and have a proven track record of being effective in helping people with their issues.
Regardless of what methods are used or the qualifications your therapist has, research has consistently shown that it the quality of the “therapeutic alliance” that determines if therapy leads to positive outcomes.
The therapeutic alliance is the relationship between you and your therapist. This does not mean you need to be best friends with your therapist (in fact that is not a good thing), it means that you feel safe with your therapist to say or feel whatever you need to, that they can listen to and understand you in an empathetic way without burdening you with their own issues and that you trust that they always have your best interests at heart.
A good therapist will ensure you always feel safe when you are at your most vulnerable but will also challenge you and question you. This is the “hard work” of therapy that propels your growth and leads to a more balanced life.
A good therapist will want to know what you feel, and will try to help you understand why you feel it but will also challenge the thinking and beliefs that have lead you to where you are and provide tools that will help you make the changes you want to make.
A therapist cannot “fix” you in the way a doctor fixes a broken arm. A therapist can only be an informed guide, an ally and a source of unconditional support as you go through the process of understanding yourself.
what should I expect at the first individual therapy appointment?
I always aim to have my clients leave a session with some useful knowledge or insight, however the first session will involve me getting to know you and understand your circumstances, first and foremost.
That means me listening to your story and asking you lots of questions. By the end of the first session I hope to have a clear picture of what’s going on and I will be thinking about how I can best help you given your unique circumstances.
People often say when we first meet “I don’t know where to start”. That is completely fine and normal. Sometimes people are clear about what their problems are and can tell me what it is they need from me but most often people come to therapy with many complex and contradictory thoughts and emotions.
It’s part of my job to make sense of them and I encourage people to just start where they feel comfortable. I find that the important points quickly become apparent without too much effort.
That means me listening to your story and asking you lots of questions. By the end of the first session I hope to have a clear picture of what’s going on and I will be thinking about how I can best help you given your unique circumstances.
People often say when we first meet “I don’t know where to start”. That is completely fine and normal. Sometimes people are clear about what their problems are and can tell me what it is they need from me but most often people come to therapy with many complex and contradictory thoughts and emotions.
It’s part of my job to make sense of them and I encourage people to just start where they feel comfortable. I find that the important points quickly become apparent without too much effort.
DO YOU TAKE ADOLESCENT CLIENTS?
Adolescent issues vary significantly from those of their elders and juniors.
Full Circle Counselling welcomes adolescent clients who may require confidential assistance in learning more about themselves and developing tools to cope, to grow and to be well prepared for the emotional vicissitudes that lie ahead as they enter more pressured stages of their lives.
Full Circle Counselling welcomes adolescent clients who may require confidential assistance in learning more about themselves and developing tools to cope, to grow and to be well prepared for the emotional vicissitudes that lie ahead as they enter more pressured stages of their lives.
WHAT ARE the FEES?
DO YOU OFFER AFTER HOURS OR REMOTE APPOINTMENTS?
Yes, most certainly.
We are happy to take appointment requests for after 5pm sessions any day of the week (including weekends by request).
PAUL'S AVAILABILITIES
* Mon - Thu : 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
* Friday 11: 00 AM - UNTIL LATE
* Sat Sun BY REQUEST
NIGHT CLINIC :
* Every Friday: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Our weekly Friday late night clinic caters for clients who find it hard to book their session during work hours.
* We are open until late every Friday and take requests for after hours sessions all week.
REMOTE APPOINTMENTS
While we prefer to meet clients in person at our quiet consulting rooms, if life for you is extremely busy or if you live remotely / outside the general 3564 Echuca area (where our offices are) we offer Full Circle Skype / Facetime Therapy sessions for individuals (adults & adolescents), couples and families.
* Standard Rates apply per 50 minute session.
* Contact us to discuss.
We are happy to take appointment requests for after 5pm sessions any day of the week (including weekends by request).
PAUL'S AVAILABILITIES
* Mon - Thu : 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
* Friday 11: 00 AM - UNTIL LATE
* Sat Sun BY REQUEST
NIGHT CLINIC :
* Every Friday: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Our weekly Friday late night clinic caters for clients who find it hard to book their session during work hours.
* We are open until late every Friday and take requests for after hours sessions all week.
REMOTE APPOINTMENTS
While we prefer to meet clients in person at our quiet consulting rooms, if life for you is extremely busy or if you live remotely / outside the general 3564 Echuca area (where our offices are) we offer Full Circle Skype / Facetime Therapy sessions for individuals (adults & adolescents), couples and families.
* Standard Rates apply per 50 minute session.
* Contact us to discuss.
Trust Issues. Emotional or Intimate Distance. Communication Problems. These may seem like the obvious reasons why couples seek counselling.
At Full Circle, we welcome couples of all varieties with the view of learning important skills to not only assist you both during crisis but to help you to avoid further conflict and learn skills that will enhance your life together as a couple.
At Full Circle, we welcome couples of all varieties with the view of learning important skills to not only assist you both during crisis but to help you to avoid further conflict and learn skills that will enhance your life together as a couple.
common queries about couples therapy
WHAT IS COUPLES THERAPY?
Couples therapy usually begins with one or both people in an intimate relationship expressing their dissatisfaction with the relationship and often blaming the other person for the relationship not working how they would like it to.
Or perhaps both of you feel that there is something wrong and can’t figure out why you end up in the same arguments, saying the same things and feeling the same feelings over and over again. “How can people who love each other keep hurting each other?” is the most common thing I hear at the beginning of couples therapy.
Our intimate partner relationships are often the most meaningful but also the most painful relationships we will ever have. They bring out the best of us but also inexplicably the worst aspects of ourselves. Couples therapy aims to help you understand the patterns in your relationship, the reasons why your relationship keeps repeating those patterns and most importantly what you can do to change it.
Couples therapy is not about blame or finding reasons why the other person must change, it is about understanding the relationship between two people and what they can do to make the bond between them stronger and more effective. The golden rule in couples therapy is that “we don’t treat the individuals we treat the relationship”.
Or perhaps both of you feel that there is something wrong and can’t figure out why you end up in the same arguments, saying the same things and feeling the same feelings over and over again. “How can people who love each other keep hurting each other?” is the most common thing I hear at the beginning of couples therapy.
Our intimate partner relationships are often the most meaningful but also the most painful relationships we will ever have. They bring out the best of us but also inexplicably the worst aspects of ourselves. Couples therapy aims to help you understand the patterns in your relationship, the reasons why your relationship keeps repeating those patterns and most importantly what you can do to change it.
Couples therapy is not about blame or finding reasons why the other person must change, it is about understanding the relationship between two people and what they can do to make the bond between them stronger and more effective. The golden rule in couples therapy is that “we don’t treat the individuals we treat the relationship”.
WHAT IF MY PARTNER WON'T COME TO THERAPY
Often there is one person in the partnership who is seemingly most unhappy and wanting the relationship to change while the other partner doesn’t see any use in seeing someone to help understand what is going on and how it might be different.
Ideally your therapist will want to see you both and will want to understand the relationship from both points of view. However, we understand that is not always possible. If your partner is not yet ready to come to counselling that does not mean there are not changes we can help you with that may make a significant difference to how your relationship works and how you feel about it.
Ideally your therapist will want to see you both and will want to understand the relationship from both points of view. However, we understand that is not always possible. If your partner is not yet ready to come to counselling that does not mean there are not changes we can help you with that may make a significant difference to how your relationship works and how you feel about it.
WHAT ARE THE FEES?
how do i know if my relationship needs work?
7 RELATIONSHIP RED FLAGS
- 1. The same arguments come up again and again, and seem to be getting worse
- 2. You’re no longer comfortable talking about your feelings or issues in the relationship
- 3. You barely talk anymore, and silence has become the new norm
- 4. It’s becoming increasingly rare for you to spend intimate time together
- 5. You’re considering pursuing a romantic interest outside of your relationship
- 6. Looking after the kids always takes priority over looking after your partner
- 7. Your sex life has slowed to a halt, and physical intimacy no longer feels like a priority
do you offer after hours appointments?
Yes, most certainly. We are happy to take appointment requests for after 5pm sessions every week day (including weekends by request).
LATE NIGHT CLINIC
Our weekly Friday late night clinic caters for clients who find it hard to book their session during work hours.
* We are open until late every Friday and take requests for after hours sessions all week.
REMOTE APPOINTMENTS
While we prefer to meet clients in person at our quiet consulting rooms, if life for you is extremely busy or if you live remotely / outside the general 3564 Echuca area (where our offices are) we offer Full Circle Skype / Facetime Therapy sessions for individuals (adults & adolescents), couples and families.
* Reduced Rates apply per 50 minute video session.
* Contact us to discuss.
LATE NIGHT CLINIC
Our weekly Friday late night clinic caters for clients who find it hard to book their session during work hours.
* We are open until late every Friday and take requests for after hours sessions all week.
REMOTE APPOINTMENTS
While we prefer to meet clients in person at our quiet consulting rooms, if life for you is extremely busy or if you live remotely / outside the general 3564 Echuca area (where our offices are) we offer Full Circle Skype / Facetime Therapy sessions for individuals (adults & adolescents), couples and families.
* Reduced Rates apply per 50 minute video session.
* Contact us to discuss.
At Full Circle we are trained in working with families and the complex relationships that families involve. We don't judge members of the family or seek to blame but rather to understand what is going on for every member of the family and to find ways to help your family to function more harmoniously.
common queries about family therapy
what is family therapy?
Family Therapy is a very specialised form of therapy that is based on the idea that your family is a community and that everybody has a role and place in the family which is often based on unconscious assumptions.
Families often settle into patterns of interacting and sometimes this leads to frustration and conflict, especially during times of change such as when children are entering young adulthood.
As a family therapist I try to understand what everybody’s individual role in the family is and how things can be changed so that I endeavour to create a safe environment where everybody in the family has a voice, and where everybody feels able to say and feel things that they may have been unable to express previously.
Families often settle into patterns of interacting and sometimes this leads to frustration and conflict, especially during times of change such as when children are entering young adulthood.
As a family therapist I try to understand what everybody’s individual role in the family is and how things can be changed so that I endeavour to create a safe environment where everybody in the family has a voice, and where everybody feels able to say and feel things that they may have been unable to express previously.
what are the fees?
do you offer after hours or remote sessions?
Yes, most certainly. We are happy to take appointment requests for after 5pm sessions all week.
LATE NIGHT CLINIC
Our weekly Friday late night clinic caters for clients who find it hard to book their session during work hours.
* We are open until late every Friday and take requests for after hours sessions all week (including weekends).
REMOTE APPOINTMENTS
While we prefer to meet clients in person at our quiet consulting rooms, if life for you is extremely busy or if you live remotely / outside the general 3564 Echuca area (where our offices are) we offer Full Circle Skype / Facetime Therapy sessions for individuals (adults & adolescents), couples and families.
* Reduced Rates apply per 50 minute session.
* Contact us to discuss.
LATE NIGHT CLINIC
Our weekly Friday late night clinic caters for clients who find it hard to book their session during work hours.
* We are open until late every Friday and take requests for after hours sessions all week (including weekends).
REMOTE APPOINTMENTS
While we prefer to meet clients in person at our quiet consulting rooms, if life for you is extremely busy or if you live remotely / outside the general 3564 Echuca area (where our offices are) we offer Full Circle Skype / Facetime Therapy sessions for individuals (adults & adolescents), couples and families.
* Reduced Rates apply per 50 minute session.
* Contact us to discuss.
WHAT IF SOME OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WON'T COME TO THERAPY?
Often there is one person in the family who is most concerned and wanting the family dynamic to change while other members of the family don't see the necessity in seeing someone.
Ideally your therapist will want to see all members of the family, both as a unit and during individual sessions in order to gain an understanding of all perspectives. Your therapist will want to understand the family issues from multiple points of view.
However, we understand that is not always possible.
If your fellow family members are not yet ready to come to counselling that does not mean there are not changes we can help you with that may make a significant difference to how your family dynamic works and how you feel about it.
Often when one or two members of the family take the leap and attend a session first, they can then report back positively to other members of the family and extend an invitation to other family members to attend the next sessions.
We are happy to give all family members room to move in and out of attendance at their own pace and comfort level. A gradual, unforced approach is always best.
Ideally your therapist will want to see all members of the family, both as a unit and during individual sessions in order to gain an understanding of all perspectives. Your therapist will want to understand the family issues from multiple points of view.
However, we understand that is not always possible.
If your fellow family members are not yet ready to come to counselling that does not mean there are not changes we can help you with that may make a significant difference to how your family dynamic works and how you feel about it.
Often when one or two members of the family take the leap and attend a session first, they can then report back positively to other members of the family and extend an invitation to other family members to attend the next sessions.
We are happy to give all family members room to move in and out of attendance at their own pace and comfort level. A gradual, unforced approach is always best.
paul's availabilites
* Mon-Thu: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
* Friday: 11:00 AM - 11PM
* Sat/Sun: Open by Request
* All requests welcome
* Friday: 11:00 AM - 11PM
* Sat/Sun: Open by Request
* All requests welcome
late night clinic
* Every Friday: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
* Our weekly, Friday night clinic caters for clients who find it hard to book their session during work hours.
* Requests for after hours appointments all week are most welcome.
* Our weekly, Friday night clinic caters for clients who find it hard to book their session during work hours.
* Requests for after hours appointments all week are most welcome.
remote sessions (phone/skype/FaceTime) by request
While we prefer to meet clients in person at our quiet consulting rooms, if life for you is extremely busy or if you live remotely / outside the general 3564 Echuca area (where our offices are) we offer Full Circle Skype / Facetime Therapy sessions for individuals (adults & adolescents), couples and families.
* Reduced Rates apply per 50 minute video session.
* Contact us to discuss.