Frequently asked questions.

FAQs.

Before your session you are likely to have a few questions or concerns. You will find some answers to common questions here. If you'd like to ask something specific, do get in touch.

Common Questions

  • You can attend an appointment in person at my room at 32 Myers Street or via video call. Please specify your preferred location at the time of booking.

  • You can book via our booking page here. If you cannot find a suitable appointment time or have questions about my availability, please contact me to discuss 0459 625 110.

    Online payment is required at the time of booking unless other arrangements have been made between us.

  • You can change or cancel your appointment up to 48 hours before your appointment time. A full refund will be provided for appointments cancelled with 48 hours or more notice. For appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours notice, a 50% refund will be provided. Appointments cancelled within 24 hours will be charged at the full session fee as we will be unable to fill your place. Thank you for your understanding.

  • Appointments are typically 60 minutes in length. The fee for a standard psychotherapy and counselling session is $130 AUD. Meditation coaching is also $130 AUD. Couple sessions or after-hours appointments are $170. 75 and 90 minute appointments available on request. Contact Beth for information.

  • Unfortunately, it is not currently possible to claim a Medicare rebate for either meditation or psychotherapy unless these services are offered by a psychologist (which I am not). If you have an NDIS plan it may be possible to use your funding for either service. Please speak with your plan manager or contact me to discuss your options.

  • We are on the Ground Floor and there is one step at the front door. If you require any assistance from your car do let me know and I will be happy to help you.

  • How long is a piece of string? It varies. For some people, just two to four sessions might help shift their perspective enough to bring a sense of peace and insight. For others this is long term work spanning several months to years. The frequency of sessions is always up to you. Though I may make suggestions based on what we discuss together, you will never be pressured to book.

  • This is a very common question. The differences are subtle. Read this short article.

Psychotherapy & Counselling related questions

  • At the beginning of a session, you will discuss your experience of meditation and why you are wanting to learn to meditate.

    We will then explore several meditation techniques to find what works best for you. These may include mindfulness practices, mantra, breathwork and body-based meditations.

    We usually sit in comfortable chairs but you will also have the option to lie down or sit on a cushion if this is your preference. You don’t need to wear any special clothing or sit cross-legged.

    My approach is secular and free of overly spiritual concepts or jargon. This is not because I don’t value these approaches, but because my intention is to empower you to trust your own process in meditation and find your own language to describe your meditative experiences.

    Reflecting on your meditations is encouraged as this helps to strengthen your ability to meta-communicate – i.e. gain awareness of your inner life and talk about your experiences. Literature suggests that people who have greater self-awareness and capacities for reflection experience greater success in therapy. Whether you attend therapy or not, these are useful capacities to develop for a healthy emotional and relational life. If you can talk about your thoughts and feelings this will improve your relationship with yourself and others.

  • This is completely up to you. You might want to try one or two sessions and see what you think.

    In order to develop a regular meditation habit, it would be beneficial to attend 4-6 sessions spaced out weekly to fortnightly. The effectiveness of meditation is dose dependent. If you do it regularly you will notice the benefits. If you do it once in a while you may notice a short term benefit but will be unlikely to experience anything long lasting.

    You may also consider attending one of my meditation courses to complement your 1:1 coaching. Please see www.geelongmeditationcentre.com.au for details of upcoming courses.

  • I primarily offer mindfulness meditation techniques but may also introduce mantra, visualisation and compassion practices depending on your needs and interests. My approach is secular however I would like to acknowledge the Eastern traditions from which the meditation techniques I offer derive, including Buddhism. I may refer to the Buddhist teachings within our sessions as the philosophy can be supportive for your understanding what you are doing and why.

  • Yes. I offer courses on meditation and a regular practice group via my business Geelong Meditation Centre. See our website or contact me for more information.

  • The terms Mindfulness and Meditation are often conflated and confused. Mindfulness is a way of purposefully using your present-moment awareness that can be applied to any activity. Meditation is an intentional practice that usually includes the attentional quality of mindfulness. Mindfulness meditation is a method of developing your ability to be mindfully aware both in meditation and in your daily life.

Meditation coaching related questions

“The idea (of therapy) isn’t to give people answers, or lead their bark of longing into a safe, dull, protected harbor, but to make them aware of the depths of possibility in their hearts and lives; help them remove the barriers that keep them from being the people they were meant to be.

– John O’Donohue