Your mental health should be in your control. You don’t need a referral or mental health treatment plan to start working with soft story if you are paying for yourself.

If you are hoping to be funded via the Victorian schemes of WorkCover, TAC or Victims of Crime/Financial Assistance Scheme, contact me for next steps.

We know that life doesn’t always go as expected. And our approach to cancellations helps us ensure our practice is sustainable while giving you flexibility.

We send appointment reminders by sms and email 3 days before each appointment, and ask that you cancel within 24 hours of receiving that sms.

During this time, cancellations or changes in bookings can be made without a fee up. In other words, 48 hours prior to your session.

Less than 48 hours notice of a change in your booking will incur a cancellation fee of 25% of your scheduled appointment.

We offer each client 1 cancellation before we charge this fee.

And we know life can throw us curve-balls, so soft story may make exceptions under emergency circumstances.

This fee will be charged automatically.

Sessions between 9-5 don’t work for everyone. We want to make sure we can fit your schedule.

At the moment, soft story can book appointments during these times

• Tuesdays 10am - 7pm

• Wednesday 3.30pm - 7pm

• Fridays 10am - 5pm

• Saturdays 11am - 4pm

Hopefully one of them works for you!

Fair question.

I’m a white settler, so regardless of what I think of my ability to work with people from different experiences, I live alongside you in a world shaped by white supremacy, queerphobia, ableism and capitalism.

Unlearning these ways of being, doing, and seeing is an ongoing process.

I opt for therapeutic modalities that sit outside of the mainstream, such as Narrative Therapy, Intentional Peer Support, and body-based somatics. I am comitted to ongoing learning of such modalities to best serve you.

I actively seek peer reflection to aid in this unlearning, self-directed learning, and am always keen for feedback.

Click here to book in a no-strings-attached 30 minute intro call to see if you’re a good fit.

At soft story, we’re justice oriented. This means we don’t get to define what access means. We commit to working alongside you to help make therapy meaningful to you.

Some ways we’ve increased accessibility include

• sending reminders of appointment times,

• using visuals to aid the therapeutic process instead of just talking,

• sending session summaries to help you remember what we talk about,

• additional support setting up telehealth systems,

• inclusion of a support person, family member or friend in sessions or in communications,

• being open to spiritual or unseen experiences like hearing voices.

If your access needs aren’t listed here, feel free to reach out and discuss them. We’ll do our best to meet them.

Our first conversation

A short, no-cost intro call to get to know each other and talk about what you’re looking for.

I’ll let you know during the intro call, or shortly after via email, we’d be a good fit. If I think I’m not the best person to work with you, they I can direct you towards alternative services that are more tailored to you.

Before we meet again

After our intro call, I encourage you to take some time to think about if you felt aligned with me.

You will receive an email from me which includes all that is required for moving forward together.

If and when you are ready to book in a session, we can find a time that suits you.

Our first full-length session

Most people choose a standard length session as their first session. in this session, we will delve a little deeper than our introductory call. We will

• get transparent about our policies

• speak more about what brought you to soft story

• discuss what you are looking to get out of our sessions together.

Going through this information allows us to build a well informed path forward, together and ensure we’re on the same page.

In-between sessions

Where the magic happens.

Depending on what works for you, you might take time to reflect on our sessions or implement strategies and skills we talk about.

You do not need a referral or a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) to book an appointment. A MHTP is subsidised by Medicare for psychologists, occupational therapists, and some social workers.

We do our best to provide financial accessibility outside of medicare in order to provide the best care we can for our community.