Counselling -

Counselling for Individuals and Couples

Life doesn’t always go to plan. Sometimes it’s one big event, like a loss, a breakup, or a change at work. Sometimes it’s a slow build-up of stress until things feel heavier than they should. Whatever has brought you here, Sunny Coast Counselling offers a nurturing, non-judgemental, safe space to talk it through and work out what comes next.

We work with individuals and couples on the Sunshine Coast, and online and by phone across Australia and New Zealand.

Individual counselling

Individual counselling is time that’s just for you. It’s a chance to say what’s really going on, without worrying about being judged or having to look after anyone else’s feelings.

People come to counselling for many reasons, including:

stress, worry and anxiety
feeling low, flat or stuck
grief and loss
big life changes, such as separation, retirement, a move or a new role
losing sight of what matters to you
relationship difficulties, even when your partner isn’t coming along
wanting to understand yourself better

You don’t need to have it all worked out before you book. Some of my clients arrive knowing exactly what they want to change. Others just know that something isn’t right. Both are a good place to start.

Couples counselling

Even strong relationships go through hard times. Couples counselling gives you both a neutral space to slow down, really hear each other, and find a way forward together.

Couples often come to see me about:

communication that keeps turning into arguments, or into silence
the same conflict coming up again and again
trust that has been damaged
drifting apart, or feeling more like flatmates than partners
adjusting to change, such as a new baby, blended family, illness or retirement
deciding whether, and how, to stay together

My role isn’t to take sides or decide who’s right. It’s to help you both understand what’s happening between you and build the skills to handle it differently.

How I work

At the centre of everything I do is you, your story and what you’d like to achieve. In our first session, I’ll take time to understand where you are now and where you’d like to be. From there, I draw on approaches that suit you and your goals:

Person-Centred Counselling, which builds on your own strengths and puts you in charge of the direction of our work.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which helps you handle difficult thoughts and feelings more flexibly, so you can spend more of your energy on the things that matter most to you.
Solution-Focused Therapy, which looks at your present and future rather than dwelling on the past, and helps you identify the skills and resources you already have to reach your goals.

In person, online or by phone

We offer sessions in a way that fits your life:

In person on the Sunshine Coast
Online via Zoom or Teams, for clients anywhere in Australia or New Zealand
By telephone, for clients anywhere in Australia or New Zealand

Online and phone sessions can be a good option if you live outside the area, have a busy schedule, or simply feel more comfortable talking from home. For couples, it also means you can both join from different locations if you need to.

Fees

Individual counselling: $150 per 60-minute session
Couples counselling: $200 per 60-minute session

Sunny Coast Counselling is a registered provider with a number of private health funds, so you may be able to claim a rebate on your sessions. Cover varies between funds and policies, so it’s best to check with your fund first. You’ll find the list of funds we’re registered with on our Health Funds page.

Find out more

If you’d like to read more about specific areas I work in, these pages go into more detail:

Take the first step

Reaching out can be the hardest part. Your first session is a chance to see whether we’re a good fit, with no pressure to commit to more.

Book your first session

Prefer to talk first? Call 0406 547 914 or email john@sunnycoastcounselling.com.au.

I’m here to hear you.