Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can speak with someone from our team from the comfort of your own home. A reminder email will be sent to your inbox with session details and logins. It’s important to choose a place and time where you will have privacy and few distractions to get the most out of your session.
If you have any further questions or concerns we would love to hear from you. Get in touch via our online form or contact us directly by email admin@habourtherapyclinic.com.au or phone +612 6652 1120
If you require accessible spaces, they are available at the Earl Street Clinic. Unfortunately our Jetty Clinic has a flight of stairs at the entrance. Let us know when booking so we can choose the best location for your visit.
The Jetty Clinic and Earl Street Clinic are open between 8am and 7pm, depending on which practitioner you are seeing. Our practitioners can be flexible with your needs. Get in touch to request an appointment.
We share a vision of whole person wellness; body and mind. Our team unites a diversity of expertise to offer an integrative approach to health. Therapy has many manifestations and modalities. Therapy is talking, listening, questioning, reflecting, receiving, creating, moving, and being still.
Harbour Therapy Clinic:
Counselling & Psychotherapy, Trauma Informed Counselling, Existential Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Relationships & Couples Counselling, Group Therapy, Somatic Therapies, Family and Parenting Therapy, Child Therapy and Art Therapy.
Wellness Studio:
Yoga, Pilates, Meditation & Mindfulness, Acupuncture & Shiatsu, Qi Gong, Naturopathy, Nutrition, Massage Body Work, and Energy Healing. We also offer therapeutic group work and community events.
The Clinic is located at 364a Harbour Dr, Coffs Harbour. Enter via stairway on Harbour Dr next to Old John’s Cafe. Follow signs to find your suite. Parking on street or across the road at Jetty Shopping Centre.
The Wellness Studio is located at 35 Orlando St, Coffs Harbour. Enter via front gate on Orlando St. Parking on street or across the road at Cooper Surf.
The Professional Practice Centre is located at 10 Earl Street. Parking on street or across the road at Brelsford Park.
Yes, we are currently accepting new clients, and can help you find the practitioner who is best suited to your needs. We have many pathways into therapy including private payments, Medicare referrals,Victims Services NSW, NDIS, EAP and private health fund rebates. Our private practice structure means you can avoid lengthy wait times and have more frequent sessions.
Yes, all practitioners at Harbour Therapy Clinic have completed accredited training at university level. Each practitioner belongs to a recognised professional association that has a complaints procedure and requires its members to adhere to a code of ethics and engage in ongoing clinical supervision.
We are proud to have a diverse team of therapists, many of whom identify with queer identities or cultural preferences. While we will be honoured to try and match you to a therapist with a similar personal experience, in cases where this is not possible, we can match you to a therapist with particular professional expertise to meet your needs.
Absolutely. Recent evidence shows that clients prefer to determine the direction of their therapy. Some common preferences are:
I want a more free-flowing experience
Allow me to find my own way
I’d like a gentle approach
Teach me skills to deal with my problems
I want to be challenged
I have a specific goal or concern to talk through
I need a little more structure in my therapy session
This is a very common question and our answer is—yes. Our therapists are mature and knowledgeable, and trained to address the most complex situations without judgement.
The teen years can be tricky, as young people move towards relying on peers rather than parents. The reality is, your teenager is not the problem. Difficult dynamics are created by all members of the family. Our therapists work to improve the health of the whole system, and bring about positive changes for all.
Both practice psychotherapy however, psychologists undertake a behavioural science degree and then go on to develop clinical skills in their postgraduate training. Traditionally they practice focussed psychological strategies, for example CBT. A psychotherapist is required to learn through theory taken from both psychology and philosophy, but also gain experience by undertaking their own personal therapeutic work, engaging in professional practice, and observing others engage in therapy. Both develop their own integrative style and preferred modalities.
It’s best to start together in order to ensure each partner feels comfortable. On occasion, your therapist might recommend an individual session, but this is always arranged respectfully so that trust and safety is fostered.
You can see our therapists to assist with a range of issues from challenging eating behaviours to parenting with emotional intelligence. We also offer yoga classes for families which provide fun ways to connect and regulate emotions.
Yes, we have several practitioners dedicated to working with young people, in fact, they love it and have creative ways of engaging and making therapy something to look forward to.
Sessions can be a mix of whole family sessions, parent sessions, and child sessions. The first session is for the whole family, and allows us to assess the dynamics at work.
Our intake team takes the time to match you with the right therapist. We are committed to understanding client preferences for therapy and are experts in knowing which professional best meets your needs. We also consider your availability for specific days and times, funding options, and any accessibility requirements.
Individual therapy sessions go for the standard 50 minutes. The first session can sometimes be a bit longer - between 75 and 90 mins. If clients are in need of a shorter time or need a break throughout the session our practitioners will happily accommodate those needs. Couples counselling runs for 90 minutes for the first session then hourly sessions after that.
The answer to this is different for everyone. Some clients prefer short-term solutions focussed therapy and some prefer developing a longer term relationship and incorporating therapy into their lives. Some come in crisis and may require more frequent sessions initially, and then slow down as they progress. We can help you find a path forward that suits you.
Your therapist will most likely ask you in the first session what you would like to achieve out of your time together. They may also ask about your preferences, such as whether you want to work on past issues or would prefer to concentrate on what is happening for your right now. It helps to have some idea about what led you to reaching out and booking a session, but if it’s your first time, you may have more questions than answers. Don’t worry, your therapist is there for you and will gently guide you along the way.
At Harbour Therapy Clinic, we welcome and embrace diversity. Our therapists love working with rainbow families.
Our practitioners have expertise in everything from day-to-day problem solving to providing treatments for clinical conditions. We offer guidance to support you to reach your full potential, and create a life which feels purposeful and authentic to you. We offer support in many areas including: Depression, Anxiety, Addiction, Eating Disorders, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Insomnia, Stress, Disability, Relationships, Intimacy, Gender & Sexuality, Parenting, Grief & Loss, Life Transitions, Cultural Dislocation, Child Sexual Assault, Trauma, and PTSD.
Absolutely! Many couples decide that they want to change the status of their relationship from being romantic to one of friendship or co-parenting. The healthiest and most effective way to make this transition is with the support of a therapist. Let us help you establish good communication and healthy boundaries.
It is common for one partner to be more active in seeking help. In our experience, all partners want things to improve but the process can be confronting. It’s okay to come on your own to develop tools to be the best partner you can be and to work toward a better relationship.
Play comes as naturally to children - as speaking does for adults - and in play therapy, toys, games, and activities are used like words. Through play, drawing, and storytelling, children reveal their underlying concerns and find ways to create their own solutions.
If your child is experiencing difficulties with coping with significant life events, this will be revealed by a change in behaviour. For children, behaviour is communication, and it may be that they are signalling that they need extra support. Early intervention is key to supporting healthy development.
Each child has their own unique way of expressing their needs, strengths, and developing areas. Does your child prefer talking, playing, moving or creating? Get in touch and we can help you identify the best way forward.
Trauma-informed therapies are therapeutic practices characterised by safety, collaboration, trustworthiness, communication, choice and cultural respect. All services offered by Harbour Therapy Clinic are trauma-informed, at every step.
Yes! Arrange your next ideal date with our practitioners. Our team offers sessions outside of normal working hours. We understand that people are busy and believe that therapy should fit into your life.
Contact us directly on (02) 6652 1120, email us at admin@harbourtherapyclinic.com.au or fill out the Enquiry Form for more information about therapy and counselling. We’d love to help you find the right support.
To cancel a therapy appointment, give us a call on +612 6652 1120 or send an email to admin@harbourtherapyclinic.com.au.
If you are not feeling well, please stay at home. Help us keep you safe. If you would still like to have your session, telehealth options are available.
We ask for 48 hours notice for your cancellation and charge the full fee if you cancel within 48 hours of your service.
Unfortunately at this stage we are unable to bulk bill, however we do have a range of available fees and concession rates available. A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) organised by your GP can give you access to Medicare rebates where available. You may also be able to receive funding through Victims Services NSW. Our Professional Practice Centre offers affordable student and intern led sessions. Enquire with the team to see if you are eligible for these reduced rate sessions.
Depending on the service you are booking there are a range of options.
Payment for therapy sessions and eligible Medicare rebates are generally processed by our online booking system, Halaxy. We will collect your credit card details at the time of booking and securely store them in our system. Prepayment is taken for the initial session. If you are eligible for NDIS we will request your information process payments via your plan manager. Any EAP sessions are paid for by your employer but your name remains confidential.
The cost of therapy varies from practitioner to practitioner, with fees ranging from $180 - $220 per session. The cost for couples therapy is $220 per session. We require all initial appointments to be prepaid.
For some of our practitioners, Medicare rebates are accessible through a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) organised by your GP. Please note there is no access to Medicare rebates or private insurance for couples therapy. Payment of the full fee is required before the Medicare rebate can be processed. We also offer supports covered by the NDIS. Some employers provide funding under our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Some of our services, such as massage and therapy, are covered. You can find out if the practitioner is registered with your fund at the time of booking.
Sadly, this is not currently possible. We encourage you to consider it a shared investment, and much less expensive than complicated separations.
Your child can access all of our therapies and services through the NDIS if they are self-managed or plan-managed.
The NDIS is Australia’s first national scheme for people with disability. It provides funding directly to individuals. Contact the NDIS to find out more about the eligibility criteria, available supports, and how to apply.
After paying the full amount, submit the invoice from your registered practitioner to your fund to obtain reimbursement. Each fund has different rebates depending upon your plan.
All our services are accessible under the NDIS, if they are supported by your NDIS plan.
We have a range of hire space options across three locations in Coffs Harbour. Hire rates vary depending on the space. Please enquire to receive our HTC Venue Hire Pack to learn more.
Permanent Hire: Secure a room with our permanent hire space option and build your practice through our large client lists and in-house referrals.
Casual Hire: Book a space or rent a room on a casual basis to gain access to all our equipment and benefit from our central location and our advertising offerings.
Single Hire: Book our spaces for a one-off event, training, or workshop. You can hire individual spaces including the Treatment Rooms, Consult Rooms, Mindful Movement Studio, Kitchen Veranda & Outdoor Garden Space. The entire venue is also available to hire for a private event.