Getting Started

Before your first session

The first session is a gentle space to begin building trust and understanding. Stacey will invite you to share a little about what brings you to therapy, whether it’s a particular experience, a feeling, or a general sense of overwhelm. You may also explore aspects of your daily life, relationships, and background to better understand what you’re seeking. There’s no rush or pressure, you move at the pace that feels safe for you.

You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin therapy. Often, people seek psychotherapy because they feel unhappy, disconnected, or overwhelmed without a clear reason why. Through gentle conversation and exploration, we often uncover underlying causes that may have been hidden beneath the surface. Bringing these into awareness can be the first powerful step toward healing.

Not at all. Seeking therapy doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you — it means you’re investing in your own growth, healing, and wellbeing. Therapy can be a powerful space for exploration and self-discovery at any stage of life, not just in moments of crisis. You don’t have to be at breaking point to seek support. Many people begin therapy to deepen their connection with themselves, build resilience, or navigate life transitions with greater clarity.

Sometimes, when the people around you misunderstand therapy, it reflects their own discomfort with vulnerability, change, or emotional exploration. Your decision to seek support is a personal and empowering choice. Choosing therapy is about strengthening your relationship with yourself, not about meeting anyone else’s expectations. You are welcome here exactly as you are, without judgement. Your healing journey belongs to you.

No referral is required. You can access support directly without needing to see a GP first, without a mental health care plan, and without a diagnosis. This means no waiting lists, no session caps, and no need for your mental health history to be recorded in medical files. You can simply book a free discovery call and we’ll take it from there.

About Therapy

How therapy works at Liberty

Psychotherapy explores longstanding emotional patterns, relationship dynamics, and the impact of past experiences. It can help with a wide range of concerns including:

Mental health: Anxiety, depression, PTSD, panic attacks, burnout, emotional dysregulation, grief and loss, loneliness, and identity concerns.

Relationships & attachment: Interpersonal conflict, codependency, fear of intimacy, family dynamics, generational trauma, trust and boundary issues, and difficulty forming meaningful connections.

Trauma & adverse experiences: Childhood abuse or neglect, domestic violence, sexual assault, medical or birth trauma, first responder and military trauma, complex PTSD, and developmental trauma.

Life transitions: Career changes, relationship breakdown, health diagnoses, becoming a parent, relocation, retirement, and loss of purpose or identity.

Behavioural patterns: Substance use, perfectionism, people-pleasing, self-worth struggles, disordered eating, and difficulty making decisions.

The number of sessions depends on your personal goals, needs, and circumstances. Some people attend a few sessions for focused support; others find ongoing work helpful for deeper healing and growth. After the first session, Stacey may suggest a pathway forward, but ultimately you decide what feels right. You’re never locked into a set number of sessions.

Yes. Everything shared in sessions is treated with the utmost respect and confidentiality. There are some rare legal and ethical exceptions — such as risk of harm to yourself or others — which Stacey will discuss with you during the initial consultation to ensure you feel fully informed and safe.

Yes. Stacey is a registered practitioner with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and works in accordance with their Code of Ethics and Practice. She is also a certified Gottman Method couples therapist and a registered NDIS provider. As part of her registration, she engages in ongoing professional development and receives regular clinical supervision.

Yes. Secure telehealth sessions are available via encrypted video for anyone on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, or across Australia. Online therapy uses the same approach, same session length, and the same therapist — just from wherever you’re comfortable. Many clients alternate between in-person and online depending on their week.

Fees & Practical Details

Costs, rebates, and bookings

Session fees vary depending on the type of service and length of appointment. Please see the booking page for current rates.

As a psychotherapist registered with PACFA, sessions are not currently eligible for Medicare rebates under a Mental Health Care Plan. However, if you have private health insurance with extras cover, you may be able to claim rebates for counselling and psychotherapy. PACFA currently has agreements with Medibank, AHM, Bupa, HCF, and ARHG. Check with your health fund for your specific eligibility.

While Medicare rebates are not available, there are important benefits to seeing a PACFA-registered psychotherapist:

No referral required — you can access support directly, without seeing a GP or joining a waiting list.

No diagnosis necessary — your therapy doesn’t require diagnostic criteria or your mental health history recorded in medical files.

No session caps — sessions are tailored to your needs without the limitations of government frameworks or the 10-session cap that applies to Medicare plans.

Yes. Liberty is a registered NDIS provider. We accept self-managed and plan-managed participants. Psychotherapy typically falls under the “Improved Daily Living” (Capacity Building) category. If you’re unsure whether your plan includes funding for psychotherapy, we can help you check during the discovery call. Learn more about NDIS counselling at Liberty.

Due to limited appointment availability, full payment is required at the time of booking. Cancellations or rescheduling require 24 hours’ notice. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice may result in a retained booking fee. If an appointment is transferred, this can be done once; thereafter, the full fee may be retained.

Liberty Psychotherapy is located at 9/61 Burnett Street, Buderim QLD 4556 — in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. Free parking is available on site. We see clients from across the region including Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Caloundra, Nambour, Sippy Downs, Palmwoods, and Noosa. Online sessions are available for clients in Brisbane and anywhere in Australia.

Ready to start individual therapy with someone who actually understands?

Book a free 15-minute discovery call with a Sunshine Coast therapist who’s been where you are. No commitment, just a conversation.