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Choices Therapy
Psychotherapy & Family Counselling
Text me!
Please feel welcome to send me a text! I always have my phone on me and a text message reduces the chances that your email will be lost to the Junk Folder, which can delay my reply.
You can send me a message at any time, and I will endeavour to reply by COB.
My phone number is 0490 769 390.
You can send me a message at any time, and I will endeavour to reply by COB.
My phone number is 0490 769 390.
About Me
Welcome!
My name is Amylia and I am the owner and counsellor at Choices Therapy. I am registered with the Australian Counselling Association and have 8 years of clinical experience working with adults and couples.
Counselling is my passion. I see therapy as an opportunity for constructive conversation; a dedicated time for therapist and client to collaborate in an effort to create balanced mental health and wellbeing. We will focus on emotional intelligence, healthy boundaries, and effective interpersonal skills (communication and conflict management) to facilitate growth and resilience for years to come.
Over my years of practice I have made the decision to use an integrated therapeutic approach. This means that I am able to customise each session to provide my clients with the most rewarding therapeutic experience possible.
Fair warning! I like direct communication and understanding the 'why' so that we can work on the 'what'. If you would like a soft or gentle therapist, I am not going to be the therapist for you (they are out there, it's not me). I like to call a spade a spade, identify uncomfortable truths, play Devil's advocate, and challenge ideas and beliefs where necessary and beneficial for your development.
Be Kind. Be Well.
- Amylia Smith
Master of Counselling
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
Member of The Australian Counselling Association - Level 3 11151
My name is Amylia and I am the owner and counsellor at Choices Therapy. I am registered with the Australian Counselling Association and have 8 years of clinical experience working with adults and couples.
Counselling is my passion. I see therapy as an opportunity for constructive conversation; a dedicated time for therapist and client to collaborate in an effort to create balanced mental health and wellbeing. We will focus on emotional intelligence, healthy boundaries, and effective interpersonal skills (communication and conflict management) to facilitate growth and resilience for years to come.
Over my years of practice I have made the decision to use an integrated therapeutic approach. This means that I am able to customise each session to provide my clients with the most rewarding therapeutic experience possible.
Fair warning! I like direct communication and understanding the 'why' so that we can work on the 'what'. If you would like a soft or gentle therapist, I am not going to be the therapist for you (they are out there, it's not me). I like to call a spade a spade, identify uncomfortable truths, play Devil's advocate, and challenge ideas and beliefs where necessary and beneficial for your development.
Be Kind. Be Well.
- Amylia Smith
Master of Counselling
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
Member of The Australian Counselling Association - Level 3 11151
Make Therapy Work for You
Not every therapist is for every client. Not every client is for every therapist.
My goal is to give you the best therapeutic experience that I can. This means being clear with my therapeutic strengths as well as transprent about the areas that fall outside of my scope of expertise so that you find find your therapeutic 'best fit'.
I will be GREAT for you if you want to...:
... develop your communication skills.
... learn how to set and implement boundaries.
... work on your relationship individually or with your partner.
... learn how to effectively manage conflict.
... understand and work through anxiety.
... challenge and reframe negative/anxious self-talk.
... reflect on life experiences and gain perspective and understanding.
If you require support in any of the areas listed below, please see The ACA website and use the 'Find A Counsellor' tab to search for your requirements. CLICK HERE
I will not be a good fit for you if you...:
... have moderate/severe depression or are self-harming/suicidal.
... are seeking support for addiction or substance use/abuse.
... are experiencing Domestic Violence.
60% of the benefits that you will receive from therapy come from:
A. The relationship you have with your therapist,
B. Your belief that the therapist can help you, and
C. The techniques and models that the therapist uses during sessions.
To ensure that you get value and benefit from your therapy experience, look for what I call 'The Three Cs of Counselling' and you can't go wrong:
Choose someone who specialises in your required field (COMPETENCY), who you can connect with (CONNECTION), and who can communicate with you effectively (COMMUNICATION).
Two out of three 'ain't good enough! You may get a 'good', 'alright', or 'decent' experience with one or two. If you want 'wow', 'exceptional', 'transformative', and 'life changing' you want to go for the trifecta. Look around, and don't be disheartened if it takes a few tries. I promise the patience will be worth it. Once you find your fit, you can have a therapist for life. What do I mean by that? I don't mean someone that you will speak to once a week for the rest of your life, or even once a month; absolutely not! Any good therapist will want to work towards making themselves redundant. There may be periods of consistency where challenges are faced, but ultimately you will be able to wean it down to annual check ins and spontaneous tune ups.
Consultations & Services
Couple Work
Consultations for couples to work together and learn new skills to support your relationship. 60 mins.
Learn MoreChild Development Course
123 Magic & Emotion Coaching - a course that can be conducted as a group or a 1:1 coaching environment where you will learn about child development and strategies to manage difficult/unwanted behaviour in children aged 2-12 years old.
Learn MoreRelationship Assessment Course
Following the Prepare-Enrich course, couples will complete a comprehensive online quiz and work with me to enhance their strengths and work on areas of growth.
Learn MoreFeatures
Learn how to appreciate moments of conflict and harness them to strengthen your relationship.
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Setting limits can feel really uncomfortable, which means a lot of people shift their boundaries to avoid feeling the discomfort that can come with disappointing people. This handout provides you with tips on how you can say no without feeling guilty.
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Learn about the different types of love based on the presence and absence of 3 factors - passion, commitment, and intimacy.
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Press pause on the world around you and take the time talk. What's going well? What do you want to work on? An hour a week is all it takes to learn the answers that can save your relationship.
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Resources
F.A.Qs.
What can I expect out of psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy (counselling) is a collaborative process between you (and your partner if it's couple counselling) and a psychotherapist.
During your first appointment you will tell the therapist what you want to work on during your sessions, and your therapist will offer a general framework that will help achieve the goal.
From this point you will engage in talk therapy to address the issues that you feel are impacting your life and wellbeing. During this stage, your therapist may identify additional areas of relevance, however the focus of sessions will be largely guided by you.
Your therapist will very likely encourage you to challenge your comfort zone. This will be accomplished by establishing healthy coping strategies and solid means of emotional regulation, and confronting those behaviours which can limit your quality of life and heighten mental health concerns.
During your first appointment you will tell the therapist what you want to work on during your sessions, and your therapist will offer a general framework that will help achieve the goal.
From this point you will engage in talk therapy to address the issues that you feel are impacting your life and wellbeing. During this stage, your therapist may identify additional areas of relevance, however the focus of sessions will be largely guided by you.
Your therapist will very likely encourage you to challenge your comfort zone. This will be accomplished by establishing healthy coping strategies and solid means of emotional regulation, and confronting those behaviours which can limit your quality of life and heighten mental health concerns.
How many sessions will I need?
The short answer is that it depends on the complexity of the issues that you want to discuss. Generally speaking the first three sessions will be spent establishing a "game plan"
- Intake: The first session is spent collecting background information and outlining a goal
- Session 2-3: Depending on the complexity of the details raised during intake, it may be necessary to carryover into session 2. By the end of sessions 2 and 3 you should get a good idea of whether or not your practitioner is a good fit for you and whether or not you wish to continue working with them.
- Subsequent sessions: These appointments will be spent processing your presenting issues, consolidating skills/strategies, and troubleshooting any developing concerns.
What is the difference between seeing a psychotherapist (counsellor) and a psychologist?
Psychotherapist/Counsellor
Psychologist
- They have the ability to support clients with diagnosed mild-moderate mental illness (they are not involved in the diagnosis itself)
- They will take more of a "listen to understand" approach to your concerns and explore options to improve your wellbeing and walk the path to achieving your goals.
- They have the ability to recognise common symptoms of certain mental illnesses that may require consultation with a GP or psychologist
Psychologist
- They have the skills of the psychotherapist, as well as a clinical expertise in mental illnesses and disorders
- They have training in the assessment and diagnosis of mental illnesses and disorders
- They have the ability to support you with more severe mental health concerns and mental illnesses
How do I make an appointment?
There are a number of ways that you can book an appointment. The most direct option is to book online or at the end of each session, however there are other options to choose from if your availability is more flexible.
- Text message
- Phone call
- At the end of the current appointment
- Book online
How frequently do I need to have sessions?
This answer can depend on a number of things:
- The stage of therapy that you are in: I recommend that the first few sessions are completed on a weekly basis. Eventually you will find that appointments can be booked on an as-need basis (this could be weeks, months, or even years).
- The complexity of the issue: The more complex issues - trauma, abuse, relationship concerns - tend to benefit from appointments that are closer together. This means that you and your therapist are able to establish therapeutic momentum within the sessions, and you have regular emotional support to navigate feelings and memories that may resurface from therapy.
- Finances: Where possible, commit to your first 2-3 appointments occurring within a week of each other, and then spread out the the subsequent sessions in a way that matches your financial circumstances.
What is the difference between mental health and mental illness?
Mental health
An individual's mental state and overall psychological, social, and emotional wellbeing. It can impact a variety of aspects of the individual's life, including:
Mental illness
A diagnosed condition that affects the individual's thoughts, feelings, moods, and behaviours. For example:
An individual's mental state and overall psychological, social, and emotional wellbeing. It can impact a variety of aspects of the individual's life, including:
- Self esteem
- Job satisfaction
- Emotional regulation
- Decision making
- Relationships
- Social interactions
Mental illness
A diagnosed condition that affects the individual's thoughts, feelings, moods, and behaviours. For example:
- Severe anxiety
- Severe depression
- Bipolar
- Schizophrenia
- Eating disorders
- Borderline personality disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Post traumatic stress disorder