Counselling and Psychotherapy in Mosman
ReFigure offers counselling and adult psychotherapy with John Coady, a Mental Health Social Worker with a Diploma in Adult Psychotherapy from ANZAP (the Australian & NZ Association of Psychotherapy). Sessions are one to one and confidential, at 18A Spit Road, Mosman, with the entrance around the corner on Brady Street. No referral is needed.
Who counselling is for
People come to counselling at all sorts of points in life. Some arrive with something particular in mind. Others simply want a regular hour to think out loud with someone outside their own circle. What people bring most often includes:
- A stretch of stress at work or at home
- Loss, grief, or the end of a relationship
- A major change such as a new role, a move, becoming a parent, or retirement
- Pressure inside a relationship, a family, or a team
- A wish to understand yourself and your own patterns better
That is a general picture rather than a checklist, and counselling here is not a diagnostic service. You do not need a label or a reason that sounds serious enough to make the call. If counselling is not the right fit for what you are dealing with, John will say so and help you work out where to go next.
Counselling and psychotherapy, what is the difference
The two words get used interchangeably, and in practice they overlap a great deal. The broad distinction is one of scope and timeframe.
Counselling usually describes shorter-term, focused work. You bring a particular situation, and the conversation stays largely with that situation and with what you want to do about it.
Psychotherapy usually describes longer-term relational work. Rather than staying with one situation, it looks at the patterns underneath it: how you relate to other people, how you came to relate that way, and what happens in the relationship between you and the therapist as you talk.
John works in both ways. Which one the work looks like is something the two of you settle between you as you go, not something fixed before you start.
What a session involves
A session is a conversation, one to one, in a private room at the Mosman clinic. Nothing physical is involved, and there is no paperwork to complete before you arrive.
A first session is mostly about orientation. John will ask what has brought you in and what you would like out of the work, and you will get a sense of how he works and whether it feels like a fit for you. You set the pace together. You decide what you talk about and what you leave for another day.
After that, sessions carry on as an ongoing conversation. How often you come, and how long you keep coming, are worked out between the two of you rather than set by a fixed program.
About John Coady
John Coady is a Mental Health Social Worker with a Diploma in Adult Psychotherapy from ANZAP (the Australian & NZ Association of Psychotherapy). As a counsellor and psychotherapist, he uses the therapeutic relationship to enable self-understanding and support meaningful change, integrating a range of modalities to suit each person and situation.
More on John's background, or meet the rest of the ReFigure team.
Booking a session
The clinic is open six days a week in Mosman. No referral needed. Call us, or send a message through the contact form and we will come back to you.
If you need urgent support
Counselling is not a crisis service. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. For 24 hour support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to see a counsellor?
No referral is needed, you can get in touch directly. If you are already working with a GP or another health professional, we are happy for your care to sit alongside theirs.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
The two words overlap. Counselling usually describes shorter-term work focused on a particular situation. Psychotherapy usually describes longer-term work that looks at underlying patterns and at the relationship between you and the therapist. John offers both, and the shape of the work is something you decide together.
Is what I talk about confidential?
Yes. Sessions are private and confidential. A small number of legal and ethical limits apply to confidentiality in any counselling setting, and they are something you can ask about at your first session. Our privacy policy sets out how the clinic handles personal information.
What happens in a first counselling session?
The first session is largely a conversation about what has brought you in and what you would like from the work. It is also a chance to get a sense of how John works and whether it feels like the right fit for you. You set the pace together, and you decide what you talk about.
How do I book a session with John?
Call the clinic on (02) 8937 2740 or send a message through the contact form and we will come back to you. The clinic is open six days a week in Mosman and no referral is needed.