What Is Mental Health Counselling With Dr Ellie Kirk

On Episode 2 of Forethought: A Mental Health Podcast we are joined by Dr Ellie Kirk to discuss what counsellors actually do and what you can expect out of a typical session.

Joel Anderson
Mental Health & Wellbeing
8 min read
What Is Mental Health Counselling With Dr Ellie Kirk

Share Resource

Forethought: A Mental Health Podcast - Episode 2

On Episode 2 of Forethought we are lucky to be joined by Dr Ellie Kirk to unpack her journey to becoming a counsellor, what counsellors actually do, what you can expect out of a typical session and what is the difference between a counsellor vs a psychologist vs a psychiatrist.We unpack that counselling isn’t what you see in Good Will Hunting along with some tips and tricks that can help you on your mental health journey, including signs to look for in a mate who might be struggling and how to have a that initial conversation.You can contact Ellie at her website Let’s Grow Counselling.

Joel's image

Hello 👋 I’m Joel the founder of Foremind.
Are you ready for simplified support & compliance?

Book a demo

Latest insights

See all posts

Answers to the frequently asked questions.

Still have questions?

Email us at enquiries@foremind.com.au and we'll get back to you  quickly with a response

Foremind offers multilingual support, with professionals available in languages including Spanish, Portuguese, mandarin, vietnamese and Persian

All counsellors must apply to the role and are interviewed before added to the platform, must meet the criteria as per the below.- We employee counsellors, mental health social workers, mental health nurses and psychotherapists.- Qualifications in Counselling, Psychotherapy or Social Work, minimum Bachelor or Masters qualification- Minimum 3 years direct practice experience post graduation- Registration with appropriate body – PACFA Clinical registration, ACA level 2 minimum, Accredited Mental health Social worker or Clinical Social worker- Broad experience providing individual coaching, counselling and support for personal and work-related issues- How far reaching is your EAP? We have counsellors located in every major city in Australia.

What is the difference between counsellors and psychologists? 1. Qualifications & Training - Counsellor: Typically holds a Diploma or Master’s degree in counselling, or psychotherapy. Their training is focused on practical techniques for supporting mental health and well-being.- Psychologist: Requires a Master’s or Doctorate degree in psychology and must be registered with a AHPRA Their training includes clinical assessments, diagnosis, and therapy.2. Scope of Practice- Counsellor: Provides talk therapy and guidance for life challenges like stress, anxiety, work issues, and relationships. They help clients develop coping strategies but do not diagnose mental disorders.- Psychologist: Can provide therapy like a counsellor but also conducts clinical assessments, diagnoses mental health disorders, and uses evidence-based treatments like CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).3. Who Should You See?- If someone needs support for personal or work-related challenges, a counsellor is often enough.- If someone is experiencing mental health concerns, like depression, PTSD, or needs a formal diagnosis, a psychologist is more appropriate.

- Counsellors only offer f2f after the initial consult.- At Foremind, all face-to-face sessions must begin with an initial online session.- The initial online session gives your counsellor the opportunity to explain exactly how their face-to-face sessions work, what options are available, and to ensure everything is properly scheduled. This helps avoid confusion and makes sure you get the best experience possible.- For sales team info; @Dylan This is because our system currently doesn't allow therapists to list separate locations and availability for face-to-face sessions, and many of our counsellors offer in-person appointments only at specific times or locations.- For example, Skai near Byron Bay provides face-to-face sessions, but only on Thursdays and with enough advance notice to arrange space and travel.- F2F sessions also need a bigger time-buffer between so they cannot be booked back-to-back.- Availability for space -- First session is counted + information to book in counselling to allow make- F2f take 3 sessions to break through pleasing tendencies - therapeutic alliance - online