ONLINE COUNSELLING ACROSS AUSTRALIA

ONLINE COUNSELLING ACROSS AUSTRALIA

When the same conversation keeps happening.

When the same conversation keeps happening.

Counselling for individuals, couples and families. It goes beyond talking things through — you'll have space to be heard, and you'll also be invited to question the patterns behind what's happening.

Counselling for individuals, couples and families. It goes beyond talking things through — you'll have space to be heard, and you'll also be invited to question the patterns behind what's happening.

Contact David
How counselling works

Individual, couples & family sessions

ACA Level 4 member

MSc, Counselor Education

Online, Australia-wide

WHO THIS CAN HELP WITH

WHO THIS CAN HELP WITH

You don't need to have a name for what's going on.

You don't need to have a name for what's going on.

Many people come to counselling around similar kinds of challenges. You don't have to fit any of them exactly.

Many people come to counselling around similar kinds of challenges. You don't have to fit any of them exactly.

Feeling stuck, or facing a decision

Personal struggles, periods of feeling stuck, and the decisions that come with a change of direction.

Relationships and family

Communication, conflict, or understanding each other differently — on your own, as a couple, or as a family.

Grief, loss and significant change

Processing a loss, or adjusting to a change you did not choose.

Disability, rehabilitation and adjustment

Adjusting to disability, injury or rehabilitation — with a counsellor whose professional training and daily life both sit here.

More about David
More about David

HOW COUNSELLING WORKS

HOW COUNSELLING WORKS

You are not just heard. You are challenged and supported.

You are not just heard. You are challenged and supported.

These four things shape how David works, whatever brought you here.

These four things shape how David works, whatever brought you here.

01

Listen

David listens past the first answer, to what is actually happening underneath it.

02

Question

Together you question what the situation means, and whether the story you carry about it still holds.

03

Explore

You explore where the pattern came from, and what it was once protecting.

04

Respond

You decide what you want to do differently. The direction stays yours.

This approach can draw on established counselling thinking, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, psychoeducation and David's background in rehabilitation counselling.

This approach can draw on established counselling thinking, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, psychoeducation and David's background in rehabilitation counselling.

MEET DAVID

MEET DAVID

The way David works comes from more than what he learned in a classroom.

The way David works comes from more than what he learned in a classroom.

David was born blind, and founded Shifting Lives.

David was born blind, and founded Shifting Lives.

He has worked across counselling, mental health, family support, rehabilitation and disability services in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

He has worked across counselling, mental health, family support, rehabilitation and disability services in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Master of Science, Counselor Education

Portland State University. Dual major in Rehabilitation Counselling and Marriage & Family Therapy.

Member of the Australian Counselling Association

Level 4 — Experienced Professional.

More about David

GETTING STARTED

GETTING STARTED

What happens when you reach out.

What happens when you reach out.

There's no need to have everything figured out first.

There's no need to have everything figured out first.

01

Book or get in touch

Book a time on HotDoc, or send a short enquiry through our Contact page. A name and a way to reach you is enough. Please don't include sensitive health information.

02

First conversation

A chance to talk about what's happening and get a feel for whether this approach is right for you.

03

Deciding what comes next

If working together feels right, you and David decide what the next step looks like. If it doesn't, that's a fine outcome too.

Before you book

Shifting Lives Counselling is not an emergency or crisis service and isn't the appropriate service where there is an immediate risk of suicide or self-harm, or current domestic or family violence.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 000. These services can help right now, day or night:

More urgent support options

Ready to book?

Booking services such as HotDoc send their own booking confirmations and reminders to the details you enter. If you need discreet contact, please use our Contact page and ask for discreet contact instead.

BEFORE YOU START

Questions people ask first.

No. You don't need a name for what's going on, or a referral from anyone, to start.

Individual, couples, family and rehabilitation counselling. Working together on communication, conflict or connection, with space for both perspectives to be heard.

No. You'll have space to be heard, and you'll also be invited to question the patterns behind what's happening.

Individual sessions run 60 minutes. For couples and family counselling, the first session runs 120 minutes and follow-up sessions run 90 minutes. Rehabilitation counselling sessions run 60 minutes.

Tuesday to Saturday, mornings from 9am and evenings from 6pm.

Online, across Australia.

Fees and payment terms are set out in a service agreement provided at booking or before your first session.

You can stop after one conversation. The first session is a chance to find that out, and deciding not to continue is a normal outcome.

Yes, within the limits set out in the Privacy Policy.

No. It's a way of understanding patterns — not an accredited standalone therapeutic modality, and not a guaranteed method for producing change.

What if I'm not okay right now?

Shifting Lives is not an emergency or crisis service. If you need help right now:

Urgent Support

Call Lifeline on 13 11 14

THE THINKING BEHIND THE APPROACH

This way of working is grounded in Evolutionary Therapy.

Evolutionary Therapy explores the beliefs and patterns we develop through our experiences — and asks whether they still serve the life we want to live today.

Explore Evolutionary Therapy