Contact Rising Phoenix Counselling

How Online Counselling Works

Therapy Sessions are held online via secure telehealth video, so you can meet from the comfort of your own space. All treatment is provided in a safe and secure online environment, and your safety is a top priority. Everyone starts with a free 15-minute connection call. The service is designed to make treatment accessible and convenient for all clients. To get started, visit the Booking Page to choose a time that suits you.

 

If you have questions before booking, you’re welcome to check the FAQ page. When seeking online therapy services, always verify the credentials of your psychologist or mental health professional to ensure you receive high-quality, professional support.

If anything’s still unclear, feel free to get in touch using the contact form below. I’ll reply personally within 3 to 4 business days.

​​​​​What Happens After You Book

When you book your initial connection call, you’ll receive an email confirming the time and providing a secure link for our online video chat. This brief call gives us space to meet, talk about what you’re looking for, and explore how I can support you. It’s also an opportunity to begin exploring your experiences as a client and to ensure you feel understood from the very start.

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If you decide to move forward, I’ll then send a welcome email with everything you need. This includes a short intake form and helpful information to support you in getting started. During sessions, you are encouraged to speak openly about your feelings, and talking is an important part of the process.

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You don’t need to prepare anything. Simply come as you are. The connection call and first session are spaces to begin gently.

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A Therapeutic Approach That Respects Your Individuality

I’m a qualified Gestalt therapist and counsellor with years of experience in mental health care, business leadership, and personal development. Gestalt therapy was developed through the collaboration of psychiatrist Fritz Perls, Laura Perls, and Paul Goodman, whose foundational work shaped its unique approach. I bring not only formal qualifications, but deep lived experience and a grounded, compassionate presence into each therapy session.

 

My counselling practice focuses on helping you reconnect with your inner resources and move through what may be holding you back. Gestalt therapy, like cognitive therapy and other therapies, emphasises present-moment awareness and experiential processes, but differs in its focus on holistic integration and the relational context of a person's life. I specialise in working with clients seeking emotional clarity, stronger relationships, and meaningful change.

 

Whether it’s grief counselling, burnout, anxiety, identity shifts, or just the sense that something’s not quite sitting right, this space is for you. Gestalt techniques, such as the empty chair exercise and role-play, are used to address psychological symptoms and help you feel more connected and healed in your life by processing unresolved emotions and experiences.

 

Gestalt therapy recognises how emotional and physical aspects of yourself are connected, and that awareness of this connection can lead to feeling healed and more integrated. It is one of several therapies that address psychological and physical symptoms, supporting your overall wellbeing.

 

Therapy with me isn’t about fixing you. It’s about walking alongside you, gently exploring what’s beneath the surface, and supporting your mental health and wellbeing with care.

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Techniques Used in Therapy

In my practice, I've come to understand gestalt therapy as a gentle yet profound invitation to return home to yourself. It's a way of being present that honours where you are right now, in this moment, with all your complexities and wisdom. Rooted in the beautiful understanding that we are whole beings, this approach to healing invites you to explore what's quietly stirring within, your immediate thoughts, the feelings moving through your body, the sensations that speak before words do. It's about developing a tender relationship with yourself, one that whispers of acceptance rather than demanding change.

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One of the practices I often share with clients is what we call the empty chair conversation, a gift from Fritz Perls that continues to create space for healing. Have you ever noticed how sometimes the most important conversations happen when no one else is in the room? In this gentle exercise, you might find yourself speaking to an empty chair as if someone significant sits there - perhaps a part of yourself that needs attention, or an unresolved moment that's been waiting patiently for your voice. This tender practice allows what's unfinished to finally breathe, relationship tensions to soften, and your own emotional landscape to become clearer. When you give voice to what's been silent, something beautiful often happens - a release that feels like coming home to yourself.

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I also invite clients to explore through what we might call conscious role-playing, a space where you can try on new ways of being without the weight of consequence. Imagine having permission to practice that difficult conversation, to experiment with speaking your truth, or to step into a perspective that feels foreign but curious. This isn't about performing or fixing - it's about discovering what wants to emerge when you create space for it. Through this gentle exploration, old wounds find their healing and new capacities for navigating life's tender moments begin to unfold.

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What moves me deeply in this work is how we listen not just to words, but to the wisdom your body carries. I pay gentle attention to the way you hold yourself, the subtle shifts in your posture, the stories your gestures tell, the music in your voice that speaks of what's happening beneath the surface. Your body holds such intelligence about your inner world, and when we bring awareness to these quiet communications, something profound happens - you begin to feel the conversation between your heart and your physical being, understanding how beautifully interconnected you truly are.

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Throughout our time together, mindfulness and creative expression weave themselves naturally into the space we create. Through practices that help you stay anchored in this moment, gentle awareness exercises, quiet meditation, or letting your creativity have a voice, we nurture a deeper sense of coming home to yourself. The rhythm is always yours, the pace one that honours your unique unfolding. This isn't about rushing toward healing; it's about allowing yourself to move at the speed of trust.

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If you're wondering how to access this kind of gentle support here in Australia, I want you to know that connection is possible in ways that honour your needs. Many of us who practice gestalt therapy offer the intimacy of online sessions, creating a bridge between your healing and the comfort of your own space. Through secure video connections, we can meet wherever feels safest for you - whether you're navigating a busy life or finding yourself in more remote places. Some private health insurance plans embrace this work as worthy of support, and there are community resources like MensLine Australia that offer free, confidential care including gestalt-based approaches for those who need a gentle hand to reach for.

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Those of us who walk alongside others in this work come to it through deep training and genuine care, often bringing backgrounds in psychology, counselling, or understanding human behaviour. We've spent years learning not just techniques, but how to create spaces that feel safe enough for vulnerability, supportive enough for growth, and gentle enough for your tender places. Whether you're carrying anxiety, moving through depression, healing from relationship pain, or simply feeling called to know yourself more deeply, gestalt therapy offers a compassionate container for whatever you're experiencing.

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When we focus on this moment, honour your own inner knowing, and explore through gentle, creative practices, something beautiful happens. You begin to see yourself with clearer eyes and feel empowered to make choices that truly serve your wellbeing. Whether you find this support through private health insurance, online connections, or community resources, gestalt therapy offers you a space where healing, growth, and deeper self-awareness can unfold with the care and patience you deserve.

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Online Counselling and In-Person Therapy:

What to Consider

Accessibility to professionals in traditional therapy is often restricted to local area providers, while online counselling opens access to a wider range of specialists, regardless of location. The underlying process of counselling remains largely the same whether sessions are online or in person: both provide skilled support, guidance, and a safe, confidential space to explore what matters to you.

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With in-person therapy, sessions take place in a dedicated consulting room. Online counselling happens in a private setting of your choice, which many clients find more comfortable and convenient.

Online therapy is not suitable for everyone. Those experiencing a crisis or needing intensive, immediate support may be better served by in-person sessions. In-person therapy also offers more direct support in a controlled clinical environment, and some individuals prefer the connection of face-to-face interaction and nonverbal communication. Online counselling, by contrast, can be affected by technical or privacy challenges and may miss some subtle nonverbal cues.

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For many people, however, online counselling provides significant advantages. It increases accessibility for those in regional or remote areas, reduces travel time and costs, offers flexible scheduling to fit busy lives, and makes professional support easier to access from the comfort and privacy of home. It can also be a practical option for people managing mobility issues, family responsibilities, or work commitments.

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Why Online Therapy?

Online therapy services make it easier to fit support into real life. No traffic, no travel time, no stress. Whether you live regionally or have a full schedule, online counselling or therapy can be just as effective as in-person or face-to-face therapy. Online counselling is provided by qualified online counsellors and professional counsellors, ensuring safety and confidentiality for every client.

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For many, it even allows a deeper level of honesty and comfort. The flexibility of online sessions means you can access professional mental health support no matter where you’re located. This service is designed to meet the needs of clients wherever they are, with mental health professionals available to support a range of concerns. All you need is a quiet space and a device.

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Who I Support?

I work with adult individuals across Australia who are ready to explore their inner world with openness and curiosity. I support people seeking mental health care during periods of stress, anxiety, or transition. Support is available for those experiencing family and relationship issues, including relationship breakdown, separation, divorce, parenting, and domestic violence, as well as symptoms of stress or other emotional challenges. I also work with those processing grief, loss, or identity shifts. Some clients are working through old patterns that no longer serve them, while others are looking to build more authentic relationships and reconnect with themselves on a deeper level. Clients who feel stressed or are experiencing symptoms related to family and relationship issues are welcome.

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Whether this is your first time seeing a therapist, or you’ve engaged in counselling services before, I meet you wherever you are on your path.

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A Space that Feels Safe

Therapy can feel vulnerable, especially at the beginning. My role is to create a safe space that meets you with respect and compassion. Safety is a top priority, and professional counsellors and social workers are committed to providing a secure and supportive environment for every client. You’ll never be rushed or pushed into sharing more than you feel ready for.

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I believe in the power of showing up gently, consistently, and authentically. These are the foundations of strong counselling skills and meaningful therapeutic work.

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Whether you’re seeking short-term support or deeper exploration, I’m here to meet you with warmth and presence.

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Key Takeaways

• Accessible and flexible: Online counselling sessions are available Australia-wide, with limited in-person sessions in Sydney.

• Free first step: Every client begins with a free 15-minute connection call, giving us space to see if therapy feels like the right fit.

• Safe and confidential: All sessions are secure, private, and provided by a PACFA-registered counsellor (#29505).

• Affordable support: A small number of low-cost, short-term sessions are available for those experiencing financial stress.

• Client-focused approach: Therapy draws on Gestalt techniques (such as role-play and the empty chair exercise) to support awareness, clarity, and meaningful change.

• Clear next steps: After booking, you’ll receive a welcome email, intake form, and everything you need to feel prepared and supported.

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Ready when You Are

You don't have to be in crisis to start therapy. Sometimes the most powerful shifts begin with a quiet nudge from within. 

 

When you're ready, you can book your connection call or reach out via the form below. Whether you're looking for professional mental health support, someone to talk to, or simply a pause in the noise, this space is here for you. 

 

Thank you for being here and for considering Rising Phoenix Counselling

as part of your path forward.

 

Priscilla Schwartzman (she/her)
PACFA Registered Counsellor (#29505)

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