FAQs For Inquisitive Puffns

  • Counselling can support a wide range of experiences, including:

    • Feeling lost or overwhelmed

    • Navigating grief (including non-death grief like health changes or identity loss)

    • Medical trauma and chronic illness

    • Late or missed diagnoses (especially neurodivergence)

    • Relationship difficulties and boundary issues

    • Burnout, anxiety, overthinking, or emotional shutdown

    • Life transitions, identity exploration, and self-worth

    Even if you can’t name exactly what’s wrong, you’re still welcome here.

  • It can be confusing, especially when you're just trying to find the right support. In Australia, psychologists are trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions such as OCD or Major Depressive Disorder. They work under the Better Access Scheme and offer Medicare rebates for those with a Mental Health Care Plan.

    Counsellor’s complete professional training, meet ethical standards and engage in ongoing supervision to offer relational, trauma-informed support to help you explore your story, build insight, foster resilience and feel more like yourself.

    The term therapist is broad — it can refer to either a counsellor or psychologist. It all comes down to what kind of support you’re looking for.

    At Among Puffins, counselling is tailored to your unique story and is practiced from a trauma-infomed and neurodivergent-affirming lens.

  • No - You don’t need a GP referral, diagnosis, or Mental Health Care Plan to see a counsellor. That means you can access support without waiting lists, labels, or needing to prove you're “unwell enough.” For many of my clients — especially those navigating grief, identity, neurodivergence, or chronic illness — that freedom matters.

  • Counsellors are not currently part of the Medicare Better Access Scheme so Medicare Rebates are not possible at Among Puffins Counselling. For subsidised sessions through Medicare you would need to work with a psychologist or social worker.

    However, if you were to see a psychologist in Australia today you still need to pay a gap fee as very few psychologists bulk bill Medicare. The current rebate amount in 2025 from Medicare for psychologists is between $98 and up to $145. The Australian Psychological Society currently recommend session fees of up to $380. This means individuals can expect to be out of pocket up to $200+ per session despite the subsidised rate. So for less than the Medicare gap you can often access counselling services at a more cost-effective price.

    • Neurodivergent individuals (diagnosed or self-identified)

    • LGBTQIA+ individuals

    • Women experiencing the psychological impact of societal and gendered expectations

    • Those struggling with burnout, chronic stress or invisible disabilities

    • Individuals struggling with significant interpersonal relationships (partners, parents, children)

    • Individuals impacted by adverse childhood experiences or dysfunctional family dynamics

    • Adults with family members experiencing addiction or mental illness

    • Suicide Survivors

    • Individuals struggling with grief and/or disenfranchised grief (a loss that isn’t openly acknowledged or publicly mourned i.e loss of one’s health due to chronic illness)

  • Among Puffins is a 100% virtual counselling practice. All sessions are held via Zoom, a secure video platform. You can join from your phone, laptop, or tablet from anywhere in Australia. Many clients find online therapy more comfortable, accessible, and flexible — especially if you prefer familiar surroundings or need sensory accommodations. Among Puffins is committed to offering in-person sessions in the future.

  • If you need immediate support or are experiencing a crisis, it’s important to reach out to trusted services that are available 24/7. Here are some key resources you can contact anytime:

    • Lifeline: 13 11 14 — 24/7
      crisis support and suicide prevention

    • Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 — 24/7
      mental health support and information

    • Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 — 24/7
      specialist suicide prevention counselling

    • QLife: 1800 184 527 — (3pm-midnight)
      support for LGBTQIA+ people

    • Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 — 24/7
      counselling for young people up to 25 years old

    • 13 YARN: 13 92 76 — 24/7
      Support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

    • Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 — 24/7
      counselling services for Australian men

    • 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 — 24/7
      free counselling and support for people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence

    • Emergency Services: 000
      for immediate life-threatening emergencies

  • If you're feeling stuck, unseen, or unsure of where to turn next — counselling can help. You don’t have to be in crisis to seek support. If you’re curious about exploring who you are, untangling old patterns, or just having someone in your corner, that’s enough. Book a free 15-minute chat if you’d like to discuss what you’re looking for or send us an email at amongpuffinscounselling@gmail.com

  • Yes, absolutely. I support many neurodivergent adults — including those diagnosed late in life, those who suspect they might be neurodivergent, and those navigating unmasking or burnout. You don’t need a formal label to be seen here. My work is informed by lived experience, and I deeply value difference — it’s not something to fix, but something to honour

  • Being trauma-informed means I recognise the wide spread impact of trauma at both the individual and societal level. I prioritise safety, consent, choice, collaboration and empowerment in our work together. The focus is on creating a steady foundation where growth can happen at your own pace.

    Being neurodivergent-affirming means I respect and celebrate neurodivergence — I don’t see ADHD, autism or other neurodivergent experiences as problems to be “fixed.” My approach is flexible and sessions are paced according to individual needs. Attention to sensory preferences, interaction styles, and invisible strength/barriers is emphasised. I aim to create a validating, non-pathologising space that honours diverse ways of processing and relating to experiences.

  • No, we do not provide formal assessments or diagnoses for ADHD, autism, or any other mental health conditions. Our counselling services focus on emotional support, and helping you navigate life’s challenges from an informed lens.

    If you are seeking a formal diagnosis, we recommend consulting with a qualified psychologist, psychiatrist, or other medical professional who specialises in diagnostic assessments. Your GP can assist with this search.

  • While we fully support the goals of the NDIS and the important services it provides, Among Puffins Counselling is not a registered NDIS provider. This means we are unable to offer NDIS-funded sessions or process payments through the scheme.

    If you are self-managed or plan-managed under the NDIS, you may still be able to work with us — feel free to reach out to discuss your options.

  • Among Puffins Counselling has a 24 hour cancellation policy. Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice via email to cancel or reschedule a session to avoid cancellation fees which are outlined in the Client Agreement. Among Puffins Counselling understands that emergencies happen and will work with you when possible. Any exceptions made to the cancellation policy are at the discretion of Liz O’Neill, the owner of Among Puffins.

  • The name ‘Among Puffins’ reflects the heart of my counselling practice: creating a space where uniqueness is recognised, differences are celebrated, and no one is made to feel invisible.

    Puffins are small, resilient seabirds that often go unnoticed in the natural world—quietly navigating harsh environments, adapting with creativity, and thriving on the edges. They’re strikingly unique, yet often overlooked. To me, they symbolise the strength and beauty of those who have felt different, misheard, or misunderstood in their lives—whether due to neurodivergence, identity, trauma or simply not fitting into narrow societal expectations.

    This practice is a space among puffins—where your individuality is not only accepted, but honoured. Where you're invited to show up as you are, and where every part of you, even the parts long silenced or hidden, is welcome.