Counselling Services and Fees

Canberra • Murrumbateman • Online

Individual Counselling (Ages 18+)

I offer individual counselling for adults aged 18 and over, in person at two locations in the Canberra region and online. My primary areas of focus are women's mental health and supporting neurodivergent adults, including people with autism, ADHD, or both.

Counselling isn't about being fixed or labelled. We look at what's getting in the way, work out what you want to be different, and take practical steps to get there. I draw on a few approaches and adapt them to you, not the other way around.

What Are You Dealing With?

Women's Mental Health
I hold a Women's Mental Health Specialist Certificate and have additional training in the challenges that are particularly relevant to women's lives, including anxiety, burnout, perinatal wellbeing, hormonal and reproductive health, relationship patterns, identity, and the pressures many women navigate across different life stages. Learn more →

Neurodivergent Adults (Autism & ADHD)
I provide counselling to autistic adults, people with ADHD, and those who identify as neurodivergent, including people who received a late diagnosis and are still making sense of their experience. My training and lived experience inform an approach that genuinely values neurodivergent ways of being, rather than treating them as problems to fix. Learn more →

I also support people experiencing:

  • Anxiety, worry, or feeling constantly on edge
  • Stress, burnout, or overwhelm
  • Low mood, loss of motivation, or self-esteem concerns
  • Relationship or family difficulties
  • Life transitions (work, study, health, identity, or role changes)
  • Feeling stuck, uncertain, or disconnected from yourself
  • Grief and loss (including bereavement, relationship endings, changing health, or other forms of loss)
  • Trauma, including the aftermath of domestic or family violence

If you're not sure whether what you're experiencing is something I can help with, get in touch and we can talk it through.

How Counselling Works

Some people come to counselling with a clear problem they want to solve. Others just need somewhere to say the thing out loud, to someone who will actually listen without judgment. Both are a good reason to come.

I follow your lead. Sometimes that means working through something practical together. Sometimes it means sitting with something difficult and helping you feel less alone with it. I draw on several evidence-based approaches, adapted to you rather than applied as a formula.

More about my approach →

A note on crisis support: I don't provide crisis or emergency support. If you are in immediate danger, call 000. For 24/7 crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you're safe but going through something very hard, counselling can still help, and I can work alongside your GP or other services where needed.

Bookshelf of creative therapy tools in the Murrumbateman counselling room at Riverstone Counselling — figurines, emotion wheels, soft toys, colouring materials, fidgets, and tactile resources for neurodivergent-affirming and women's mental health counselling with Salihan Laugesen
There are many ways to work through something

Session Formats & Locations

Session length
Most appointments are 60 minutes, with some flexibility where appropriate.

Operating hours
Monday: 9am – 6pm (Canberra)
Wednesday: 9am – 5pm (Murrumbateman)
Saturday: 9am – 2pm (Canberra)

Online sessions are also available on any of these days.

Locations

Referrals & Fees

Referrals
No referral is required.

Fees
Fees vary by session length, with most appointments lasting 60 minutes.

Private health rebates
GU Health and BUPA rebates may be available (eligibility varies by policy). If you're unsure, check with your insurer before booking.

NDIS
If you're self-managed or plan-managed, you may be able to use your NDIS funding for counselling, depending on what's included in your plan and goals. Support is often funded under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living. If you're not sure what your plan includes, check with your Support Coordinator or Plan Manager, or contact me and we can talk it through.

If you have questions about fees, availability, or whether counselling with me is a good fit, you're welcome to get in touch.

Ready to get started? You can book a free 10-minute chat or a first session online.

Book Online