Hi, I’m Vivienne. This is a place to talk things through.
Counselling for individuals, couples and families in North Ryde and online, for stress, anxiety, grief and relationships. No referral needed. Book directly.
A free phone call to see if we’re a good fit. There’s no obligation to book a session.
Need help now? Urgent support numbers- PACFA Clinical Registrant
- On the ARCAP register
- Master of Counselling
- Fully insured
- Working With Children Check
- Monthly clinical supervision
No GP referral or mental health plan needed. You can book directly.
Checking the diary New clients welcome, in person or online.
Sessions in English or Mandarin (普通话). LGBTQIA+ affirming, and every kind of couple and family is welcome.
What people come to see me about
Each has its own page about how counselling can help and what sessions look like.
- Individual counsellingSpace to talk through what’s on your mind, at your own pace.
- Couples and relationshipsCommunication, trust, conflict, and working out what comes next.
- Family and parentingParents, teenagers and families going through change or conflict.
- Grief and lossAfter a death, a separation, a diagnosis or another loss.
- Stress and burnoutWhen work or life has been too much for too long.
- Anxiety and low moodSupport for people living with anxiety or low mood.
- Life changesMoving countries, retiring, becoming a parent, starting again.
- Trauma-informed supportCounselling that goes at a pace that feels safe for you.
All of these are available online too, by secure video link.
Counsellor or psychologist?
Both offer talk-based support.
Counsellor
As a counsellor, I focus on practical, here-and-now support for stress, grief, relationships and life changes.
I don’t diagnose or prescribe, and you don’t need a GP referral or a mental health plan to see me.
Psychologist
Psychologists are registered with Ahpra and can diagnose.
With a referral from your GP, their sessions may attract a Medicare rebate.
If a psychologist would suit you better, I’ll tell you, and help you find one.
About me
How I work
A lot of the people I see have never been to counselling before, and most of them put off calling for a while. That’s normal. We start wherever you are.
Some sessions are practical: working out what to say, what to do next, or how to get through a hard week. Some are about being heard properly for once. Every few sessions I’ll check with you that it’s helping, and if it isn’t, we’ll change something.
Before opening this practice I spent eight years at a community relationship service. I’m trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples, and I also draw on narrative approaches.
Vivienne Tang
Counsellor. PACFA Clinical Registrant, 15 years’ experience.
- Registration
- PACFA Clinical Registrant, no. 12345. Listed on the ARCAP register, which you can check yourself.
- Qualification
- Master of Counselling, University of New England.
- Supervision
- Monthly clinical supervision with a PACFA accredited supervisor.
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
- Safety check
- Current NSW Working With Children Check.
- Conduct
- I follow the NSW Code of Conduct for unregistered health practitioners. A copy is on the wall in my room.
When I’ll suggest someone else. If you need a diagnosis, medication, or more support than weekly counselling can give, I’ll help you find the right person, starting with your GP.
What clients have written on Google
I’d been putting off calling for about a year. The first phone call was short, with no pressure to book. Vivienne is calm and practical, and she never rushed me.
We came in half expecting her to pick a side. Instead she made sure we both got heard, and she was upfront about what she could help us with.
My mum and I came together, and being able to switch between English and Mandarin made a real difference. The only downside is that evening sessions book out a couple of weeks ahead.
These are the three most recent reviews on my Google profile from people who agreed to have them shown here, in date order, with initials only. I’ve never offered anything in return for a review, I don’t ask current clients to write one, and I don’t reply to reviews, because a reply could confirm that someone is my client.
Read all 37 reviews on GoogleFees
What it costs
Every fee is here, so you know before you book.
- First phone call15 minutes, to see if we’re a good fitFree
- Individual session50 minutes, in person or online$150
- Couples or family session75 minutes, in person or online$210
- Reduced feeFor Health Care Card holders and full-time students. Limited places.$110
Paying and changing a booking
Pay by card at the end of each session. Please give 48 hours’ notice to move or cancel, or the full fee applies.
There’s no Medicare rebate for counselling
The upside is that you don’t need a GP referral or a mental health plan, and there’s no Medicare paperwork.
Private health insurance
If your extras cover includes counselling, you may be able to claim part of the fee. I’m a PACFA Clinical Registrant with provider numbers for several funds, so check with yours before your first session.
Other ways it can be paid for
Some clients come through their workplace Employee Assistance Program, a self-managed or plan-managed NDIS plan, or the NSW Victims Support Scheme, where I’m an approved counsellor. Ask me if you’re not sure.
How getting started works
You don’t need to prepare anything or know exactly what to say.
A free 15-minute call
You tell me a little about what’s going on and ask me anything you like. We both get a sense of whether I’m the right person for you. There’s no obligation to book.
Your first session
Fifty minutes, in my room at North Ryde or online. We talk about what’s bringing you in and what you’d like to be different. Before it, I’ll send a short intake form through my secure practice system.
After that, you decide
You book one session at a time. Every few sessions we check together whether it’s helping.
Couples. Early on, I usually meet each of you once on your own. It gives each of you room to say things you might not say with your partner there.
Online. Sessions use a secure video link that opens in your browser, with nothing to install. The fee is the same.
What people ask before booking
If yours isn’t here, ask me on the free call.
Is what I tell you confidential?
Yes, with a few limits that the law and my code of ethics set. If I believed you or someone else was at serious risk of harm, if a child might be unsafe, or if a court ordered me to release my notes, I might have to share information.
Wherever I can, I’ll talk to you first. Your notes are kept in a secure practice system, never on paper or in email.
What’s the difference between a counsellor and a psychologist?
Both provide talk-based support, and a lot of what happens in the room is similar. Counsellors focus on practical, here-and-now support for things like stress, grief, relationships and life changes. We don’t diagnose or prescribe.
Psychologists are registered with Ahpra and can diagnose. With a GP referral and a mental health plan, their sessions may attract a Medicare rebate. Counselling has no rebate, but you can book without a referral. If I think a psychologist would suit you better, I’ll say so.
Anyone can call themselves a counsellor. How do I know you’re qualified?
It’s a fair question, because “counsellor” isn’t a protected title in Australia. I hold a Master of Counselling and I’m a Clinical Registrant with PACFA, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. That registration requires recognised qualifications, supervised practice, ongoing training, insurance and a commitment to PACFA’s code of ethics.
You can check my registration on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists: arcapregister.com.au
How much does it cost, and can I claim anything back?
The first call is free. An individual session is $150 and a couples or family session is $210, with a reduced fee of $110 for Health Care Card holders and full-time students.
There’s no Medicare rebate for counselling. If your private health extras cover counselling, you may be able to claim part of the fee, so check with your fund first.
What happens in the first session?
It’s a conversation. We talk about what’s bringing you in, what you’ve already tried, and what you’d like to be different. You decide how much you share. At the end we talk about whether to meet again, and how often.
Does my partner have to come to couples counselling?
No. You can start on your own, and plenty of people do. If your partner joins later, I’ll meet them on their own once too.
If you feel afraid of your partner, couples counselling isn’t a safe place to start. Book a call just for you, or call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, any time.
Can we do sessions online?
Yes. Online sessions use a secure video link that opens in your browser. The fee is the same, and you can switch between online and in person whenever suits you.
How will you contact me?
However is safest for you. When you book, you tell me whether it’s OK to text you or leave a voicemail. If it isn’t, I’ll only call at the time you booked. My messages never say what they’re about.
Where I am
At the North Ryde Shops
A ground-floor suite with its own side entrance and no sign saying what’s inside. Sessions are spaced so clients rarely cross paths.
I’m usually in sessions, so calls go to voicemail. I call back the same day.
hello@
| Monday | 10am to 8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am to 8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am to 5pm |
| Thursday | 10am to 8pm |
| Friday | 9am to 3pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The North Ryde Shops bus stop on Blenheim Road is right outside. North Ryde Metro station is about 1.5 kilometres away, a 20 minute walk via Cutler Parade and Delhi Road. There’s street parking around the shops.
If you need help right now
I’m not a crisis service, and I don’t check calls, texts or email outside session hours. These services can help straight away.
- LifelineCrisis support, any time13 11 14
- Lifeline by textIf you can’t talk out loud0477 13 11 14
- 1800RESPECTDomestic, family and sexual violence, any time1800 737 732
- Suicide Call Back ServiceAny time, for anyone affected by suicide1300 659 467
- Beyond BlueAnxiety and depression support1300 22 4636
- 13YARNAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support13 92 76
- Kids HelplineFor young people aged 5 to 251800 55 1800
Browsing safely
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eSafety: domestic and family violence
Start with a free call
Fifteen minutes on the phone, no obligation, and you’ll know whether I’m the right person to talk to.