Your first visit, from the front door to the chair.
A lot of first-session nerves are about the practical stuff. Where is it, how do I get in, will I have to sit with strangers? Here’s what to expect, whether you come to Carlton or join online.
Coming to Carlton
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Getting here
We're at 3 York Place, Carlton, VIC 3053. Trams run along Swanston Street and Lygon Street nearby, and it's a short walk from the University of Melbourne.
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Letting yourself in
Your door code comes with your appointment reminder. It isn’t posted on the entrance, so nobody walking past can tell who is coming in or why.
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The waiting room
This is where you’ll wait before your session. Exposed brick and a couple of good chairs.
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The rooms
Sessions happen in one of our therapy rooms. The entrance, the bathroom and our accessible rooms are all step-free, which is still unusual for Melbourne practices.
The upstairs room is reached by stairs. If you need step-free access, say so when you book and we’ll put you downstairs.
The first session
Nobody expects you to arrive knowing what to say, or where to start. That’s part of your therapist’s job.
- It starts with a free 15-minute call
- Before anything is booked you get a short fit call with your therapist. It’s a chance to hear how they work and ask whatever you need to. There’s no obligation to book afterwards.
- Your therapist explains confidentiality first
- At the start of your first session they’ll go through the limits of confidentiality, such as a risk to someone’s safety or a court order. Outside those situations, what you say stays in the practice.
- You’ll be asked about AI note-taking
- We use an AI tool to help us draft session notes from a recording of the session. It’s only used if you agree before the session starts, and your therapist reviews and edits every note. Your sessions aren’t used to train AI models. You can say no, or change your mind at any time, and your therapist will take notes by hand instead. It makes no difference to your care. How we handle your information
- How long it runs
- Individual sessions are 50 minutes. Relationship sessions are 65 minutes for two people and 75 minutes for three or more.
- Paying
- Most clients save a card to their profile so payment happens after each session. You can also pay an emailed invoice by link or BPAY. In-person sessions carry a $20 room surcharge; telehealth doesn’t. See fees and work out yours
- If you need to cancel
- More than 48 hours’ notice costs nothing. Between 48 and 24 hours is half the session fee. Less than 24 hours, or not turning up, is the full fee. Phone, SMS or email all work.
Seeing us online
- A phone, tablet or laptop with a camera and microphone, and a stable internet connection.
- The secure video link arrives with your appointment confirmation.
- Join from wherever you have privacy: home, your car, anywhere you can talk freely. Around two-thirds of our sessions happen this way.
- Pets are welcome on screen.
Ready when you are
Marissa replies to every enquiry within one business day, and the fit call is free.