Cassily Charles is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. This means that the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has verified that she has the specialist knowledge and experience which is needed to offer safe and effective counselling, and to work with people with (or without) diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, PTSD or others. It also means that she is required to keep up-to-date with professional training and clinical supervision. Cassily is bound by the AASW Code of Ethics and the AASW Mental Health Practice Standards.

Appointments with Cassily are eligible for a Medicare rebate, if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your doctor. This covers about half the cost.

Cassily is a registered or approved counsellor for the following organisations, who will cover the full cost of your appointments, if you are eligible:

Cassily’s counselling is informed by evidence-based psychological approaches, as well as an understanding of the ways in which our history, our circumstances and our relationships all shape our health and well-being, as well as our healing and growth.

Cassily is above all a human being who cares about the people she works with. In private practice, she mainly works with individuals, but has worked with families and also facilitated therapeutic groups for many years. She worked for nearly 20 years in universities with students and researchers, supporting wellbeing and teaching linguistics and specialist writing. Cassily’s office is on beautiful Wiradjuri country.

Meet Cassily

Qualifications

Master of Social Work - Monash University

Master of Education - University of Sydney

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - University of Sydney

Grad Cert Wiradjuri Language, Culture & Heritage - Charles Sturt University

Issues

  • Depression and/or anxiety

  • Trauma (PTSD, complex trauma)

  • Managing stress & overload

  • Loss & grief

  • Relationship issues

  • Parenting concerns

  • Transitions & major life changes

  • Family violence

  • Feeling stuck or wanting to heal & grow

  • and others

Approaches

  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

  • Parts work (Internal Family Systems)

  • Three-phase trauma therapy

  • Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Mindfulness & somatic approaches

  • Attachment-based parenting (Circle of Security)

  • Person-centred counselling

  • Brief solution-focussed therapy

  • and others

Appointment types

  • In-person at the office at Suite 108, 553 Dean St, Albury (T&G Building)

  • Phone appointment

  • Online video appointment

  • For people who are not able to access the office, please get in touch to discuss the possibility of having an in-person appointment at another location. (The T&G building has a lift to the first floor, however there are four steps in the corridor, so the office is not wheelchair accessible.)

What to expect

What is counselling?

Counselling is a broad term that can include anything from short term practical strategies and information, clinical interventions for mental health or longer term psychotherapy, ongoing support, major healing and growth projects.

In Australia, counselling is provided by different professions who have usually done additional training on top of their basic qualification: mental health social workers, clinical psychologists, mental health nurses, etc. The title ‘counsellor’ can be used by anyone in Australia, so it is a good idea to check that your counsellor is a member of a professional body which requires them to meet particular standards and training.

It is equally (or maybe more) important that the counsellor is someone with whom you feel safe and comfortable.

What is it like? How long will it take?

The first one or two appointments are usually when you let the counsellor know some background and clarify what your goals and priorities are. It is also when you get some idea of whether this might be the right counsellor for you at this time. If so, we can make a plan for how you would like to go ahead.

The number of appointments, how regular they are, and the length of time will depend on what your goals are, the circumstances of your life, and the type of counselling approach. We will talk about this from the beginning, so you have the information you need to make your decisions as we go along.

Appointments with Cassily are 60 minutes. It is a good idea to clear your responsibilities during this time - e.g. have children looked after by someone else, including for phone or online appointments, don’t be driving, etc.

How to book appointments

When there are appointments available, you will be able to see them in the online booking calendar.

If no appointments are available, you can join the waiting list by emailing preferred days & times to contact@cassilycharles.com.au.

If you would like to ask some questions before booking, or to request a special type of appointment (e.g. different location or length of time), you are welcome to book one 15 minute phone consultation, at no charge. You can do this by emailing as above, or by phoning or texting 0430 544 048.

If your appointments are funded by one of the organisations above, or by someone else e.g. your employer, please phone or email before booking your first appointment.