Counselling and psychology sessions for individuals, couples and families.

Justine Mrkusic Clinical Psychologist

Counselling Services & Fees

Please see an outline of counselling services below.  If you have any questions at all, please feel free to reach out via phone or email.   

Individual Sessions & Couples Counselling

Whether you seek therapy as an individual or a couple, what you can expect is a safe, confidential space to talk about different aspects of you life, to share thoughts and feelings without judgement, to disclose secrets, emotions and experiences that may be difficult to discuss and, in the case of couples, to have a more objective third person to observe, mediate and shape interactions.


The therapy process will differ from person to person and is dependent on factors such as:

  • how long it takes for you to feel comfortable and safe
  • the reasons why you have sought help
  • your goals and expectations
  • your willingness to reflect on your sessions between your sessions
  • your desire for change


At times therapy may feel daunting and be anxiety provoking, and at other times you will feel contained, affirmed and experience a real sense of relief.

How do I know if I should speak to a psychologist?

Deciding to seek help for something you’re going through can be really hard. It may be your idea to speak to a psychologist, or it might be that someone in your life who cares about you has noticed that you are in a difficult situation: maybe losing weight, struggling with alcohol or other substances, seem unusually sad, worried, upset or angry.


Here are some reasons people may start therapy:

  • needing to make a decision about a specific thing
  • feeling sad, depressed, worried, shy, anxious or stressed out
  • relationship difficulties
  • chronic illness (such as diabetes; asthma; HIV; COPD; cancer etc)
  • separation and divorce
  • problems with alcohol and other substances
  • a trauma (recent or from your past) – this could include sexual assault; physical assault; death of a loved one; miscarriage; relationship related trauma etc
  • problems with controlling anger
  • wanting more self confidence or better social skills
  • work related problems
  • loneliness
  • feeling dead, numb, stuck or disconnected from life, yourself and people

As a clinical psychologist, Justine offers each client a confidential, safe space to talk about different aspects of themselves and the issue for which they have sought help.


Through the therapy process, people learn about themselves. They discover ways to overcome difficulties , develop inner strengths and skills, or make changes in themselves or their situations.


Often it feels helpful to have a person to vent your feelings to, and sometimes it’s useful to learn different techniques to help deal with stressors and specific behaviours.


What will I gain from this?

At times therapy may feel daunting and be anxiety provoking, and at other times you will feel contained, affirmed and experience a real sense of relief. Ultimately, Justine aims for you to emerge from this process having discovered more about yourself, feeling stronger and able to make healthier choices for yourself.


You might learn about motivations that lead you to behave in certain ways or about inner strengths which you didn’t realise you have. Maybe you will learn new coping skills, develop more patience, or learn to like yourself better. Maybe you will find new ways to handle problems or new ways to handle yourself in tough situations.

What can I expect from a session/s?

The initial consultation is an opportunity for you to tell me how you see the problem , and for me to get an understanding of who you are and how I might be able to help. At the end of the initial session we will discuss options and I will give you some thoughts and recommendations.. It is also an opportunity for you to see if this feels like a helpful space and if I am the right person for you to talk to.


It is not possible to tell you exactly how long the process will be. If there is a specific decision to be made in your life, this may take only a few sessions. To work at a deeper level, however, and to uncover what might be causing negative or undesirable patterns or situations in your life, may require a longer commitment to the therapeutic process.


Justine draws from a range of evidence based therapeutic modalities including CBT, Solutions Focused Therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy (insight oriented work), ACT, Systemic Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. She believes that a successful therapy is based on mutual respect, a working therapeutic alliance and an ability to match the client to an appropriate treatment modality which is personally meaningful for them.

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Prenatal & Postnatal Therapy

Background

Justine is a Clinical Psychologist working with adults, couples and families, with a specific focus and passion in the area of perinatal mental health.
 
In 2005, after completing her MA Clinical Psychology degree at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, Justine worked as an Intern Clinical Psychologist at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital female in-patient and out-patient psychiatric wards. Following this, she spent a year at the Johannesburg General Hospital working in the child psychiatry unit. It was in these contexts that she developed a passion for women’s mental health, and more specifically, perinatal mental health. It was also here that her theoretical and practical focus on maternal (and paternal) attachment was formed (i.e. a positive relationship between parent and child). 
 
Prior to moving to Australia at the end of 2017, she ran a busy private practice in Johannesburg. She worked with a range of clients with multiple diagnoses, presenting problems and stressors. with a special focus on perinatal mental health; family therapy, and couples’ counselling, within the context of transitioning to parenthood.

Current Practice

Justine consults from her private practice in Geelong. She works with mothers, fathers, and same sex couples who are facing a range of perinatal challenges including: Preparation for the birth of a baby; adaptation/transition to parenthood; attachment difficulties; blended family dynamics within the perinatal context; antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety, and parenting young children. 
 
Justine is a Circle of Security Registered Parent Educator, and has training in attachment based models. She uses these skills to support parents to recognise their baby/child’s emotional needs, and to respond with confidence and attunement. In doing so, she has observed that parents gain insight into their child’s emotional worlds; their own emotional needs and triggers, and ultimately experience greater joy and satisfaction in their relationship with their baby/child.
 
Justine also works with birth trauma and pregnancy related grief and loss. She provides support to couples who have received diagnoses of fetal anomalies, facilitating a non-judgemental process for decision-making. She also sees women and couples who have experienced late term losses such as stillbirth and newborn loss.

Approach to Therapy

Justine recognises the challenges of pregnancy, and the transition to parenting for mothers, fathers and siblings. She believes strongly that the perinatal journey is a very personal and unique experience for each individual.
 
Justine offers each client a confidential, safe space to talk about different aspects of their perinatal experience. She creates a calm, containing environment in which clients are able to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences without judgement. Her aim is for them to leave the therapeutic process feeling heard, and with a clearer sense of what they would like, and how they might will achieve this.
 
Justine draws from a range of evidence based therapeutic modalities including CBT, Solutions Focused Therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy (insight oriented work), ACT, Systemic Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. She believes that a successful therapy is based on mutual respect, a working therapeutic alliance and an ability to match the client to an appropriate treatment modality which is personally meaningful for them.


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Professional Psychology Supervision

Justine is a Board-Approved AHPRA Psychology Supervisor.


Justine offers a safe, reflective and encouraging space for supervisees to explore their own therapeutic style and professional identity, to identify strengths and weaknesses, and to work towards specific professional goals.

Justine believes that supervision provides a debriefing opportunity to manage the stress and complexity of our profession. It is an opportunity to address any challenges you are experiencing, dilemmas that arise, transference or counter transference and general skill, and confidence building. In addition to identifying and working with the challenges of being a therapist/psychologist, I also like to use supervision as an opportunity to reflect on ,and to celebrate the highlights and rewarding shifts supervisees may see within themselves professionally and within their work with clients.

If you are seeking psychology supervision please contact Justine to arrange a time to discuss your supervision needs.

Fee Information

Medicare Gap Fees

Individual Psychological Therapy items provided by a clinical psychologist. $260 paid on the day - rebate of $141.85 refunded by Medicare to your bank account. 

Medicare Funded Sessions - How does it work?

Prior to your initial consultation, you will need to see your GP for a referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) . Currently you may attend up to 10 sessions a year, after which, sessions can be through your private health insurance or privately paid. Please note that (Medicare does not cover couples counselling sessions)

Private Patients

Patients with psychology cover on their private health insurance can be issued with a receipt of payment which can be used to obtain a rebate from your private health insurer.

Telehealth or Face to Face appointments?

Justine is currently consulting via Telehealth as well as Face to Face Appointments (with a COVID Safe Practice Plan in place)

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What do I do next?

See your GP

Prior to your initial consultation, you will need to see your GP for a referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP).

Make Contact

Give us a call on 0419 687 853  or email penny@thebop.com.au

Initial Consultation

Once your appointment has been confirmed, Justine will email you online consent and client forms.

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