& Psychotherapy
Counselling in the Sutherland Shire
I'm Wade Eames, a PACFA Registered Clinical counsellor and psychotherapist (28644). I work in private practice at Next Steps Counselling & Psychotherapy in Caringbah, and I see adults from across the Sutherland Shire, in person or online. I help with trauma, anxiety and depression, relationships, addiction and anger.
Maybe you've been meaning to book for months. Maybe something happened recently and the usual ways of getting through have stopped working. Or maybe nothing feels bad enough to point to, and that's part of what makes it hard to reach out.
You don't need the right words before you come in. We start with whatever's here.
What I help with
Most people who come to see me are carrying more than one thing. Anxiety that sits on top of something older. Drinking or gambling that started as a way to get through the week. A relationship that keeps running the same pattern, however hard you try to change it.
A lot of my work is with trauma, including PTSD and complex trauma that built up over years rather than one event. I also work with addiction and dual diagnosis, where substance use and mental health are tangled together, and with people affected by gambling harm.
I also see people for anxiety, depression, burnout and anger. For grief, life transitions and questions of identity. And for the kind of disconnection where you're getting through the days but you're not really in them.
Relationship and attachment patterns come up constantly. You might be the one who goes quiet in every argument, or the one who panics when someone gets close. We can work with that too, at your pace.
If trauma is the main thing bringing you here, there's more on the trauma counselling page.
How I work
The early sessions are about getting to know you and what's going on, at your pace. I'm paying attention to what's alive in the room, not running you through a program.
The model I use most is Internal Family Systems (IFS), which treats the part of you that keeps getting in your way as something worth understanding rather than something to get rid of.
For memories that won't settle, I use EMDR inside the wider work. I also draw on attachment-based, psychodynamic and polyvagal-informed practice, and on DBT and IPT where they fit.
You can read more about how I work.
Counsellor or psychologist?
A lot of people search for a psychologist when what they're after is someone good to talk to. Both counsellors and psychologists are trained to help with the same kinds of problems, and both do talking therapy. The main differences are registration, funding and assessment.
Psychologists are registered through AHPRA. Many people see one under a GP Mental Health Care Plan, which gives a Medicare rebate for a set number of sessions. Psychologists can also do formal psychological assessments and diagnosis.
Counsellors and psychotherapists are registered with a professional body. I'm registered with PACFA, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. Counsellors aren't part of the Medicare scheme, so there's no Medicare rebate for seeing me. You also don't need a referral or a plan. You can book directly, and health fund rebates apply depending on your cover.
If a Medicare rebate matters to you, or you need a formal assessment or diagnosis, a psychologist is the right fit, and I'm happy to point you in that direction. If you're looking for ongoing therapy, it's worth finding someone whose way of working makes sense to you, whatever their title.
Cost and rebates
A 60 minute session is $150. A 90 minute session is $195, which is how I run IFS and EMDR work.
I'm registered with Bupa, Medibank, HCF, ahm and ARHG. What you get back depends on your level of extras cover, so it's worth checking with your fund.
I'm an approved Victims Services NSW counsellor and SIRA-approved for NSW workers compensation (151287). Both are gap-free. There's more detail on the trauma counselling page.
Where and when
I see clients in person at Level 1, 418 Kingsway, Caringbah on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays sessions are online over Zoom.
Hours are 8am to 8pm Monday to Thursday, and 8am to 6pm on Friday.
Caringbah is a short drive from most of the Shire, including Cronulla, Miranda, Sutherland, Gymea and Kirrawee. There's underground parking off Hinkler Avenue, and I'll send you access details before your first visit.
How to start
You can book online, or call or text me on 0479 155 439 if you'd like to ask something first. You don't need a GP referral.
The first session is mostly about getting to know you and what's brought you in. You don't have to have it worked out, and you don't have to tell me everything at once.
If you need support right now: Lifeline 13 11 14, or text 0477 13 11 14. NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511. In an emergency, call 000.
Questions people ask
Do I need a referral to see a counsellor?
No. You can book directly with me, without a GP referral or a Mental Health Care Plan.
Can I claim a Medicare rebate?
No. I'm a counsellor and psychotherapist, not a psychologist, so Medicare rebates don't apply. Health fund rebates are available through Bupa, Medibank, HCF, ahm and ARHG, depending on your extras cover.
How much does counselling cost?
$150 for 60 minutes and $195 for 90 minutes. Sessions through Victims Services NSW or NSW workers compensation are gap-free.
Do you offer online counselling?
Yes. Online sessions run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays over Zoom. In-person sessions are in Caringbah on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Where are you, and is there parking?
Level 1, 418 Kingsway, Caringbah. There's underground parking off Hinkler Avenue. I send access details before your first session.
What happens in the first session?
We talk about what's going on for you and what you'd like to be different. There's no pressure to cover everything, and we go at your pace.