Working with Tammy
Q: What is your connection to Australia?
A: I have called Australia home since 2002. I have now equally lived in my home country Canada as long as I have lived in Australia. I now am fortunate to work and play between both.
Q: What are your fees?
A: My fees start from $150
Q: Do you accept mental health care plans in Australia?
A: Yes, I do. As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW), I’m an approved provider under Medicare’s Better Access Initiative (and similar programs). That means if you have a valid mental health care plan from your GP, you can access up to 10 subsidised sessions per calendar year with me.
The current Medicare rebate for AMHSWs is currently $85.20 per 50-minute session. Please note however, you need to check this information is correct as this can change. This rebate is applied directly to your session cost—any remaining amount would be your out-of-pocket fee.
Q: What does it mean to work with you if you are a professional in both Canada and Australia?
A: It has always been my goal in my practice to work ethically across Australia and Canada.
To continue this I will always be working towards further education that will support me to have a sustainable practice with my diverse clients needs in mind. As I run my practice in two countries, I also have responsibilities to my two separate designations where I am bound to ethics and practice standards. Both require extensive ongoing commitment to maintaining my registration in Canada and to hold my continuing membership in Australia.
This can be confusing, and for total transparency, I have placed the details below of what was needed to gain this designation and what is needed to continue to hold it. It is important to note that my qualifications apply to my role within that jurisdiction. For example- with my Canadian clients in British Columbia, I am able to do diagnosis and assessment. In Australia, that is not within my scope of practice here. Please read the section carefully that applies to you in your country.
Professional Credentials & Education
Q: What is your professional designation in Canada, and what training or experience was required to earn it?
A: I’m a Registered Clinical Social Worker in British Columbia, Canada. (RCSW)
To become an RCSW in British Columbia, the following are required:
Bachelor of Social Work (4 years)
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Specialized clinical coursework in counselling, mental health, human development, and diagnostic training using the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
At least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical practice.
Clinical Supervisor references
A passing grade on the North American clinical board exam
This designation allows me to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions with my BC clients using recognized clinical frameworks like the DSM-V.
To keep my Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) designation in British Columbia, I:
Hold Registration with the BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW)
Complete 40 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) each year (between November 1 and October 31), which includes training in areas like ethics, cultural safety, Indigenous perspectives, and mental health practice.
Follow the BC College of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice in all aspects of my work.
Q: What is your professional designation in Australia, and what training or experience was required to earn it?
In Australia, I’m an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. (AMHSW)
To become an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker in Australia and hold the AMHSW credential in Australia—recognized by Medicare as a provider of mental health services—you need to have/hold:
Bachelor of Social Work (4 years)
Current Australian Association of Social Workers Association (AASW) membership (there is not currently registration for Social Workers in Australia as of July 2025).
2 years full-time equivalent (3,360 hours) post-qualifying clinical practice in mental health, completed within the past 5 years
2 years of supervised practice in a mental health setting, meeting AASW supervision standards
To keep my Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) credential in Australia, I:
Maintain membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Complete 30 hours of ongoing professional development each year, including training in areas like clinical practice, mental health, and ethics
Meet the AASW Code of Ethics and Practice Standards, which guide how I work with care, safety, and accountability
Getting Started
Q: Do I need to have a serious problem to see you?
A: Not at all. Therapy is for anyone seeking support, clarity, or a safe space to explore life. Many of my clients are proactive and curious—wanting to understand patterns they’re repeating, improve relationships, build confidence and self-worth, or heal from the past.
Q: Do you offer advice?
A: I don’t give advice in the traditional sense. My role is to walk beside you, ask meaningful questions, and help you make sense of what you’re experiencing. I’ll offer my clinical insights when needed—especially around symptoms or if it’s important to speak with your doctor—but ultimately, I believe you are the expert in your life. Together, we’ll explore what feels right for you.
Q: What happens in the first session?
A: The first session is about getting to know you. Sometimes I’ll ask specific questions or use informal assessments to get a clearer picture of where you’re at and how we might measure progress. For others, we begin with your story and what you’re hoping to get out of our work together.
Q: What if I don’t know what to say in therapy?
A: That’s completely okay. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just showing up is a brave step. I’ll guide the conversation—it often begins simply with getting to know your story.
Q: How do I know if you are the right fit?
A: You should feel safe, seen, and respected. If not, I’ll encourage you to keep looking—because the connection between you and your therapist is one of the strongest indicators of success in therapy. I’ll regularly check in and encourage you to listen to your own sense of what feels right.
Q: What if there are things I don’t want to talk about?
A: That’s okay. You’re always in control. You can choose what to share and change your mind at any time. Safety—emotional and relational—is the foundation of our work.
Q: How long do I need to work with you?
A: That depends on you. Some people come short-term to work through specific issues. Others stay longer or return as life unfolds. After the first few sessions, I’ll offer my clinical opinion to help you understand what our path forward might look like—but you’ll always be in charge of your pace and goals.
Q. My family/friend/partner wants me to see a counsellor, but I’m not sure I believe in counselling. How could working with you help me?
A: I get it—counselling isn’t something everyone jumps into easily. You don’t have to believe in it to begin. You just have to be curious about whether something could feel better or different. I’m not here to fix you or tell you what to do. I walk beside people as they figure things out for themselves, in their own time. We focus on what’s actually going on for you—not labels or diagnoses, but real life. If you’re willing to show up, I’ll meet you there. That’s where change can start.
And if it doesn’t feel right just now—that’s okay too. It might just not be the right time.
Mental Health + Life Transitions
Q: My doctor diagnosed me with depression or anxiety, and I don’t know what to do.
A: First of all, you’ve already taken a big step by seeking support — you don’t have to figure this out on your own. Things can get better, especially when you have someone beside you who brings tools, insight, and a sense of calm to the process. Trust plays a big role in that.
My first suggestion is to look for a few counsellors, either locally or online. As you read their words, notice how you feel. Do they speak in a way that feels safe or supportive? That’s often the best place to start.
Trusting someone new can be hard — especially when you’re already feeling low or uncertain — but sometimes, trusting just enough to begin is how the change starts.
Q: Is it normal to feel stuck even when things seem fine on the outside?
A: Absolutely. You can have a good job, stable relationships, and still feel like something’s missing. Feeling stuck usually means something inside you is asking for attention, even if everything looks okay from the outside.
Q: How do I start healing when I don’t even know what’s wrong?
A: You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin. Sometimes it’s not even about “healing” right away — it’s about having a space where you feel safe, seen, and heard. That alone can shift something. Often, people come to me saying they feel off, disconnected, or like something’s heavy — but they can’t name it. That’s okay. We start by building trust, getting curious together, and slowing things down enough to notice what’s sitting just under the surface. You don’t need a clear plan or a big breakthrough on day one. Sometimes the most important step is simply showing up and letting someone walk beside you while it unfolds.
Q: What if I’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work?
A: You’re not alone in feeling that way. Things don’t always change by trying harder. Sometimes it’s about doing less — pausing, resting, or having someone help you slow down enough to notice what’s going on underneath. Not everyone finds it easy to be still. It can feel impossible when your mind is racing or your body’s holding years of tension. That’s why I focus on relationship first — building trust so we can figure out what slowing down actually looks like for you. Often, things begin to shift not through effort, but through kindness to self — and that’s something we can learn together.
Q: This isn’t the first time I’ve started therapy, and I’m worried it won’t work.
A: That’s a really valid feeling. Starting again can bring up frustration or doubt—especially if you’ve tried before and didn’t get what you needed. But every therapist, every space, every season in your life is different. If you’re here now, something in you is still hopeful. I’ll support you to take ownership of your healing, but I’ll also meet you where you’re at. Sometimes it’s not about starting over—it’s about doing it differently this time.
Ways we can work together
Q: What’s the difference between Coaching and Counselling?
A: Coaching is where I began my formal training in 2011. It’s typically present- and future-focused, helping you build clarity, set goals, and stay accountable as you move forward. Coaching often works well when you’re looking for structure, motivation, or support to make changes in your personal or professional life.
Counselling, on the other hand, often involves exploring past experiences, emotional patterns, and the deeper layers of what’s going on beneath the surface. It can be especially helpful when you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or struggling with things like grief, anxiety, depression, or life transitions.
Both offer support — they just focus in different areas. Some clients work with me for counselling, others for coaching, and some benefit from a mix of both. The most important thing is finding what feels most supportive and aligned with where you’re at.
Q: Do you offer mediation with families? How does it work?
A: Yes, I offer family mediation when it feels appropriate and helpful — but I do not provide legal mediation. The mediation I offer is focused on supporting communication, rebuilding trust, and helping family members hear each other more clearly. It’s a guided conversation where we work together to find common ground, especially during times of tension, change, or disconnection.
This isn’t about choosing sides or determining who’s right or wrong — it’s about creating a safe space where everyone has a voice and we can move forward with more clarity and care. We start by setting some shared ground rules and goals, and each session is tailored to the needs of your family.
Q. Do you work with adolescents and how does it work?
A: Yes, I work with adolescents aged 10 and up. You can find more information and book an appointment on the Work With Me page.
In our first session, the parent or guardian attends (either in person or virtually) to meet me, share background information, and learn how I work. This session is also a great chance for your adolescent to get a feel for who I am and whether they feel comfortable working with me.
My focus is always on building a relationship first — setting common ground and understanding what your adolescent is already doing well, then exploring how we can work together from there. When someone you love is struggling, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Sometimes, connecting with someone outside the family — someone who isn’t emotionally entangled — can help create the safety and understanding needed for things to start shifting.
Q. Do you work with older clients and what do they focus on?
A: Yes, I do. I’ve worked with clients across the lifespan, including people in their 70s and 80s. What we focus on really depends on the person—it’s always individual. Some explore past experiences, others are navigating grief, changing roles, relationships, or simply wanting space to reflect. It’s never too late to be heard or supported.
Q: Do you offer sessions and support through home support packages?
A: I have limited space available for home support packages when sessions are not held in person at my office in downtown Caloundra. These can include family mediation or counselling, depending on your needs.
The best first step is to create a client account and complete the intake forms. If you need help or have questions, feel free to contact me directly at tammy@tammyroche.com or leave a message on 0435 122 448 — I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.
Q: Do you work with or have experience in trauma treatment modalities?
A: Yes, I do. I’ve worked with trauma in many forms—grief, childhood experiences, relationship breakdowns, burnout, and more. I’ve trained in EMDR and use somatic-based approaches in my work. I also draw from narrative therapy and strengths-based counselling—while these aren’t trauma processing methods like EMDR, they’re powerful, trauma-informed ways of helping people make sense of their stories and reconnect with their strengths. I work with a lot of helpers—therapists, first responders, educators, carers—people who are often carrying heavy things while supporting others. My approach is always about safety, trust, and going at your pace. You don’t need to have all the words—we figure it out together.
Q. Do you work with NDIS clients?
A: I have worked with NDIS participants the last 6 years. Whats worked well has been offering support that’s flexible, values-based, and tailored to what matters most to the participant. I I also value collaboration with support coordinators and others involved in the participants plan. Whether it’s counselling, capacity building, or emotional support through life transitions—I focus on what helps you feel seen, supported, and understood.
Q: Do you offer clinical supervision?
A: I don’t offer clinical supervision.
What I offer is mentorship for Social Workers — this is focused on building and growing a values-based private practice. This is best suited to those who want to do business in a way that feels aligned and sustainable. Mentorship is offered in packages at specific times throughout the year.
The best place to explore if you want to work deeper with me is through my podcast, Social Worker in Private Practice — it’s a good feel for how I work and what I believe in.
Q: I have another question, where do I find out more?
A: Reach out to Jylian at jylian@tammyroche.com