Luke La Vie's Services
01.
​As a trained professional with 15 years of experience, Luke offers therapy for a wide range of needs, such as:
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Adjustment (life changes, acute stress)
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Addictions (gambling, alcohol, drugs, gaming)
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Anger Management
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Anxiety and stress
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Assertiveness
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Bipolar
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Body dysmorphia (body image)
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Borderline personality
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Burnout
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Childhood trauma
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Decision making
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Depression
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Eating disorders including bulimia,
binge eating (not anorexia) -
Family conflict
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Fly-in fly-out (FIFO) issues
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Grief and loss
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Hair-pulling
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Infidelity
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Mindfulness and relaxation
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Managing strong emotions (Mood dysregulation)
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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Panic attacks and agorophobia
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Parenting skills
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Personal development
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Perfectionism
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Problem solving
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Relationship conflict
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Self-esteem and confidence
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Self-image
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Skin picking (excoriation)
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Sleep problems
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Social anxiety
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Somatic anxiety I.e. concerns about symptoms aka illness anxiety
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Social skills
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Sleep and insomnia
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Trauma and post-traumatic stress
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Workplace stress and workplace bullying
However, this is by no means an exhaustive list, so please do contact Luke to discuss your personal circumstances and needs.
02.
The first step is for you to get in contact, so we can have a brief chat, and decide on a time that works for us both to meet for an initial session.
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In the first session we will be able to discuss the difficulties you are experiencing, and what you would like your life to be like instead. For example, maybe you're currently worrying a lot, feeling stressed and eating less and sleeping less. Your goals would be to feel more relaxed, to be eating more and sleeping more. This first session is also a chance for you to consider whether you would like to work with me.
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That said, if you're ready to start eliminating those difficulties and changing your life for the better, click the Book Now button to be taken to our online booking link. We use Power Diary as it allows the ease of clients booking online. There's no need to call or email and wait for a response. You can instantly see when I am available and book in your next sessions at a time that suits you.
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Currently I have no waitlist and appointments available immediately.
03.
First session
Our first psychology session is a thorough assessment of your difficulties. We look at all aspects of your life right now - work, relationships, health, family and more. Also, we explore your life history, as often there are things that have been affecting people over the long-term. For example, you may have difficulty sleeping, be feeling stressed and be eating less. Through discussing your life, a possible cause is that when you grew up, one of your parents was often worried, and you have learnt to do this in different situations. The worrying causes stress, and feeling stressed means you struggle to sleep and don't feel like eating. Psychology helps by building practical skills, so in every psychology session you will always leave with at least one thing that will help you change your life for the better. Continuing this example, at the end of the first session we would practice a relaxation skill that you can use each day, so that you are more able to sleep and are less stressed.
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Second session
Our second psychology session is aimed at understanding what aspects of your life might be contributing to the difficulties. For example, maybe there is someone at work who is bullying you. This would have different effects throughout your entire life including your health, your family and relationships. Also we examine what significant events and challenges in your history may contribute to the current difficulties. For example, maybe you were bullied at school and so the current challenge is made more difficult because of painful memories.
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We form specific, measurable therapy goals from understanding your difficulties, and your life and your life history. To continue the example, the person was experiencing worry, stress and consequently eating less and sleeping less. Our therapy goals would include worrying less, feeling happier and more relaxed as well as feeling less stressed, and returning to healthy levels of eating and sleeping.
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Further sessions
Further psychology sessions are always working towards the therapy goals. To continue the example, we may have an entire session dedicated to sleep, understanding sleep, learning about any relevant factors (caffeine, exercise, routines, timing), and working on strategies to help with the specific difficulties the person is facing - worrying and stress.
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Overall, we always aim to understand the root cause of the difficulties. For example, not everyone who is worried has trouble sleeping. So we aim to assist with ensuring that you return to health sleeping and can relax, and also understand why you weren't sleeping and help with the causes. Maybe there are family stresses that are playing a role in the worrying, and so we would help you with that too. Ultimately, if we deal with the root cause of the difficulties, it will take more time, but it will mean that you will be unlikely to relapse and experience the difficulties again in the future. Consequently, building these skills and making these changes that make the rest of your life much better.
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04.
Each session will last an hour, and the fee per hour is $150 (AUD).
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Am I covered under Medicare?
If you have seen your doctor and they have created a GP Mental Health Care Plan, you will be eligible for Medicare rebates ($92.30 each session as of October 2023). We have online processing that allows this to be sent to your nominated bank account. You can have up to ten sessions with Medicare rebates each calendar year; six sessions with your first GP referral, and four with your second GP referral.
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Can I use my private health fund?
Absolutely. As I have a Medicare provider number, there are many private health funds that offer rebates. We recommend speaking directly to your private health fund to ensure you know exactly what is available to you under your health cover.
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Do you accept DVA clients?
We welcome DVA clients, DVA Health Cards (Gold and White) are accepted as payment upon a GP referral.
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I'd like more information and assistance.
If you have any questions about your specific circumstances, please click the below 'Contact Luke' button and I will answer them for you.
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05.
I offer online sessions via the video-conferencing service within Power Diary. Power Diary is also the same safe, confidential system that we use to hold client files and have online bookings. I've chosen to work online as it allows more flexibility for both myself and clients . We don't have to worry about working out how long it will take to travel there and back, as well as setting aside the time for appointments; no hassles with parking, or waiting in a waiting room. It's as simple as clicking the link on your mobile, tablet, laptop or PC and we're connected and having the session.
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Usually, I would recommend a regular fortnightly time slot as I find it creates a steady pace for development. Of course, we can be flexible to fit in with each other's schedules if this isn't possible.