Find the Right Service
Not sure where to start? We’ll help you understand the options and choose the most appropriate next step.
Help me choose a serviceA clear place to begin.
Best Life Therapy & Mediation offers several types of counselling, family support and dispute-resolution services.
We understand that it isn’t always obvious which appointment to choose, particularly when children, separation or Court-related matters are involved.
The options below explain the main services, who they may suit and what happens first.
If you’re still unsure, please contact the practice before booking. We can help you work out the most appropriate next step.
Current appointment availability
Current availability includes:
- Joel WeirImmediate availability
- Sherine MacquartImmediate availability
- Madison CantImmediate availability
- Charity CholaSome availability
- Raelene HoggSee current availability in Halaxy
- Maria SleightBy request or waitlist
Availability can change, and not every practitioner provides every service. Please contact the practice if you need help choosing the correct practitioner or appointment.
I’m looking for counselling for myself
Individual counselling provides a private space to talk through what has been happening and receive support suited to your circumstances.
People may seek individual counselling for:
- Stress, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed
- Relationship or family concerns
- Grief, loss or significant life changes
- Difficulties with emotional regulation
- Low confidence or feeling stuck
- Neurodivergence-related concerns
- The effects of separation or changes within the family
- Other personal or emotional concerns
The team includes practitioners who work with adults in person and by telehealth where appropriate.
Current adult counselling availability includes appointments with Joel, Sherine and Charity, subject to suitability and current appointment availability.
What happens first?
Individual counselling can generally be booked directly.
If you’re unsure which practitioner may be the best fit, contact the practice first and we’ll help direct you.
Before booking, you can review our Costs & Fees and Frequently Asked Questions.
I’m looking for counselling for my child or teenager
Child and adolescent counselling may be suitable for children and young people who need support with their emotions, behaviour, relationships or changes happening in their lives.
Families may seek support for concerns including:
- Anxiety or feeling overwhelmed
- Emotional regulation
- School refusal or difficulty attending school
- Bullying or friendship concerns
- Changes in behaviour
- Neurodivergence, including autism or ADHD-related needs
- Family separation or moving between two homes
- Grief, loss or major changes
- Difficulties communicating what they are experiencing
The practice takes a child-focused, trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming approach.
What happens first?
A parent or caregiver consultation is required before counselling begins with a child or adolescent.
This first appointment allows the practitioner to understand what has been happening, discuss the family’s concerns, explain the service and confirm the most appropriate next step.
Please do not book the child or adolescent directly before completing the parent or caregiver consultation.
You can also view the practitioners who support children and young people.
Families navigating separation may also find Co-Parenting Neurodivergent Children helpful.
Current child and adolescent counselling availability includes Joel, Sherine and Charity, subject to suitability and current appointment availability.
Final suitability will depend on the child’s age, needs and the practitioner’s availability and scope.
We’re looking for couples counselling
Couples counselling supports people who want to better understand what is happening within their relationship and work through concerns together.
Couples may seek counselling for:
- Communication difficulties
- Frequent conflict or recurring disagreements
- Emotional distance or disconnection
- Trust concerns
- Changes in the relationship
- Parenting disagreements
- Neurodiversity within the relationship
- Considering separation
- Adjusting to significant life or family changes
How is this different from family dispute resolution?
Couples counselling focuses on the relationship, communication and emotional concerns between the people attending.
Family dispute resolution is a separate process generally used when separated or separating people need help discussing parenting or other family arrangements.
What happens first?
Couples counselling can generally be booked directly. If you’re unsure which practitioner or appointment type is right for you, please enquire first so the practice can confirm:
- Which practitioner currently provides couples counselling
- Current appointment availability
- Whether in-person or telehealth appointments are suitable
- The correct appointment type
I need family dispute resolution
Family dispute resolution, sometimes called family mediation, is a structured process for separated or separating people who need help discussing family arrangements.
It may be suitable where people need support discussing matters such as:
- Parenting arrangements
- Communication about children
- Changes to existing arrangements
- Co-parenting concerns
- Other family matters following separation
The Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner remains independent and does not act as either person’s therapist or lawyer.
What happens first?
Each person involved in family dispute resolution completes a separate intake appointment.
One person can contact the practice or begin the process first. The practice will then explain the next steps and how the other party is invited to participate.
Please do not book both parties into the same initial appointment.
Current family dispute resolution availability includes Madison, subject to confirmation that the matter is suitable for the service.
Is family dispute resolution counselling?
No.
Family dispute resolution focuses on helping people discuss specific family matters and consider possible agreements.
Counselling focuses on emotional wellbeing, relationships and personal or family concerns.
For further context, read Neurodiversity and Family Law Matters.
I’ve been referred for Court-related family therapy
Some families come to Best Life following a recommendation or referral from a lawyer, Independent Children’s Lawyer, Court or another professional.
Court-related therapeutic services are different from ordinary counselling and family dispute resolution.
The purpose of the work, confidentiality arrangements, information-sharing requirements and practitioner role may be affected by the referral or Court orders.
What happens first?
Please contact the practice before booking.
The practice may need to review information including:
- The referral
- Relevant Court orders
- The reason the service has been requested
- Who is expected to participate
- Any reporting or information-sharing requirements
The practice will then confirm whether the referral is within scope, which practitioner may be appropriate and what needs to happen next.
Please do not book a general counselling appointment for a Court-related matter unless the practice has confirmed that this is the correct pathway.
You can explore more information in our Resources, including Neurodiversity and Family Law Matters.
I’m a professional making a referral
Best Life Therapy & Mediation accepts suitable professional referrals across selected counselling, family support, family dispute resolution and Court-related services.
Referrals may come from:
- Family lawyers
- Independent Children’s Lawyers
- GPs and paediatricians
- Psychologists and psychiatrists
- Allied health practitioners
- Schools and education providers
- Hospitals and community services
- Other professionals involved with the client or family
What happens first?
Please contact the practice through the professional referral pathway.
The practice will confirm:
- Whether the service is currently accepting referrals
- Which practitioner may be suitable
- Current availability
- Any information or documents required
- The appropriate way to provide supporting information
- The next step for the client or family
Please do not send detailed clinical, legal or Court documents through a general website enquiry unless the practice has confirmed the correct method.
I’m not sure which service is right
That’s completely fine.
There can be overlap between counselling, family therapy, couples counselling, family dispute resolution and Court-related work.
You don’t need to work it out on your own before contacting the practice.
When getting in touch, it helps to include:
- Who is seeking support
- Whether the enquiry is for an adult, couple, child, teenager or family
- A brief description of the support needed
- Whether the matter involves separation, mediation, lawyers or Court orders
- Whether an in-person or telehealth appointment is preferred
- Whether an appointment is needed on a particular day
The practice will help identify the most appropriate service and next step.
You may also find answers about appointments, referrals and rebates in our Frequently Asked Questions.
Understanding the Different Services
A simple overview of how each service differs, so you can quickly identify the pathway that best matches your needs.
Individual counselling
Individual counselling focuses on one person’s emotional wellbeing, experiences, relationships or personal concerns.
Child and adolescent counselling
Child and adolescent counselling supports a child or young person, with parent or caregiver involvement where appropriate.
A parent or caregiver consultation is completed before counselling begins with the child or adolescent.
Couples counselling
Couples counselling focuses on the relationship between the people attending, including communication, connection, trust and recurring concerns.
It is not the same as family dispute resolution.
Family dispute resolution
Family dispute resolution is a structured process for separated or separating people who need help discussing parenting or other family arrangements.
Each party completes a separate intake appointment before any joint process begins.
Court-related family therapy
Court-related therapeutic work may involve Court orders, professional referrals or specific information-sharing requirements.
The practice needs to review the referral and confirm suitability before an appointment is booked.
Professional referrals
Professional referrals follow a separate process so the practice can confirm scope, capacity, documentation requirements and the most suitable practitioner.
In-Person and Telehealth Appointments
In-person appointments are available at Best Life Therapy & Mediation in Leeming, Western Australia.
Telehealth appointments are also available for suitable services and clients.
Not every service or matter will be appropriate for telehealth, particularly where there are specific family law, Court or participation requirements.
Please contact the practice if you’re unsure.
Review the current Costs & Fees or contact the practice if you need help confirming the right appointment type.
Helpful information before you book.
Learn more about the practice, compare services and explore practical resources before choosing your next step.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Choose the option that best matches what you need, or contact the practice if you’re still unsure.
The team will help you understand the correct booking process before you begin.