SERVICES

Individual, Couple, and Family Counselling
Delivered Online or In-person to all adults and adolescents (12-years and older)

MENTAL HEALTH FOCUS AREAS

Elmarie supports the following mental health challenges: anxiety and depression, conflict, relationship issues, marital/couple issues, family issues, life transitions, identity concerns, neurodiversity, trauma, and grief and loss.

As a registered counsellor with ACA, Elmarie provides a safe, confidential therapeutic space that respects the complexity of all lived experiences. Whether an individual, couple, or family, she helps clients to explore patterns, process emotional pain, and develop practical strategies for meaningful, lasting change.

As a professional psychotherapist, she focuses on delivering evidence-based counselling and psychotherapy to all adolescents and adults (12-years and older) to support sustainable mental well-being. Elmarie welcomes clients from all genders, sexual orientations, identities, cultures, and faith groups.

If you are considering counselling, Elmarie invites you to schedule a complimentary 15-minute discovery session. Please complete the Book a Consultation form and take the first brave step towards supportive mental health and well-being. Learn more about my location and services through the following links.

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TYPES OF PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC SERVICES

  • Individual Therapy

    Individual therapy is tailored to your personal goals, capacity, and momentum. It is aimed at deepening self-awareness and developing sustainable coping strategies to support long-term emotional well-being.

    Counselling sessions can be attended in-person in Turner, Canberra, or online via a secure video platform, allowing flexibility around work, study, or family commitments.

    Elmarie welcomes clients from the age of 12-years of age, and genders, sexual orientations, identities, cultures, and faith groups.

  • Couple and Family Counselling

    Couple and Family counselling focuses on strengthening communication, rebuilding trust, and improving emotional safety in relationships. Whether it is marriage/couple therapy or broader family support, it provides a safe platform for individuals to voice their needs and develop healthier long-term communication patterns.

  • Trauma and Grief Counselling

    Trauma counselling addresses how past experiences continue to shape present reactions, behaviours, and emotional responses. Elmarie’s trauma-informed mental health counselling focuses on nervous system regulation, rebuilding resilience, restoring a sense of control, and improving mental wellbeing.

    Grief and loss can be overwhelming and deeply isolating. It can affect sleep, relationships, motivation, and daily functioning. Elmarie supports clients to process bereavement, anticipatory grief, and complex grief reactions at a client’s own pace. Grief counselling sessions focus on emotional expression, meaning-making, and the development of practical coping strategies to navigate and honour life after loss.

  • Creative Therapies Counselling

    Sometimes we do not have the words to verbalize feelings or thoughts. Elmarie uses creative ways of expression like art, poetry, dance, movement, and music as psychotherapeutic techniques to help clients gain deeper insight and develop alternative coping ways for challenging situations.

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Why Choose Elmarie Bekker Counselling?

Confidential
and
Safe Refuge

Person-centred:
Own story,
Own voice!

Evidence-based
Therapeutic
approach

Counsellor Qualifications:
BA (Social Work),
Master of Counselling

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Therapeutic Approach:

Elmarie’s work as a psychotherapist is grounded in person-centred practice and integrative therapeutical approaches. As a clinician with a BA (Social Work) and a Master of Counselling qualification, she approaches therapy with warmth, respect, and collaboration. She uses Family and System Theory, CBT, Schema Therapy, Gestalt, Parts work, Couples Therapy and many other therapeutical approaches to deliver attachment and trauma-informed care, responsive and shaped to fit each person’s lived experience. Clients develop deeper understanding of their identity and awareness of their feelings, thoughts and behaviours and they develop practical tools to navigate life’s complexities with greater clarity and resilience. If you have any questions or would like to arrange an appointment, please get in touch with Elmarie today.

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Introducing
Elmarie ...

As a qualified counsellor with a Master of Counselling and background in social work, Elmarie brings not only fifteen years of diverse social work experience, working with children and families in community and medical settings, but also a wealth of life experiences. She has embraced numerous roles as wife, mother, daughter, friend, family member, manager, migrant, student, neurodivergent individual, artist, and person of faith.

Elmarie Bekker Counselling operates from the premises of her counselling offices, North Canberra Counselling, in Turner, Canberra. Elmarie is a fully registered member of the Australian Counsellors’ Association (ACA), reflecting her dedication to professional standards and ethical counselling practice, as well as continuous education and training to enhance her professional skill set. Priding herself on being an authentic counsellor, Elmarie discloses her personal Christian faith. Professionally, she welcomes and respects clients from all cultures, genders, identities and sexual orientations as well as all faith denominations.

 

 

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WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY ...

“I came to see Elmarie during a very difficult season of my life – from the start she made me feel so comfortable in her compassionate and empathetic approach. I have truly looked forward to each session, as it has felt so healing for me. Highly recommend!”

Sophie
– 30/10/2025

“Elmarie was recommended by another counsellor whose books were closed. After the very first session I felt heard, validated and very safe, especially after my emotional breakdown in her office. Elmarie offered, over several weeks, proven scientific strategies, exercises, encouraging words and a soft, gentle approach to my brokenness. I have now been restored to my capable self, armed with strategies to keep me on track. I am extremely grateful and thankful to Elmarie for my restoration.”

Lucy
– 02/11/2025

“My husband and I were seeking help to navigate a deeply distressing family trauma, affecting our mental health. We found Elmarie and are so grateful for quickly developing a strong connection with her. Elmarie offered us a safe and respectful space where we were able to open up and share our deep hurt and pain. Elmarie is a warm, compassionate, empathetic, and trustworthy professional. Through Elmarie’s counselling, my husband and I have been able to move forward and feel happiness again. We would have no hesitation in recommending Elmarie Bekker Counselling. Regards kind,”

Kate & Mark
– 22/10/2025

Frequently Asked
Question

More Questions?

Counselling is a type of talk therapy that focus on mental health and well-being. No formal diagnosis or mental health condition is necessary. In counselling the focus is on understanding the client’s life story from their perspective and helping them finding a strategy to address the challenge in a more meaningful way. The process is person-centred, confidential, and non-judgemental, based on empathy and respect.

Psychiatrist – A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. They can diagnose illnesses or disorders according to the DSM-5R and prescribe medications.

Psychologist – In Australia, most clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental health conditions with psychotherapy. They are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medication, but have studied the human mind, mental health disorders, and the best treatment plans for several years at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. They generally work within the ‘medical model’ of mental health care and will be able to diagnose a client’s behaviour according to the DSM-5R.

Counsellor and Psychotherapist –  Counsellors and psychotherapists work holistically on a person’s mental wellbeing. It means examining the person within their system, considering how their feelings, thoughts, behaviours, and experiences have shaped their state of wellbeing and how this, in turn, affects their contentment with life.

It is advisable to look for counsellors and psychotherapists who are registered with the accrediting bodies such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Practitioners must have appropriate education and training to be members of the accrediting bodies and must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics. Elmarie is a registered member of ACA.

No referrals are needed. Counselling does not presently fall under Medicare-rebated mental health plans yet, and therefore no doctor’s referral is required. Despite no Medicare rebate, counselling is a cost-effective mental health service due to overall lower fees.

My current individual session fee is $140, and sessions are 50-60 minutes long.

For Couple counselling and Family counselling, the current session rate is $200 per session (regardless of the number of people attending) and is usually 90 minutes long. If it is necessary to have individual sessions for members of the couple or family, the fee is currently $175. It takes great skill to manage the system dynamics and maintain neutrality in working individually vs in a group setting.

I offer Brief Therapy sessions to clients who have been on the waiting lists for mental health services for an extended period of time. My current Brief Therapy session fee is $200. Sessions are approximately 75-90 minutes long.

For more information about the costs of other services I offer, please enquire using the contact form.

RESOURCES

Our Blog

How to Prepare for Your Brief Therapy Counselling Session?

Summary: There are many ways to prepare for your brief therapy. Reflect on what brings you to therapy and write…

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Articles

What brings couples to the counsellor’s couch?

One of the major reasons for couple relationship breakdown is the lack of having a unified couple identity, a ‘we-ness’.…

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POLICIES

Please read the Cancellation Policy and the Privacy Policy of Elmarie Bekker Counselling by clicking on the Read Policies-button. These policies guide service delivery and are an important tool to manage the therapeutic alliance.

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