Our team - Charles Maddison

Charles Maddison

Psychotherapist, EMDR Therapist, Family Therapist, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
BBA, MBA, MSW, Grad Dip Family Therapy
Member AASW. Affiliate member APS. Associate member EMDRAA

Many people sometimes struggle to understand their emotions and behaviour - maybe they get angry too easily, or become upset for no apparent reason. Other people are often well aware of why they need some mental health support, due to historical and / or current problems.

I always ask clients: "What do you want to be different in your life when our work is done?" The client's answer may be specific or vague, surprising or long-known to them. Either way, I can help you answer those and many other questions - but only if you truly want to overcome the mental health challenges that prevent you from behaving like the person you want to be.

I chiefly treat adults who present with trauma symptoms or autism (diagnosed or undiagnosed), initially looking at relationships, emotions and productivity. Psychoeducation and our rapport are critical - clients need to feel safe and know as much about their mental health as I do.

People living with trauma or autism typically show a cluster of symptoms: general anxiety, social anxiety, poor anger management, emotional dysregulation, relationship challenges, avoidance, poor sleep and substance abuse among others. These symptoms will keep recurring until the underlying trauma or autism is named and managed. That's where I can help.

I also offer EMDR, CBT, relaxation techniques, motivational interviewing, career counselling, couples and family therapy.

Where I can help

Taking a whole-of-system approach to clients’ problems, Charles has broad experience in treating various mental health challenges including:

• Issues related to trauma (post-traumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, sexual and physical assault, intergenerational trauma, moral trauma)
• Symptoms associated with adult Autism
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Families and couples in conflict
• Career difficulties and other life challenges
• Emotional dysregulation
• Grief and loss

Client types

I see self-referred private clients, as well as clients referred by GPs and psychiatrists for psychology services under Medicare's Better Access to Mental Health initiative. I also see clients referred with funding from Open Arms, WorkSafe, TAC, EAP and the NDIS.

Therapeutic Approaches

With a warm, relaxed style balanced by direct interactions as required, Charles tailors therapy depending on clients’ needs and goals, emphasising a strong relationship between client and therapist. He deploys evidence-based therapeutic modalities including:

• Psychoeducation
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
• CBT
• Prolonged Exposure therapy
• Assertiveness training
• Anger management
• Relaxation techniques
• Interpersonal therapy
• Motivational interviewing
• Parent coaching
• Drawing on my extensive background as an executive in corporate, government and NFP organisations, I also provide EAP and career counselling services

Qualifications

• Graduate Diploma of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (Bower Place Training)
• Graduate Master of Social Work (Flinders University)
• Master of Business Administration (Macquarie University)
• Bachelor of Arts – English literature (University of Newcastle)

Professional Memberships:

• Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) – accredited Mental Health Social Worker
• Australian Psychological Society (APS) – Affiliate member
• EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) - Associate member

Fees:

Contact Charles to enquire about session fees.
Fees are for a 50min session.

Appointments:

• Face to face and telehealth sessions: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
• Telehealth only on Thursday.
• All sessions by appointment. Please call me on 0415 093 378 or email me to book a session.

Age groups I see:

Adults, Young Adults, Seniors.

Medicare rebates:

Clients with a current Mental Health Care Plan and a referral from their GP can claim a Medicare rebate of $79.05 when they attend sessions with me, for up to 20 sessions in a calendar year (this includes any sessions with another therapist you may have attended and claimed for during the same calendar year).

Medicare rebates are not available for couple counselling sessions.

Your Medicare rebate will be processed for you on the day of your session, provided you have a current GP referral and mental health treatment plan, or a psychiatrist referral.

I do not process private health rebates.

Discounted Fees:

Discounted fees may be available to clients in difficult financial circumstances. This may also include students and welfare recipients.

Please contact me to discuss your financial situation before making a booking. Note that discounted fees are not available outside business hours.

Billing and Payment:

• For new clients, I require full payment in advance to secure your first appointment.
• Appointments at or after 6pm must also be pre-paid (all clients).
• Refunds for cancelled sessions are always available in appropriate circumstances. See the cancellation requirements below.

Cancellations and Reschedules:

Sessions cancelled or rescheduled at very short notice impact on other people's ability to attend.

I therefore charge cancellations fees for cancellations or reschedules done within 24 hours of the appointment, so that other people on the wait list can be cared for.

I require at least 24 hours’ notice for an appointment cancellation or reschedule.

I send you an email reminder two days before your next appointment and a text reminder one day (but more than 24 hours) before your appointment so you have enough time to cancel or reschedule.

Late cancellations or reschedules within 24 hours of the appointment are charged at 50% of the fee. Cancellations or reschedules within 24 hours of the appointment, including no-shows, are charged at 100% of the fee and no refund applies.

Cancellation fees are waived for medical emergencies if you provide a medical certificate, or a nominal positive test result in case of Covid-19 or Monkeypox.

In case of no-show (no notice given) or in case of two consecutive cancellations I reserve the right to not make further appointments without prepayment.

Language spoken:

Contact Charles Maddison:

• Phone: 0415 093 378
• Email: charles.mentalhealth@yahoo.com
• Office Address: Suite 1012, Level 10, 530 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000