Jake Zakarauskas

Registered Counsellor

Counsellor at Inner Discovery Therapy

My work is largely informed by my psychotherapeutic training in various modalities and my experience of over 18 years in meditation and daily mindfulness. I completed a Bachelor degree in Counselling & Human Change with the Jansen Newman Institute in 2011, when I was 27 and have been working in the mental health space since 2012.

I continue my own personal and professional development in counselling and psychotherapy as well as my study and practice of meditation to cultivate greater self-awareness, a kind heart and a more peaceful and resilient approach to life; all qualities that I believe are central to a meaningful and satisfying existence as a person.

As a neurodiversity-affirming therapist, I seek not to pathologise but to understand, and to work with people’s strengths as well as their weaknesses.

I believe therapy should be accessible for everyone, and as such I offer sliding-scale rates to accommodate your financial position. I look forward to hopefully speaking with and meeting you soon!

Services I Offer

Bachelor of Counselling & Human Change (2011) - Jansen Newman Institute

Certified Practising Counsellor - PACFA (Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia)

Qualifications

FAQs

  • Therapy usually works best when done on a regular weekly basis to build a safe and solid foundation for work, but if that does not work for you, we will find a more flexible approach that suits your needs, be that fortnightly or something different.

  • Therapy takes anywhere between a few months to a number of years. This depends on what is bringing you in, how well we connect and how deep you want our work to go. I recommend at least 6 sessions where we can discuss needs, build rapport and develop a plan to reach your goals.

  • We agree on what you are hoping to get out of seeing me at the beginning of our work together. We then review regularly how we are progressing, talk about what is working well for you and if anything needs to change. Regular reflections on our work give you a chance to appreciate how far you have come and reassess your needs as they may have changed. When you are ready to end therapy, it is a good idea to arrange a session to allow for a healthy closure.

  • Individual sessions are 60 minutes long. Usually there is a natural closure to what has been worked on around that time of the session. This is generally a suitable time frame for processing and exploring what is presented without becoming overwhelming.

  • My fees vary, depending on your financial position, which you will describe in your intake form. $120 is the highest fee I charge for those who are financially comfortable.

    At the time of booking, the secure booking system will ask for credit/debit card details and will charge you after the session is completed.

    If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, at least 24 hours notice is required. Any cancellations within 24-hours will attract a full fee.

  • No, my services do not fall under the Medicare scheme (or your Mental Health Plan from your GP), only psychologists and some social workers work under the Medicare scheme and therefore get rebates. 

    With current fees charged by most psychologists, you still need to pay a gap fee, which is approximately the same as, or more than, the fees that I charge.

Prefer to have a quick, free chat first?

Interested in working together but not quite sure yet? I offer a 15-minute confidential phone call to allow you to meet me and discuss any concerns before you decide whether to commence therapy.