I provide personalised support for NDIS participants through Counselling / Therapy Supports and Psychosocial Recovery Coaching.

My approach is grounded in mindfulness, counselling, somatic psychotherapy, psychoeducation and practical capacity building, with a focus on helping people develop greater independence, resilience, self-understanding and meaningful participation in everyday life.

The specific support we provide will depend on your NDIS plan, goals, disability-related support needs and the funding available within your plan.

NDIS COUNSELLING & THERAPY SUPPORTS

Counselling can support NDIS participants to develop skills and capacity in areas affected by disability, including emotional regulation, relationships, communication, decision-making, daily functioning and participation in everyday life.

Who Can Benefit?

Counselling may be appropriate for participants who want support to:

• strengthen emotional regulation and coping skills;

• better manage the functional impacts of stress, anxiety or emotional overwhelm;

• develop confidence and self-understanding;

• improve communication and interpersonal relationships;

• reduce social isolation and build meaningful connection;

• develop strategies for navigating disability-related challenges;

• strengthen decision-making and problem-solving;

• work through significant transitions or changes;

• develop greater independence in everyday life; or

• build practical skills that support participation at home, work or in the community.

What Counselling Can Support

Sessions are tailored to your individual circumstances, NDIS goals and functional needs.

Areas of focus may include:

Emotional Regulation

Develop greater awareness of emotions, triggers and patterns, alongside practical strategies for responding more effectively to stress and overwhelm.

Relationships & Communication

Build communication, boundaries, social confidence and relationship skills that support greater connection with others.

Daily Living & Independence

Develop routines, planning, organisation, decision-making and other skills that support greater independence in everyday life.

Coping & Resilience

Build practical strategies for navigating difficult situations, change, setbacks and disability-related challenges.

Social & Community Participation

Strengthen confidence, interpersonal skills and capacity to engage more meaningfully with relationships, community, education or employment.

Life Transitions

Support adjustment to changes such as increased independence, changes in living arrangements, study, employment or other significant life transitions.

How Counselling Fits Into Your NDIS Plan

NDIS-funded therapy supports are intended to help build or maintain your functional capacity and independence.

Where counselling is included as an appropriate support within your plan, it may be funded through Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living or another relevant stated therapy support.

Your NDIS funding must be used in accordance with the supports described in your plan.

During our initial sessions, we clarify your NDIS goals, current challenges and the functional outcomes you would like to work toward. Our work can then be reviewed over time in relation to those goals.

Counselling through the NDIS is not intended to replace medical, psychiatric or acute mental-health treatment that is more appropriately provided through the health system.

PSYCHOSOCIAL RECOVERY COACHING

If you live with psychosocial disability, you may also have funding in your NDIS plan for a Psychosocial Recovery Coach.

Psychosocial Recovery Coaching is different from counselling.

Rather than primarily focusing on therapeutic processing, a Recovery Coach works alongside you to help you build capacity, understand and organise your supports, strengthen independence and move toward a meaningful life on your own terms.

Recovery Coaching can combine practical support, planning, capacity building and relationship-based guidance.

What Is a Psychosocial Recovery Coach?

A Psychosocial Recovery Coach supports people whose mental-health condition has a significant and ongoing impact on everyday functioning.

Recovery is not necessarily about eliminating every difficulty.

It is about developing the skills, supports, confidence and capacity to live a meaningful life while navigating the challenges that may be present.

Our work may include helping you:

• build capacity and resilience;

• identify your strengths and personal goals;

• better understand and use your NDIS plan;

• identify, plan and organise appropriate supports;

• strengthen decision-making and self-advocacy;

• develop routines and greater independence;

• connect with community and mainstream services;

• engage effectively with mental-health and other professional supports;

• develop strategies for periods when you need additional support;

• strengthen social and community participation;

• navigate work, relationships and everyday responsibilities; and

• gradually increase choice and control over your life.

A Holistic Approach to Psychosocial Recovery

My approach to recovery coaching is grounded in the understanding that a meaningful life involves more than simply managing symptoms.

We can work across areas such as:

Emotional wellbeing
Understanding patterns, recognising triggers and developing ways of regulating yourself during difficult periods.

Daily living
Creating routines, structures and practical strategies that support everyday functioning.

Relationships
Developing communication, boundaries, confidence and healthier ways of relating.

Purpose and direction
Clarifying what matters to you and identifying meaningful goals to work toward.

Community connection
Identifying opportunities for connection, participation and support outside formal services.

Choice and self-advocacy
Strengthening your ability to understand your options, communicate your needs and make informed decisions.

Working with your support network
Helping your different supports work together more effectively where appropriate and with your consent.

Recovery Coaching and Counselling Are Different Services

I offer both services, but they have different purposes.

Counselling / Therapy Supports focus primarily on building functional capacity through therapeutic work, skill development and psychological support related to the impact of disability.

Psychosocial Recovery Coaching has a broader recovery and capacity-building role and can include helping you understand your NDIS plan, organise supports, connect with services, develop independence and work toward your recovery goals.

Depending on your circumstances and NDIS plan, you may use one or both types of support.

Where I provide more than one type of service, we will be clear about which service is being provided, its purpose and how it relates to your NDIS goals and funding.

Who Can Access Psychosocial Recovery Coaching?

Recovery Coaching is generally intended for NDIS participants with psychosocial disability or psychosocial support needs whose plan includes funding for this support.

The number of Recovery Coaching hours available depends on your individual NDIS plan.

If you're unsure whether you have appropriate funding, you can check your plan, speak with your NDIS contact or plan manager, or contact me and we can look at the relevant support information together.

WHY WORK WITH MICHAEL?

My work combines more than a decade of professional counselling and facilitation experience with over twenty years of mindfulness and personal-development practice.

My approach is collaborative, practical and person-centred.

I aim to:

• provide a respectful and non-judgmental relationship;

• understand you as a whole person rather than simply a diagnosis;

• work at a pace that is appropriate for you;

• build practical skills rather than creating unnecessary dependence on services;

• support greater choice, agency and independence;

• integrate mindfulness, somatic awareness and psychological understanding where appropriate;

• work collaboratively with other members of your support network with your consent; and

• keep our work connected to meaningful goals in your everyday life.

HOW TO GET STARTED

If you are an NDIS participant interested in working together, you are welcome to get in touch.

Let me know whether you are looking for:

Counselling / Therapy Supports

or

Psychosocial Recovery Coaching

If you're unsure, we can discuss your needs, your NDIS goals and the funding available within your plan before deciding whether my services are appropriate.

GET IN TOUCH

I look forward to hearing from you.

May all beings be happy.

Michael Vaccaro – New Way of Being

BCouns, GradCertAppMind, CertMedHolCouns
PACFA Clinical Registrant 26952

NDIS SUPPORT ITEMS

Counselling / Therapy Supports

15_043_0128_1_3 — Therapy – Counsellor – Direct Service

Current national price limit: $156.16 per hour

Counselling and therapy supports focused on developing or maintaining functional capacity, skills and independence in relation to a participant's disability.

Psychosocial Recovery Coaching

07_101_0106_6_3 — Psychosocial Recovery Coaching – Weekday Daytime

Current national price limit: $110.44 per hour

Recovery-focused support for participants with psychosocial disability, including capacity building, organising and coordinating supports, strengthening resilience and decision-making, and connecting with community and mainstream services.

Different NDIS price limits and support item numbers apply to evening, night, weekend, public-holiday, remote and very remote services.

About NDIS Funding

NDIS funding and support arrangements differ between participants.

Having NDIS funding does not automatically mean that every service described on this page can be claimed from your plan. Services must be appropriate to your disability-related support needs and consistent with the funding and supports available within your individual plan.

Current NDIS support-item descriptions and price limits may change from time to time.