FAQ

Living Fully

Living Fully is the umbrella for Kate’s work as a counsellor, educator and practitioner.
It brings together two pathways:
- Neuroptimal® neurofeedback for nervous system support
- Piano With Soul for creative development and expression
Both are grounded in a calm, respectful approach that supports the individual rather than directing or forcing change.
Living Fully supports both children and adults.
Some people come seeking support for the nervous system — such as feeling overwhelmed, unsettled, or not quite themselves.
Others come through creativity — particularly children who benefit from a more natural, supportive approach to learning.
No.
You are welcome to begin with a session or enquiry and see how it feels before deciding what is right for you.
Living Fully is based in North-East Melbourne.
Neuroptimal® systems are also available for home hire and can be posted Australia-wide.

Piano with Soul

Piano With Soul is Kate’s individualised piano lesson pathway for children, teens and adults.
It combines musical foundations with a calm, creative and emotionally supportive approach, helping students build confidence, expression and a meaningful relationship with music.
Piano With Soul lessons are offered in Eltham, North East Melbourne, and online via Zoom.
Online lessons can be a flexible option for students who prefer learning from home or who are no longer able to attend in person.
Lessons are suitable for children, teens and adults, including beginners, returning students, sensitive learners, creative students and people who may not have felt comfortable in more traditional lesson environments.
No. Beginners are welcome.
Lessons are shaped around each student’s pace, confidence, learning style and musical interests.
Yes. Piano With Soul is often a good fit for learners who need a gentler, more attuned and individualised approach.
Kate supports the whole learner, including their confidence, emotional experience, creativity and nervous system needs.
Yes. Lessons can include technique, music reading, rhythm, repertoire, listening, improvisation, composition and creative exploration.
The difference is that these skills are taught in a way that feels supportive, flexible and suited to the individual.
Yes. Adults are very welcome.
Some adults are complete beginners, while others are returning to piano after many years. Lessons are shaped around your goals, pace and confidence.
Current lesson options are:
30 minute sessions: $50
45 minute sessions: $75
You can book a trial lesson or send an enquiry through the Piano With Soul page.
The first lesson is a gentle way to meet Kate, explore your goals and see whether the approach feels right.

The Piano with Soul Approach

Book Lesson

Neuroptimal® Feedback

Neuroptimal® is a non-invasive system that provides the brain with information about its own activity in real time.
Rather than directing the brain, it allows the brain to observe itself and make natural adjustments toward greater balance.
Neuroptimal® is non-directive.
It does not train the brain toward a specific outcome or target particular conditions. Instead, it supports the brain’s own ability to self-regulate.
Small sensors are placed lightly on the scalp and ears.
You then sit comfortably, usually watching a film, while the system runs.
At certain moments, the sound briefly pauses. This provides feedback to the brain about what it is doing in real time.
Sessions typically run for around 33 minutes.
No.
There is nothing you need to do. You are not required to focus, perform, or try to achieve anything.
Most people find sessions relaxing.
Some notice changes over time in areas such as calm, clarity, or sleep, while others simply enjoy the opportunity to rest.
Each person’s experience is different.
People come for many different reasons.
These may include:
- feeling overwhelmed or stressed
- difficulty settling or switching off
- sleep challenges
- focus and attention
- emotional regulation
Others simply use it to support overall wellbeing.
Yes.
Neuroptimal® is gentle and does not require effort or explanation, which makes it well suited to children.
This varies.
Some people begin with a few sessions, while others choose to continue over time.
Kate will be able to suggest the number of sessions depending on your individual needs.
In-house sessions are often done once or twice per week initially.
If you choose to rent a machine, daily use depending on your needs are often suggested. For acute needs, twice daily can provide even greater support.
Frequency can be adjusted depending on your experience and preference.
Neuroptimal® is non-invasive and does not introduce anything into the body.
It simply provides feedback to the brain.
If you have specific concerns, you are welcome to get in touch to discuss them.
No.
Neuroptimal® is not a medical treatment and is not intended to diagnose or treat medical conditions.
It supports the brain’s natural ability to regulate itself.
Do I need a diagnosis?

Neuroptimal® Home Hire

Yes.
Neuroptimal® systems are available for hire and can be posted Australia-wide.
No.
You will be guided through the setup so you feel comfortable using the system.
Home hire allows:
- more frequent sessions
- flexibility in timing
- use in your own environment
No.
There is nothing you need to do. You are not required to focus, perform, or try to achieve anything.
Most people find sessions relaxing.
Some notice changes over time in areas such as calm, clarity, or sleep, while others simply enjoy the opportunity to rest.
Each person’s experience is different.
People come for many different reasons.
These may include:
- feeling overwhelmed or stressed
- difficulty settling or switching off
- sleep challenges
- focus and attention
- emotional regulation
Others simply use it to support overall wellbeing.
Yes.
Neuroptimal® is gentle and does not require effort or explanation, which makes it well suited to children.
This varies.
Some people begin with a few sessions, while others choose to continue over time.
Kate will be able to suggest the number of sessions depending on your individual needs.
In-house sessions are often done once or twice per week initially.
If you choose to rent a machine, daily use depending on your needs are often suggested. For acute needs, twice daily can provide even greater support.
Frequency can be adjusted depending on your experience and preference.
Neuroptimal® is non-invasive and does not introduce anything into the body.
It simply provides feedback to the brain.
If you have specific concerns, you are welcome to get in touch to discuss them.
No.
Neuroptimal® is not a medical treatment and is not intended to diagnose or treat medical conditions.
It supports the brain’s natural ability to regulate itself.
Do I need a diagnosis?

Soul-Centered Counselling

Soul-Centred Counselling is a gentle, reflective approach that supports the whole person: emotional, mental, relational and spiritual.
In my work, this means creating a safe and compassionate space where you can slow down, be heard, and explore what is happening beneath the surface of everyday life.
Rather than focusing only on what feels wrong, Soul-Centred Counselling supports you to reconnect with your inner wisdom, understand yourself more deeply, and move through life with greater clarity, steadiness and self-trust.
Soul-Centred Counselling includes many of the qualities people often look for in counselling: deep listening, emotional support, reflection and a non-judgemental space.
What makes this approach different is that it honours the whole person. We may explore your emotions, thoughts, relationships, life experiences, values, intuition, sense of meaning, and the deeper parts of yourself that may have been quietened, overwhelmed or overlooked.
My role is not to tell you who to be. It is to support you as you reconnect with what feels true, steady and meaningful within yourself.
No. You do not need to follow any particular belief system or think of yourself as spiritual.
In this work, the word “soul” simply points to the deeper self: the part of you that holds meaning, truth, values, intuition and the desire to live in a way that feels more authentic.
Sessions are always guided by your own beliefs, comfort level and lived experience.
People may come to Soul-Centred Counselling for many reasons, including:
Emotional overwhelm
Stress or burnout
Grief and loss
Life transitions
Relationship challenges
Parenting or family stress
Low confidence or self-worth
Feeling disconnected from yourself
Sensitivity or emotional intensity
A sense of feeling stuck
A desire for deeper self-understanding
Support during times of change or uncertainty
You do not need to be in crisis to come to counselling. Sometimes you may simply know that something within you needs space, care and attention.
Each session gives you space to talk about what is present for you.
You may come with a specific issue, or you may simply arrive with a feeling that something is unclear, heavy or unresolved. Together, we gently explore your thoughts, emotions, patterns, needs and inner responses.
There is no pressure to have everything worked out before you arrive. You do not need to explain yourself perfectly.
We begin where you are.
No. My role is not to give you instructions about your life or tell you which choices to make.
Soul-Centred Counselling is collaborative and respectful. I support you to listen more deeply to yourself, explore what feels true, and find your own next steps with greater clarity and confidence.
There may be gentle reflection, questions, observations or tools offered along the way, but the process is always centred around you.
Yes. I offer Soul-Centred Counselling for children, teens and adults, adapting each session to the age, needs and personality of the person I am working with.
For children, this may include gentle conversation, creativity, playfulness, emotional language and simple reflection. The focus is on helping them feel safe, heard and supported in a way that feels natural and age-appropriate.
For teens, sessions can offer a calm and non-judgemental space to explore emotions, confidence, identity, friendships, school pressure, family dynamics, sensitivity and life changes.
My role is to meet each person where they are, without pressure to explain everything perfectly.
That is completely okay.
You do not need to arrive with a clear topic or a polished explanation. Sometimes the first step is simply having space to slow down, be heard and notice what begins to emerge.
A session can begin with whatever feels present, even if that is simply, “I’m not sure where to start.”
Yes, Soul-Centred Counselling can be supportive for people experiencing anxiety, stress or overwhelm, particularly when these feelings are connected to life pressure, emotional load, family dynamics, transitions, grief or disconnection from self.
This work offers space to gently explore what may be sitting underneath those feelings and what kind of support, steadiness or change may be needed.
If you are experiencing severe distress, risk of harm, trauma symptoms or significant mental health concerns, it is important to also seek support from a GP, psychologist, psychiatrist or crisis service.
Soul-Centred Counselling is a form of counselling and emotional support. It provides a private, reflective space for personal growth, self-understanding and wellbeing.
It is not a replacement for medical care, crisis support, psychiatric treatment or specialised mental health intervention where those are needed.
This varies from person to person.
Some people come for a few sessions while moving through a particular challenge or transition. Others choose ongoing support as part of their emotional wellbeing, self-reflection or personal growth.
There is no pressure to commit long term before you know whether this approach feels right for you.
Yes. Sessions are private and treated with care and respect.
As with all counselling and wellbeing services, there are some legal and ethical limits to confidentiality. If there is a serious risk of harm to you or another person, or where disclosure is required by law, I may need to take appropriate steps to keep people safe.
This can be discussed clearly before or during your first session.
Yes, where appropriate.
At Living Fully, Soul-Centred Counselling sits alongside other gentle, nervous-system-informed offerings such as neurofeedback and Piano with Soul.
Each offering has its own purpose. Counselling provides space for reflection, emotional support and self-understanding. Neurofeedback supports nervous system regulation. Piano with Soul offers a creative, expressive and confidence-building way to learn music.
The right pathway depends on your needs, preferences and goals.
Soul-Centred Counselling may be a good fit if you are looking for a calm, compassionate and reflective space where you can be heard without judgement.
It may suit you if you want support that honours both your everyday life and your deeper inner experience.
The best way to begin is with an enquiry or first session, where you can ask questions and get a feel for the approach.
You can get in touch through the contact or booking enquiry form.
Share a little about what you are looking for, and I will help you understand the next best step.