- Thank You
Ms Amber Rules
Psychotherapist, Addictions Counsellor
Sydney Addictions Recovery
Leichhardt, Sydney NSW 2040
In Person + Telehealth
Philosophy & Vision
Do you struggle with alcohol, drugs, gambling or another addictive behaviour that is affecting your life, or the life of a loved one? I specialise in helping clients manage substance and compulsion addictions. Addiction is complex and seeking help can sometimes feel overwhelming. There are many treatment options available, and together we can find an approach that suits you.
I provide a safe, non-judgemental place for you to ask questions, explore the reasons why addiction has become a part of your life, and make choices for positive change. I take the approach that you are the expert in your life - my job is to help you work towards creating a life that you are happy and proud to live.
Background
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in the entertainment industry. I have an understanding of the difficulties that come with non-traditional and high-profile jobs, and I'm experienced in helping clients manage addiction issues when they travel frequently.
I have extensive experience working in several Sydney rehabilitation hospitals, as well as counselling services and group therapy programs. In particular, I have worked with the family members, including children, of people who use substances and potentially addictive behaviours.
Services
SPECIALITIES
Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling and Nicotine cessation
Working with family members
Individual counselling
Skype counselling
Impulse control difficulties
Emotion regulation difficulties
Personality disorders
Group therapy
Referrals and assistance for admission into national and international rehabilitation programs.
I proudly work with LGBTQIA+ clients and clients who work in the sex industry.
Quality Provision
I am a Clinical Member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, and I am required to abide by strict ethical guidelines. I regularly attend clinical supervision with an experienced supervisor, as well as ongoing training and development, to ensure I can provide the best and most up-to-date support for you.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Bach. Counselling, Human Change & App. Psychothera - 2011 - Jansen Newman Institute
- Group Psychotherapy Leadership and Facilitation - 2018 - Australian Institute of Counselling in Addictions
- Dip. of Assessment & Treatment of Problem Gambling - 2014 - Centre for Community Welfare Training
- Clinical Supervision - 2019 - Optimise Potential
Modalities
Compassion-Focused Therapy - DBT - Experiential - Interpersonal - Mindfulness - Person Centred - Psychodynamic - Systems Theory - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
I believe that most addictions form as a way of helping people cope with pain, trauma or other difficulties. My approach to counselling is collaborative and takes into account your whole life - your past, present, and what you want your future to be like. I support clients and their families with a mixture of education, counselling and safety strategies.
Professional Associations
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
Practice Locations
443 Parramatta Rd
Leichhardt NSW 2040
3 minute walk from buses on Parramatta Rd and Norton St, Leichhardt. 20 minute walk from Lewisham or Petersham train station. Metered street parking available, subject to time of day.
Appointments
Monday to Saturday
After hours appointments when available.
Fees & Insurance
$130 per 55 minute session
$195 per 85 minute session
Registered provider for Medibank Private and Bupa
Pending provider for Victims Services
I offer limited sliding scale sessions for low-income clients. Please get in touch to discuss your needs.
Payment Options
EFTPOS
Cash
Direct deposit by prior arrangement
Contact Amber
Please contact me to make an appointment
A conversation with Amber Rules
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I have family experience with addiction and mental illness, and as a young adult, I received support and care from some wonderful therapists who helped me make sense of it all. I was always so grateful for these counsellors, and admired them for choosing the profession.
Before I became a therapist, I worked in the entertainment industry. I spent a lot of time with musicians, actors, and other creatives, and many of them struggled with addiction as well. All of my experiences with addiction ultimately led me to becoming a therapist, and I am deeply grateful to be doing this work. -
I have a fondness for existential, absurdist and nihilist thinkers, but I'm not particularly attached to any - I lean on all types of thinking and approaches, both personally and professionally. I think the most worthwhile undertaking we can make as humans is to learn to see both sides of everything, and practice tolerating the grey area!
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I am especially interested in the phenomenon of addiction, and how our culture might learn from what it has to teach us.
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My method (if you can call it that!) is to listen to my clients, and offer support that meets their needs. Everyone is different and requires different things from counselling, so I prefer to focus on listening and collaborating with people in a way that is personally meaningful to them.
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My hope is that a client will feel progress after the first session - that they have learned something about themselves, or walk away with a sense that change is possible. I also know that progress or healing isn't linear, and that sometimes things feel a bit all over the place before they get better.
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This is a BIG question! I could write for pages about how therapy and being a therapist has helped me, but if I had to narrow it right down to a few key things, it would be;
1. It helps me care for myself
2. It helps me be responsible for myself
3. It helps me be connected to others and the world
4. It helps me lead a rich, meaningful life -
Another question I could write for pages about! There are many things I love about being a therapist, but the biggest thing is how grateful I am to witness people's healing and growth. I truly believe that counselling is a sacred experience that everyone deserves to have, and should have access to.
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I have literal bad hair days at least once a week! And yes, I have professional bad hair days like anyone else - fortunately, these moments often offer opportunities for my client and myself to understand each other and the therapeutic process better when they happen. One of the most thrilling parts of my job is when a client feels safe enough to tell me that I missed something important or didn't quite get something right. Bad hair days often lead the way for deeper connection and greater understanding.
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Empathy, both for ourselves and others. In my mind, empathy is a vital ingredient to feeling that we have enough and that we are enough. If we were more practised at empathy, I think we would suffer less, have more connected relationships, and live in a world that was safer for all of us.
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Tough question!
Book: "High Fidelity" by Nick Hornby
Film: I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I never get sick of watching "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy". Maybe it's not inspiring, but it's absurd, and I love absurdity!
Song: There's too many to pick, but I have always loved "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John because of that excellent scene in "Almost Famous" where they all sing it on the tour bus. (That's another movie I never get sick of - "Almost Famous"!)
Art: Anything by Mark Rothko