Frequently Asked Questions |
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Whether you are considering your first session, exploring a specific concern, or a professional interested in training and supervision, the answers below are designed to give you a clear and honest picture of the work at Discover Balance. If something isn't covered here, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
ABOUT DISCOVER BALANCE
What is Discover Balance?
Discover Balance is a specialist counselling and hypnotherapy practice based in St Kilda, Melbourne, founded and led by Georgina Delamain. The practice offers an integrative, mind-body approach to emotional and physical wellbeing, drawing on clinical hypnotherapy, counselling, somatic techniques, and specialist expertise in the gut-brain axis. The guiding philosophy is simple: everyone deserves to say, 'I am happy being me.
Who is Georgina Delamain?
Georgina is a qualified clinical hypnotherapist and counsellor with specialist experience working in hospital and multidisciplinary settings, including a functional gut clinic. She has developed expertise across a wide range of areas including mind-gut health, habit and behaviour change, trauma, inner-child work, and somatic approaches. She also trains and supervises other practitioners through professional workshops and one-to-one supervision.
What makes Discover Balance different from a standard counselling or hypnotherapy practice?
Most practices offer either counselling or hypnotherapy. At Discover Balance, the two are always integrated meaning sessions are grounded in a genuine therapeutic relationship while also drawing on the deeper change potential of clinical hypnotherapy. Georgina's specialist background in mind-gut health, neurodiversity, and body-based approaches means clients receive a level of integrative expertise that is rare in private practice.
What concerns can hypnotherapy help with?
Hypnotherapy can support a wide range of emotional, psychological and physical concerns. Here are some of the most common areas people come to Discover Balance for help with:
Not sure if your concern is on this list? Please get in touch — if hypnotherapy can help, Georgina will tell you honestly, and if another approach would serve you better, she will offer you a professional recommendation.
What is the philosophy behind the practice?
The belief at the heart of Discover Balance is that lasting change comes from working with the whole person not just symptoms or behaviours, but the underlying patterns, nervous system responses, and life experiences that shape how we feel and function. The approach is compassionate, evidence-informed, and deeply individual. No two people are the same, and no two sessions are either.
Does Discover Balance work with other health professionals?
Yes. Georgina regularly collaborates with GPs, gastroenterologists, psychologists and other allied health practitioners. This is particularly common in mind-gut work as well as neuordiversity, where a multidisciplinary approach often leads to the best outcomes. If you are already working with another health professional, Georgina is happy to liaise with them where appropriate and with your consent.
SERVICES
What services does Discover Balance offer?
Discover Balance offers individual counselling and hypnotherapy for adults, teenagers and children; couples counselling; gut-directed hypnotherapy and mind-gut health sessions; support for neurodiverse individuals and families; habit and behaviour change programs; and experiential workshops for professionals. Clinical supervision is also available for practitioners.
Do you offer online sessions as well as in-person?
Yes. Sessions are available both in person in St Kilda, Melbourne, and online via Zoom. Online sessions are just as effective for most areas of work and make Discover Balance accessible to clients across Australia and internationally.
Do you offer couples counselling?
Yes. Couples counselling is available for partners navigating relationship difficulties, communication breakdowns, life transitions, or the impact of one partner's mental or physical health on the relationship. Sessions draw on the same integrative, compassionate approach used in individual work.
Do you work with children and teenagers?
Yes. Georgina has experience working with children, teenagers and their families across a range of emotional, behavioural and developmental concerns. The therapeutic approach is always adapted to suit the age, communication style and needs of the young person. Support for neurodiverse children and families is also a particular area of experience.
Can sessions be claimed on private health insurance or Medicare?
At this time Medicare does not provide hypnotherapy rebate. Many health insurance funds do offer health rebated options. Georgina is happy to discuss this during an initial enquiry.
EXPERTISE & APPROACH
What therapeutic approaches do you draw on?
Sessions at Discover Balance draw on a range of evidence-informed approaches including clinical hypnotherapy, person-centred counselling, somatic experiencing, Polyvagal Theory, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gestalt techniques, NLP, and inner-child and parts-based work. The approach is always tailored to the individual no single method is applied to everyone.
What is gut-directed hypnotherapy?
Gut-directed hypnotherapy is a clinically recognised approach for functional gut conditions such as IBS, chronic constipation, bloating and nausea. It uses guided relaxation and imagery to help calm the nervous system's influence on the digestive system, reduce visceral sensitivity, and restore a sense of safety in the body. At Discover Balance, this is always combined with counselling and somatic work to address the emotional and psychological dimensions of gut health.
What is the gut-brain axis and why does it matter therapeutically?
The gut-brain axis is the two-way communication network linking the brain and the digestive system through the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. This means that emotional states directly affect gut function and that gut discomfort can amplify anxiety, low mood and stress. Understanding and working with this connection is central to Georgina's approach to conditions like IBS, and to many other presentations where physical and emotional symptoms are intertwined.
How do you approach trauma?
Trauma is approached gently and at the client's pace. Georgina draws on somatic and body-based approaches including somatic focusing, safe-place visualisation and inner-child reconnection that work with the nervous system rather than requiring clients to repeatedly retell their story. The aim is always to build a felt sense of safety before any deeper processing begins.
What is your approach to habit and behaviour change?
Habit change at Discover Balance is rooted in neuroscience and compassion rather than willpower and shame. Most habits exist because they are meeting a real need however unhelpfully. Sessions explore what's driving the behaviour, address the underlying need, and use hypnotic rehearsal and habit redesign to install new, sustainable responses. This approach is particularly effective for body-focused repetitive behaviours such as nail-biting, skin-picking and hair-pulling.
Do you work with neurodiversity?
Yes. Georgina has experience supporting neurodiverse individuals including those with ADHD, autism spectrum conditions and related profiles as well as their families. Sessions are adapted to suit each person's sensory needs, communication preferences and way of processing, and the approach is always strengths-based and non-pathologising.
How do somatic techniques fit into your work?
Somatic techniques help clients reconnect with the wisdom of the body — learning to notice, name and work with physical sensations rather than override or fear them. At Discover Balance, somatic focusing, body scanning and breath-based regulation are woven into sessions where appropriate, particularly for clients dealing with anxiety, gut issues, trauma or chronic stress. The body is treated as an ally in the healing process, not an obstacle.
Has Georgina worked in clinical settings beyond private practice?
Yes. Georgina has specialist experience working in hospital and multidisciplinary settings, including at a functional gut clinic where she worked alongside gastroenterologists and other health professionals with complex presentations. This clinical background informs her private practice and gives her a depth of experience that is unusual at the individual practitioner level.
Does Georgina contribute to the broader professional community?
Yes. Georgina is an active trainer and educator within the hypnotherapy and counselling professions, running professional development workshops and providing clinical supervision to other practitioners. Her work has been featured in industry media and podcasts where she shares more on her integrative approach to mind-body health.
THE CLIENT EXPERIENCE
How is each client treated as an individual?
No two sessions at Discover Balance are the same. Before any technique is introduced, Georgina takes time to understand each person's history, personality, goals and what has or hasn't worked before. The blend of approaches used — and the pace, language and style of sessions is shaped entirely by the individual. Clients are never fitted to a method; the method is fitted to them.
What can I expect in my first session?
Your first session is simply a conversation. There is no pressure and no agenda beyond understanding what brings you here and what you are hoping for. Georgina will explain how she works, answer any questions, and begin to get a sense of what approach might suit you best. Some clients begin gentle relaxation or hypnotherapy work in the first session; others simply spend the time talking. It unfolds at your pace.
How many sessions will I need?
This depends on what you are working on and how you respond. Some clients notice significant shifts in three to six sessions; others benefit from longer-term support. Georgina will give you an honest sense of what to expect once she understands your situation. You are never locked into a set number of sessions, and the goal is always to help you reach a point where you no longer need to come.
What if I have tried therapy before and it hasn't worked?
This is one of the most common things Georgina hears and one of the reasons the integrative approach at Discover Balance exists. If talking therapy alone hasn't reached the root of the issue, working with the body and the subconscious mind through hypnotherapy and somatic techniques can open up new pathways for change. Many clients come to Discover Balance after years of feeling stuck and find that a different approach makes all the difference.
Is everything discussed in sessions confidential?
Yes. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship. Everything discussed in sessions is private, with the standard exceptions required by law such as if there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else. Georgina will explain the limits of confidentiality clearly at the outset so you know exactly where you stand.
RESULTS & OUTCOMES
What results do clients typically experience?
Clients commonly report reductions in anxiety, improved sleep, greater self-worth, relief from gut symptoms, freedom from long-standing habits, and a more compassionate relationship with themselves. Many describe a sense of finally feeling heard and understood and of change happening in a way that feels sustainable rather than forced. Please see the client testimonials page for more information.
Where can I read more about the work and approach?
The Discover Balance website includes a blog, recommended reading list (please contact Georgina for password), audio resources (please contact Georgina for password), and client testimonials. Georgina has also appeared as a guest on external platforms discussing her approach, which can be found via the blog section on her website as well as her professional LinkedIn and Instagram pages.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR CLIENTS
Where are you located?
In-person sessions are held in St Kilda, Melbourne. Please contact Georgina directly for more information.
How much do sessions cost?
Current fees are listed on the Discover Balance contact and booking page. Georgina is happy to discuss fees during an initial enquiry and can advise on any available rebate options.
How do I make a booking?
You can book directly via the contact form or call or email Georgina directly. Georgina is always happy to have a brief introductory conversation to understand your needs before you commit to a session.
What is your cancellation policy?
Discover Balance requests as much as possible if clients need to reschedule so this time can be offered to someone else. Any cancellation made within 24 hours of the appointment will incur the full fee.
Is hypnotherapy safe? Can anyone be hypnotised?
Hypnotherapy is safe when practised by a qualified clinical hypnotherapist. You remain fully aware and in control throughout you cannot be made to do or say anything against your will. Most people can experience a useful hypnotic state, though depth varies between individuals. Georgina will always discuss whether hypnotherapy is the right fit for your situation before proceeding.
FOR PROFESSIONALS
Do you run professional workshops and offer supervision?
Yes. Georgina runs professional development workshops for hypnotherapists and allied health practitioners. Topics include mind-gut hypnotherapy, working with body-focused repetitive behaviours, habit and behaviour change, and in a newer workshop Relationship with the Shadow Self, which explores how integrating disowned parts deepens our capacity to hold space for clients and to help them do the same. Full details and upcoming dates can be found at the Professional Workshops page.
Georgina is also an accredited supervisor and offers supervision to other hypnotherapists on request. More information is available on the supervision page.
Who are the professional workshops suitable for?
Workshops are designed for qualified or trainee and qualified hypnotherapists as well as other allied health practitioners who want to expand their clinical toolkit. Sessions are practical, interactive and immediately applicable with live demonstrations, case examples and supervised practice built into each workshop.
What does clinical supervision with Georgina involve?
Supervision at Discover Balance offers practitioners a reflective, supportive space to explore their client work, develop their clinical thinking, and address challenges arising in practice. Georgina draws on her integrative background including mind-gut, somatic and hypnotherapy approaches to offer supervision that goes beyond case management into genuine professional and personal development.
Can workshops be delivered to teams or organisations?
Yes. Georgina is available to deliver tailored workshops and training to clinical teams, wellbeing organisations and allied health groups. Please get in touch the contact and booking page to discuss your needs.
Ready to take the next step?
Book a session or send an enquiry via the buttom below.
"Everyone deserves to say: I am happy being me."
ABOUT DISCOVER BALANCE
What is Discover Balance?
Discover Balance is a specialist counselling and hypnotherapy practice based in St Kilda, Melbourne, founded and led by Georgina Delamain. The practice offers an integrative, mind-body approach to emotional and physical wellbeing, drawing on clinical hypnotherapy, counselling, somatic techniques, and specialist expertise in the gut-brain axis. The guiding philosophy is simple: everyone deserves to say, 'I am happy being me.
Who is Georgina Delamain?
Georgina is a qualified clinical hypnotherapist and counsellor with specialist experience working in hospital and multidisciplinary settings, including a functional gut clinic. She has developed expertise across a wide range of areas including mind-gut health, habit and behaviour change, trauma, inner-child work, and somatic approaches. She also trains and supervises other practitioners through professional workshops and one-to-one supervision.
What makes Discover Balance different from a standard counselling or hypnotherapy practice?
Most practices offer either counselling or hypnotherapy. At Discover Balance, the two are always integrated meaning sessions are grounded in a genuine therapeutic relationship while also drawing on the deeper change potential of clinical hypnotherapy. Georgina's specialist background in mind-gut health, neurodiversity, and body-based approaches means clients receive a level of integrative expertise that is rare in private practice.
What concerns can hypnotherapy help with?
Hypnotherapy can support a wide range of emotional, psychological and physical concerns. Here are some of the most common areas people come to Discover Balance for help with:
- Anxiety & worry — Including generalised anxiety, social anxiety and panic.
- Depression & low mood — Rebuilding motivation, self-worth and a sense of hope.
- Stress & burnout — Calming the nervous system and restoring balance.
- Habits & repetitive behaviours — Nail-biting, skin-picking, hair-pulling, smoking and more.
- Addiction & dependency — Alcohol, gambling and other compulsive patterns rooted in the reward cycle.
- Phobias — Fears of flying, spiders, needles, social situations and beyond.
- Confidence & self-worth — Letting go of self-doubt and stepping into your potential.
- Sleep problems — Breaking cycles of insomnia and restless nights.
- Grief & loss — Processing change, bereavement and life transitions.
- Trauma & past experiences — Gently working through what still feels unresolved.
- Gut health & IBS — Addressing the emotional roots of physical symptoms.
- Weight & relationship with food — Compassionate change without restriction or shame.
- Performance & focus — Sport, work, exams and creative blocks.
- Anger & emotional regulation — Understanding and working with difficult emotions.
- Relationships & communication — Patterns that keep showing up across connections.
Not sure if your concern is on this list? Please get in touch — if hypnotherapy can help, Georgina will tell you honestly, and if another approach would serve you better, she will offer you a professional recommendation.
What is the philosophy behind the practice?
The belief at the heart of Discover Balance is that lasting change comes from working with the whole person not just symptoms or behaviours, but the underlying patterns, nervous system responses, and life experiences that shape how we feel and function. The approach is compassionate, evidence-informed, and deeply individual. No two people are the same, and no two sessions are either.
Does Discover Balance work with other health professionals?
Yes. Georgina regularly collaborates with GPs, gastroenterologists, psychologists and other allied health practitioners. This is particularly common in mind-gut work as well as neuordiversity, where a multidisciplinary approach often leads to the best outcomes. If you are already working with another health professional, Georgina is happy to liaise with them where appropriate and with your consent.
SERVICES
What services does Discover Balance offer?
Discover Balance offers individual counselling and hypnotherapy for adults, teenagers and children; couples counselling; gut-directed hypnotherapy and mind-gut health sessions; support for neurodiverse individuals and families; habit and behaviour change programs; and experiential workshops for professionals. Clinical supervision is also available for practitioners.
Do you offer online sessions as well as in-person?
Yes. Sessions are available both in person in St Kilda, Melbourne, and online via Zoom. Online sessions are just as effective for most areas of work and make Discover Balance accessible to clients across Australia and internationally.
Do you offer couples counselling?
Yes. Couples counselling is available for partners navigating relationship difficulties, communication breakdowns, life transitions, or the impact of one partner's mental or physical health on the relationship. Sessions draw on the same integrative, compassionate approach used in individual work.
Do you work with children and teenagers?
Yes. Georgina has experience working with children, teenagers and their families across a range of emotional, behavioural and developmental concerns. The therapeutic approach is always adapted to suit the age, communication style and needs of the young person. Support for neurodiverse children and families is also a particular area of experience.
Can sessions be claimed on private health insurance or Medicare?
At this time Medicare does not provide hypnotherapy rebate. Many health insurance funds do offer health rebated options. Georgina is happy to discuss this during an initial enquiry.
EXPERTISE & APPROACH
What therapeutic approaches do you draw on?
Sessions at Discover Balance draw on a range of evidence-informed approaches including clinical hypnotherapy, person-centred counselling, somatic experiencing, Polyvagal Theory, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gestalt techniques, NLP, and inner-child and parts-based work. The approach is always tailored to the individual no single method is applied to everyone.
What is gut-directed hypnotherapy?
Gut-directed hypnotherapy is a clinically recognised approach for functional gut conditions such as IBS, chronic constipation, bloating and nausea. It uses guided relaxation and imagery to help calm the nervous system's influence on the digestive system, reduce visceral sensitivity, and restore a sense of safety in the body. At Discover Balance, this is always combined with counselling and somatic work to address the emotional and psychological dimensions of gut health.
What is the gut-brain axis and why does it matter therapeutically?
The gut-brain axis is the two-way communication network linking the brain and the digestive system through the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. This means that emotional states directly affect gut function and that gut discomfort can amplify anxiety, low mood and stress. Understanding and working with this connection is central to Georgina's approach to conditions like IBS, and to many other presentations where physical and emotional symptoms are intertwined.
How do you approach trauma?
Trauma is approached gently and at the client's pace. Georgina draws on somatic and body-based approaches including somatic focusing, safe-place visualisation and inner-child reconnection that work with the nervous system rather than requiring clients to repeatedly retell their story. The aim is always to build a felt sense of safety before any deeper processing begins.
What is your approach to habit and behaviour change?
Habit change at Discover Balance is rooted in neuroscience and compassion rather than willpower and shame. Most habits exist because they are meeting a real need however unhelpfully. Sessions explore what's driving the behaviour, address the underlying need, and use hypnotic rehearsal and habit redesign to install new, sustainable responses. This approach is particularly effective for body-focused repetitive behaviours such as nail-biting, skin-picking and hair-pulling.
Do you work with neurodiversity?
Yes. Georgina has experience supporting neurodiverse individuals including those with ADHD, autism spectrum conditions and related profiles as well as their families. Sessions are adapted to suit each person's sensory needs, communication preferences and way of processing, and the approach is always strengths-based and non-pathologising.
How do somatic techniques fit into your work?
Somatic techniques help clients reconnect with the wisdom of the body — learning to notice, name and work with physical sensations rather than override or fear them. At Discover Balance, somatic focusing, body scanning and breath-based regulation are woven into sessions where appropriate, particularly for clients dealing with anxiety, gut issues, trauma or chronic stress. The body is treated as an ally in the healing process, not an obstacle.
Has Georgina worked in clinical settings beyond private practice?
Yes. Georgina has specialist experience working in hospital and multidisciplinary settings, including at a functional gut clinic where she worked alongside gastroenterologists and other health professionals with complex presentations. This clinical background informs her private practice and gives her a depth of experience that is unusual at the individual practitioner level.
Does Georgina contribute to the broader professional community?
Yes. Georgina is an active trainer and educator within the hypnotherapy and counselling professions, running professional development workshops and providing clinical supervision to other practitioners. Her work has been featured in industry media and podcasts where she shares more on her integrative approach to mind-body health.
THE CLIENT EXPERIENCE
How is each client treated as an individual?
No two sessions at Discover Balance are the same. Before any technique is introduced, Georgina takes time to understand each person's history, personality, goals and what has or hasn't worked before. The blend of approaches used — and the pace, language and style of sessions is shaped entirely by the individual. Clients are never fitted to a method; the method is fitted to them.
What can I expect in my first session?
Your first session is simply a conversation. There is no pressure and no agenda beyond understanding what brings you here and what you are hoping for. Georgina will explain how she works, answer any questions, and begin to get a sense of what approach might suit you best. Some clients begin gentle relaxation or hypnotherapy work in the first session; others simply spend the time talking. It unfolds at your pace.
How many sessions will I need?
This depends on what you are working on and how you respond. Some clients notice significant shifts in three to six sessions; others benefit from longer-term support. Georgina will give you an honest sense of what to expect once she understands your situation. You are never locked into a set number of sessions, and the goal is always to help you reach a point where you no longer need to come.
What if I have tried therapy before and it hasn't worked?
This is one of the most common things Georgina hears and one of the reasons the integrative approach at Discover Balance exists. If talking therapy alone hasn't reached the root of the issue, working with the body and the subconscious mind through hypnotherapy and somatic techniques can open up new pathways for change. Many clients come to Discover Balance after years of feeling stuck and find that a different approach makes all the difference.
Is everything discussed in sessions confidential?
Yes. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship. Everything discussed in sessions is private, with the standard exceptions required by law such as if there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else. Georgina will explain the limits of confidentiality clearly at the outset so you know exactly where you stand.
RESULTS & OUTCOMES
What results do clients typically experience?
Clients commonly report reductions in anxiety, improved sleep, greater self-worth, relief from gut symptoms, freedom from long-standing habits, and a more compassionate relationship with themselves. Many describe a sense of finally feeling heard and understood and of change happening in a way that feels sustainable rather than forced. Please see the client testimonials page for more information.
Where can I read more about the work and approach?
The Discover Balance website includes a blog, recommended reading list (please contact Georgina for password), audio resources (please contact Georgina for password), and client testimonials. Georgina has also appeared as a guest on external platforms discussing her approach, which can be found via the blog section on her website as well as her professional LinkedIn and Instagram pages.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR CLIENTS
Where are you located?
In-person sessions are held in St Kilda, Melbourne. Please contact Georgina directly for more information.
How much do sessions cost?
Current fees are listed on the Discover Balance contact and booking page. Georgina is happy to discuss fees during an initial enquiry and can advise on any available rebate options.
How do I make a booking?
You can book directly via the contact form or call or email Georgina directly. Georgina is always happy to have a brief introductory conversation to understand your needs before you commit to a session.
What is your cancellation policy?
Discover Balance requests as much as possible if clients need to reschedule so this time can be offered to someone else. Any cancellation made within 24 hours of the appointment will incur the full fee.
Is hypnotherapy safe? Can anyone be hypnotised?
Hypnotherapy is safe when practised by a qualified clinical hypnotherapist. You remain fully aware and in control throughout you cannot be made to do or say anything against your will. Most people can experience a useful hypnotic state, though depth varies between individuals. Georgina will always discuss whether hypnotherapy is the right fit for your situation before proceeding.
FOR PROFESSIONALS
Do you run professional workshops and offer supervision?
Yes. Georgina runs professional development workshops for hypnotherapists and allied health practitioners. Topics include mind-gut hypnotherapy, working with body-focused repetitive behaviours, habit and behaviour change, and in a newer workshop Relationship with the Shadow Self, which explores how integrating disowned parts deepens our capacity to hold space for clients and to help them do the same. Full details and upcoming dates can be found at the Professional Workshops page.
Georgina is also an accredited supervisor and offers supervision to other hypnotherapists on request. More information is available on the supervision page.
Who are the professional workshops suitable for?
Workshops are designed for qualified or trainee and qualified hypnotherapists as well as other allied health practitioners who want to expand their clinical toolkit. Sessions are practical, interactive and immediately applicable with live demonstrations, case examples and supervised practice built into each workshop.
What does clinical supervision with Georgina involve?
Supervision at Discover Balance offers practitioners a reflective, supportive space to explore their client work, develop their clinical thinking, and address challenges arising in practice. Georgina draws on her integrative background including mind-gut, somatic and hypnotherapy approaches to offer supervision that goes beyond case management into genuine professional and personal development.
Can workshops be delivered to teams or organisations?
Yes. Georgina is available to deliver tailored workshops and training to clinical teams, wellbeing organisations and allied health groups. Please get in touch the contact and booking page to discuss your needs.
Ready to take the next step?
Book a session or send an enquiry via the buttom below.
"Everyone deserves to say: I am happy being me."