Eric Rangel Oliveira is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW).
AMHSWs are mental health specialists who support people across the entire continuum of mental health issues through prevention, early intervention, and treatment. They are qualified social workers (accredited by AASW and recognised by the Australian Government) with specialist expertise in mental health. They support individuals with mild to complex mental health issues, assessing and treating mental health issues in the following ways:
AMHSWs must comply with the AASW Code of Ethics, practice standards, and relevant Australian Commonwealth, State, and Territory laws regarding privacy, confidentiality, and consent. Further details regarding our privacy and confidentiality policy will be provided during your initial appointment and as part of our intake procedure.
At ERTC, your privacy and confidentiality are respected and protected in accordance with Australian privacy laws and ethical guidelines. What you share in sessions remains private and confidential, with a few important exceptions required by law or ethical practice, including:
Risk of harm: If there is a serious and immediate risk to your safety or the safety of others, I may need to share relevant information to help keep you or others safe.
Child protection and mandatory reporting: If I become aware of current or past abuse (physical, sexual or psychological), neglect (emotional and physical), or situations that may result in risk of significant harm to a child or vulnerable person, I am legally required to report this to appropriate authorities under NSW child protection laws.
Subpoenas and court orders: In rare cases, your records may be subpoenaed by a court of law, and I may be legally required to provide information or appear in court.
Serious criminal activity or threats: If there is disclosure of planned or ongoing serious criminal offences or threats to others, I may be required to report this to protect public safety.
Clinical supervision: To ensure safe and effective practice, aspects of client work may be discussed anonymously with a qualified clinical supervisor. This process is confidential (ensuring that the clients personal details are not disclosed) and focused on practitioner development and client care.
If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality, we encourage you to seek clarification so you can provide informed consent to engage with our services.
The first session provides an opportunity for both you and your therapist to become acquainted and discuss how the practice operates. During this appointment, your therapist will explore your background, presenting concerns, and any questions or preferences you may have about therapy.
As part of this process, your therapist will also conduct an initial triage and clinical assessment to determine whether the service is the most appropriate fit to meet your current therapeutic needs.
You do not need a referral to access psychotherapy or counselling with us. However, you require a referral (Mental Health Treatment Plan) from your GP to receive a Medicare Rebate.
ERTC – Eric Rangel Therapy & Consulting is a private counselling service that offers talk therapy and psychological support for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, and life changes.
ERTC provides counselling only, which means sessions are delivered in a safe setting either in person or via telehealth.
We do not provide crisis intervention, case coordination, or emergency mental health care.
ERTC is suitable for people who:
While counselling can be helpful for many people, it’s important that the service you choose matches your current needs and level of support.
ERTC is not an emergency or intensive service, so there are some situations where a different kind of support may be safer or more effective.
ERTC may not be the right service if you:
1. If you are in crisis or require a higher level of support
If you are experiencing an emotional crisis that involves imminent risk to yourself or others — such as active suicidal or homicidal behaviours or ideation, with plans, method and intention to act or — or if you are engaging in serious self-harm behaviours that could result in significant injury or disability, you may require a higher level of care than what can be safely provided at ERTC.
A higher level of care may include support from services that offer multidisciplinary teams and/or crisis-based interventions, such as:
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service – 1300 659 467
Mental Health Line – 1800 011 511
Kids Helpline (under 25s) – 1800 55 1800
Emergency Disclaimer: The Counselling provided through ERTC is not suitable for crisis management. In these situations, please contact your GP, the NSW Mental Health Line (1800 011 511), Lifeline (13 11 14), or go to your nearest emergency department.
2. You are experiencing severe distress, psychosis, or extreme emotional instability.
Suppose you are seeing or hearing things others don’t, feeling detached from reality, or unable to manage strong emotions safely. In that case, you may need a higher level of clinical care and ongoing medical support. At times when someone is feeling very unsafe, detached from reality, or unable to manage intense emotions, individual counselling may not be the safest or most effective starting point. These situations often require support from a multidisciplinary team or a hospital setting, where doctors, nurses, and mental health clinicians can work together to help you stabilise your mental state. Services such as Community Mental Health Teams or hospital-based programs are better equipped to help in these situations. Once you’re feeling safer and more settled, counselling can then be a valuable part of your ongoing recovery.
3. You are affected by substance use or severe or life threatening withdrawal
Counselling is most effective when you are alert, emotionally present, and able to think clearly about your experiences. Suppose you are currently using alcohol or other substances regularly or are experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms. In that case, this may affect your ability to concentrate, process emotions, and apply new coping strategies between sessions. In some cases—particularly when withdrawing from alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids—clients may require support from hospital-based or residential inpatient services to ensure safe medical management. Your safety and physical stabilisation are the first priorities. Support from a GP, drug and alcohol specialist, or detoxification service may be necessary during this period. Once you are feeling more stable and physically well, counselling can play a vital role in helping you develop long-term coping strategies, manage triggers, and maintain recovery.
4. You need intensive, ongoing support or case coordination between multiple services.
ERTC provides counselling and Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS) under the Better Access initiative (Medicare). Our services are designed to offer therapeutic support rather than case management or clinical care coordination. If you require a service that can provide integrated care coordination—for example, linking and liaising with NDIS-funded supports, clinical teams, social services, or hospital-based services—you may need to engage with another mental health or community service equipped to offer case management and referral support.
ERTC provides counselling services only and does not arrange referrals or coordinate care between services. In case you need a higher level of support than counselling can provide, in that case, you will be advised to contact your General Practitioner (GP) or another healthcare provider who can help you explore suitable options. This ensures you can access the support that best meets your current care needs and ensure your safety.
If, during therapy, your situation becomes unsafe or your needs increase beyond what can be provided in counselling, we’ll discuss this together and you may need to be referred to another service that can provide higher level of care.
With your consent, we will help connect you to services that can provide the care you need — for example, your GP, psychiatrist, or local mental health service.
ERTC does not provide after-hours or crisis services.
If you ever feel unsafe or are in immediate distress, please contact:
Counselling services at Eric Rangel Therapy & Consulting (ERTC) focus on therapeutic treatment only. This includes psychological assessment and therapy during sessions, brief updates to your GP, and clinical record-keeping.
If required, a brief treatment summary (outlining sessions attended and general therapy focus) can be provided for your GP or treating team.
The following are not within our service scope of practice:
We provide services to clients aged 18 years and over.
Booking an Appointment at ERTC (Step by Step)
Link: https://www.ertc.com.au/cancellation-rescheduling-policy/
Link: https://www.ertc.com.au/rebates-and-referrals/
Link: https://www.ertc.com.au/book-an-appointment/
Select your location and service type to be able to view available appointment times:
Important Note: The initial appointment confirmation is contingent on completing the intake process 24 hours prior to your first session. Completing these forms is essential for triaging and helping us understand your needs, ensuring that counselling at ERTC is the right fit and the most appropriate and safe level of care for your current needs.
If you are accessing support through the Better Access Initiative (e.g., sessions that are bulk-billed or with Medicare rebates), you must provide:
Your Medicare card details
A valid GP referral letter and Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)
Important: Without this documentation, ERTC cannot process bulk-billing or rebates for you, and the full private session fee will apply.
Important: Rebates cannot be backdated for sessions before obtaining a valid plan, but can be claimed later if the plan was already valid.
Suppose you haven’t provided your Medicare card, GP referral, or Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) before your session. In this case, ERTC will not be able to process the Medicare rebates on your behalf electronically. In that case, the session fee will be charged as a private appointment payable by you. However, you can still claim your rebate directly from Medicare. For further guidance, please consult Services Australia (Medicare Claims Webpage).
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to us.
