The Hart Centre Reviews 5

Highly professional organisation who have a wide and diverse network of skilled therapists

My experience with the Hart Centre has been a breath of fresh air. I have felt supported, validated and respected. I hold them in high professional regard. Excellent customer service.

I find The Hart Centre engaging, responsive and very professional.
Well done.
Dorianne

Please note that I engaged the Hart Centre for individual counselling, not couples therapy, so take this review with a grain of salt.

I sought counselling individually to learn how to better support my partner. Overall, I felt disappointed and didn't really get anything I couldn't use ChatGPT to help with.

My first counsellor, Darlene Barton, was warm and personable, but spent too much time talking about herself, her accomplishments and relationship. The session stirred up difficult emotions without providing practical tools to manage them. Thankfully, I already had tools to use from my previous therapist. I also received several follow-up emails, which all seemed to highlight the possibility of divorce. They left me feeling anxious, and made me think I was being scared into making more appointments for counselling to avoid a "big scary divorce". Edit: The setting was very professional, comfortable, private and located next to a posh hotel in Canberra city. The receptionist even brought me a glass of water on a platter, and a green tea for Darleen at the start of the session.

My second counsellor, Fiona, was a good listener and asked thoughtful questions, but felt somewhat impersonal. I felt like I was a checklist rather than somebody who was in pain. The session focused on reframing the problem repeatedly, rather than offering clear, actionable strategies for improving communication. The setting was well decorated but felt uncomfortable and not very private since it was a re-purposed shed with glass doors next to the main house.

I noted that both counsellors had very well-designed websites, Ai scribing tools, Apple products, which made me think that more money was spent on the appearance of professionalism rather than honing the craft.

While both counsellors were very welcoming and listened attentively, I didn’t gain enough practical value to continue, and will be seeking a qualified psychologist instead of a counsellor in future.

The Hart Centre's websites and bookings process was very efficient and easy to use. However, the centre followed up multiple times (3–4 emails over the span of a few days) to prompt further bookings, after I'd only made an enquiry, which made me feel like they were more focused on securing appointments than on client care.

EDIT:
Hi Melinda,
Thanks for your reply. I'm using a pseudonym because I don't feel safe sharing my real name on internet platforms and due to the sensitive nature of the content discussed with the counsellors. And now that you mentioned you conducted thorough searches to find me on your systems, I feel I am justified in my concern. I have provided sufficient detail of the location, setting and particulars on the day for each practitioner that should substantiate the veracity of my review about the practitioners. I am very impressed with certain aspects of The Hart Centre itself, because you made the process very easy and streamlined, as I've noted in my original review. However, I am concerned with the quality of these particular practitioners for the sake of other people who are suffering and desperately reaching out for help; I want to provide them sufficient detail on the capabilities and limitations of these counsellors so that they don't waste time and/or money.

Hart is keeping on top of the game in terms of exposure, efficiency and professionalism.