Here are some frequently asked questions I receive about Psychological Therapy as well as some tips to help you to get the most out of your sessions with me.
What is a Psychologist and why might I see one?
Psychologists are professionals who are trained in the way people think, feel, behave and learn. In Australia, Psychologists must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Psychology Board of Australia to be able to practice. Registered Psychologists are required to have a minimum of six years of university training and supervised experience, and to engage in ongoing education to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. They must also adhere to certain strict standards to keep their registration and they must provide professional services according to a strict code of ethics as written by the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
Through a range of assessment tools and therapies, Psychologists aim to reduce distress and to enhance and promote emotional and behavioural wellbeing. Psychologists are able to assist people who are having difficulty regulating their emotions, thinking and behaviour, including those with mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
This does not mean that the only people who might benefit from Psychological Therapy are those experiencing mental health issues. Life is full of challenges and at different times in our lives we can all use some assistance to learn new skills and have support to manage our lives more effectively. Some situations in which you might benefit from having Psychological Therapy are if you:
- Have a specific issue or decision you want help dealing with. For example, study options, career changes, difficult work situations or relationship problems.
- Need extra support to work through a big life change, e.g. starting university or a new job, becoming a parent, going through a relationship break-up, retiring, being diagnosed with a health condition, or dealing with the death of a loved one.
- Would like to have someone objective and non-judgemental to chat to about life’s up and downs
- Notice the same patterns popping up in your life repeatedly and want to understand more about this
What should I expect from my sessions?
If you are interested in booking a session with me, please call or email me and I will endeavour to reply to you as quickly as I can. At the time of our first point of contact, I will try to understand your main reasons for making an appointment. Once we have confirmed an appointment time, I will then ask you to complete a brief online intake form and questionnaire before the appointment so I am better prepared before we meet.
At your first Psychological Therapy session, we will spend some time discussing your presenting difficulties, your reasons for starting therapy and your relevant life history. This will allow us to make a collaborative and personalised treatment plan to help you achieve your Psychological Therapy goals. I will also answer any questions that you may have about confidentiality, treatment approaches, or any of the clinic policies. Each Psychological Therapy session lasts 50-60 minutes.
It should be noted that the relationship between a Psychologist and a client is different from the relationship between another health care professional (e.g. GP) and a patient. In Psychological Therapy sessions, both parties have to give of themselves to make it work. By making an appointment for Psychological Therapy sessions, I expect that you will be committed to attending on time and that you will let me know in advance if you need to cancel an appointment. Furthermore, I will typically encourage you to engage in some agreed upon exercises or strategies to practice between sessions. It is strongly recommended that you try what we have collaboratively discussed, as this will help you get the most out of your sessions.
How many sessions do I need to come in for?
Everyone’s reasons for coming to Psychological Therapy are different and therefore it is difficult to determine exactly how many sessions someone will need to come in for. Some people benefit from a few sessions whilst other people will require more ongoing sessions.
If you have a GP Mental Health Care Plan, you are able to get a rebate from Medicare for 20 sessions per calendar year.
How often do I need to have sessions?
I generally recommend that new clients have sessions with me on a weekly or fortnightly basis to begin with in order to get some continuity and consistency with the therapy process as this will lead to better outcomes for you. You may not need to attend sessions as frequently after the first few initial sessions. Ultimately, however, the decision is yours as to how often you would like to have sessions.
How does confidentiality work with a Psychologist?
All information that you disclose in your session with a Psychologist is confidential. There are three exceptions to this rule. If you are deemed to be at risk of harm to yourself, at risk of harm to someone else, or if you have any court orders against you, then a Psychologist is legally obliged to seek the assistance of a third party.