FAQ’S

If this is your first time seeing a psychologist, we would like to let you know that it generally it takes a few sessions to clarify your concerns, see if you and your psychologist are a good fit, identify the goals and work out how to work together so we recommend you commit to and book a few appointments in the beginning.

How long should you stay in therapy?
The length of therapy is quite variable, and the final decision regarding the length of therapy rests jointly with you and your psychologist. Some people stay for three sessions, while others are in counselling for two or three years or more. Most people need between 6 to 14 sessions to overcome general anxiety, depression, or relationship issues. Couples with significant relationship concerns, conflict or individuals with more complex issues such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder may require 20 or more sessions.

What to expect at your first visit?
Consultations usually go for around 50 minutes or 90 minutes for couples/families When you arrive take a seat in our comfortable waiting area and grab a glass of water from the dispenser. Your psychologist will invite you into the consulting room and begin by asking ask you about what you would like help with, your stressors, your personal history, and family and relationships. At the end of the first or second consultation, your psychologist will provide some feedback about the problem, identify your goals and explain what type of therapy will be provided. You will then have a chance to ask any questions. Consultations run on time so please arrive on time.

What happens in the first 3 sessions?
It takes around 3 sessions to establish your concerns, review your history, get to know your therapist, and set some goals for therapy so allow this time to figure out whether or not therapy is right for you at this time and if your therapist is a good fit.

What if I don’t like my therapist or their style?
Tell them! We are here for YOU, we don’t take things personally. If you don’t think we’re a good we can either suggest how we can change or help you find someone more appropriate, we have a good team.

Confidentiality?
All information provided will remain confidential. Limitations to confidentiality are when: 1) disclosure is required by law or subpoenaed by a court, 2) failure to disclose information would place you or another person at serious and imminent risk as assessed by the psychologist, and 3) your written consent has been obtained, 4) Where you have been referred by a G.P or medical specialist and the information provided is relevant to you treatment. If you are attending therapy with your partner you agree that information shared within an individual session is free to be shared in joint sessions and that you need joint consent to remove/share information from joint sessions.

What if I need to cancel/reschedule?
Once you make an appointment its yours, we encourage you attend in person or via telehealth. If there is no way you can make it by either of those methods and you need to change or cancel an appointment, please provide at least 48 hours notice otherwise you will be charged 50% of the full cost of the session, if you fail to provide 24hrs notice you will be charged for the full cost. PLEASE NOTE: there are no Medicare rebates, or TAC or Workcover reimbursements, for late cancellations or missed appointments.

How do you end therapy?
Do you need to end it? Regardless of the length of counselling, we strongly recommend that a ‘consolidation’ session be planned, so that you and your psychologist can summarise the work that has been done in therapy, create a relapse prevention plan and when necessary, co-write a GP feedback letter. The consolidation session is associated with better long-term goal retention for you. You may choose to have “booster sessions” after regular therapy sessions have ended. For example, you may have had 16 weekly sessions and decide that is sufficient. You can then call for a follow-up session several months or a year after weekly sessions have ended. These booster sessions serve as a sort of “tune-up” to help you stay on track and continue to use the skills you have learned in therapy, thus maximising the long-term benefit from therapy.

You are feeling better, so I think I don’t need it anymore?
Throughout therapy there are going to be times when you feel you are getting better and want to end your sessions. If you presented with significant levels of depression, anxiety or distress then it is really important that you talk with your psychologist to make sure that it is ok to end before treatment finishes and you can make a plan to retain gains.

What if I can’t afford it?
If your experience of therapy as an added financial burden is preventing you from attending, speak with your psychologist about our fee and payment options. We can adjust the frequency of your sessions, reduce your session costs, or implement a mental health plan.

What if I don’t think it is working?
Speak with your psychologist about your feelings on this so that therapy can be adjusted to better suit your needs or so that they can arrange a referral to a more suitable psychologist. Change is rarely linear and sometimes the very problems that brought us to therapy, impact on it working. It’s the process of therapy that helps that change when you are struggling.

What happens if I don’t feel ready to discuss things?
Tell your psychologist how your feeling i.e., there is something important I need to bring to therapy, but I don’t know if I am ready yet. Sometimes it helps just to acknowledge that.

Should I take notes or keep a diary?
Note taking and journaling is a good idea. We encourage you to take notes during, before and/or after your sessions. A lot of information will be discussed, you might have important insights, strategies, it is important that you retain them. Did you know that 70% of information is forgotten after 3 days?

Why can’t I just do these things I read on the internet at home?
The skill of a good psychologist is helping you refine the skills you already have and consistently apply them. When you touch base about progress in session you can use that time to refine the strategy, problem solve and get insights into why it may or may not be working.