Therapy Process

Whilst you do not need a referral to see us, your General Practitioner (GP), Psychiatrist or Pediatrician might have been the one who made the recommendation that you see us.  Remember that even though referrals are not necessary, Medicare rebates are only available through a medical professional's referral.  If you are unsure, please contact your doctor or our practice for more information.

STEP 1: Booking

To make an appointment call our practice and speak to our friendly administration staff who can help determine who the best psychologist/s that fits your needs. Please note that our administration staff follow strict confidentiality guidelines to ensure your privacy is guaranteed.

STEP 2: First Session

Please arrive for your first session 10-15 minutes early as there will be some paperwork to complete.  From time to time you may be given different questionnaires to complete. Your psychologist uses evidence-based practice and information from questionnaires are necessary to track your progress over the course of therapy and to help determine the best approach to take for you.

STEP 4: Treatment Planning and Goal Setting

Your psychologist will meet with you for your first session to understand your personal goals, and to explain what kinds of therapy options may be most appropriate for you. You have total control over what you are comfortable with discussing, or which therapeutic approach you wish to implement.   During this initial consultation your psychologist will also discuss elements of your history that may be important in understanding your current problem. At the end of this first session you and your therapist will have come to an agreement about the goals of therapy, an approach to take and details such as the frequency of sessions.

Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks.  Because therapy may involve discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness.  Whilst uncomfortable, managing and understanding these feelings whilst in a safe and non-judgemental environment often leads to long-lasting benefits for people who go through the process of psychotherapy.  Therapy often leads to better relationships, the ability to implement solutions to specific problems, and a significant reduction of feelings of distress.  Everyone has a different experience in therapy, and at any time if you are uncomfortable, please discuss your concerns with your psychologist or the administration team.

Remember that therapy is about helping you.  Your therapist’s focus will always be on how to assist you in improving your mental wellbeing.  If there is some aspect of your therapy that you feel uncomfortable with, please let them know so that they can fix it.  Given the fact that we all have different personalities, styles and ways of doing things, sometimes it happens that you might feel that the therapist you see is not the right fit for you.  If this happens please let the administration team know so they can find another psychologist who may be better suited to you.  Your mental health and wellbeing is of utmost importance to us, so please let us know if there are any concerns so that together we can find a solution right for you.