Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Clinical Psychologist and what do you do?
A psychologist has completed university training, completed supervised practice and maintains registration by the regulating body: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) - Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA). Psychologists must continue to meet requirements including professional development and supervision.
A Clinical Psychologist has completed 6 years of study with an undergraduate degree in psychology, a 2 year Master in Clinical Psychology degree and a 2 year of extensive post-graduate program with specific requirements including significant supervision and professional development.
This differs to a generally registered Psychologist who has completed a 4 year psychology undergraduate degree and 2 years supervised practice, or, completed an additional 5th year of study in Master of Professional Psychology with 1 year of supervised experience.
Psychologists differ to Psychiatrists as Psychiatrists are trained medical doctors who specialise in mental health diagnosis and treatment and can prescribe medications.
Clinical Psychologists are trained to be experts in mental health. Science-based training facilitates extensive knowledge about psychological distress, mental health and human behaviour, emotion and cognition (thoughts and thought patterns).
As Clinical Psychologists, we are trained in assessment, formulation, diagnosis and treatment of psychological distress and difficulties and, mental health illnesses, conditions and disorders ranging from mild to severe and complex. Following assessment, we offer support, guidance and psychological therapy guided by research and the evidence-base (scientifically proven to be effective and safe). In this therapeutic role, we use a range of techniques and strategies to help you manage, treat, manage or recover from distress, mental health difficulties or disorders.
What is a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?
A ‘Mental Health Care Plan’ (MHCP) is a referral from a GP that provides you access to 10 individual appointments per calendar year. A MHCP allows you to claim a Medicare Rebate for 10 sessions, however is only available for people experiencing mental health disorders as defined by Medicare.
What can I expect in my appointments?
What is online therapy?
Is there a cancellation policy?
At your first appointment, it is helpful to arrive approximately 10 minutes before your appointment so that you can complete a form regarding your contact details, as well as a short questionnaire on how you have been feeling over the past week.
Please bring any paperwork that may be helpful for your psychologist, particularly your Mental Health Care Plan and referral if you have been referred by your GP.
Your first appointment will commence with important paperwork, consent and important information about the service. Following these formalities, the rest of the first session will be about getting to know you, what has bought you to therapy, what you are currently experiencing, the difficulties or problems you have concern about and your goals for therapy. A thorough assessment allows your psychologist to develop understanding of your difficulties as well as form a treatment plan that is both evidence-based and tailored to your individualism, your needs and your goals. This session sets the scene for intervention, but is also is an opportunity for some of your questions to be answered, some information to be provided regarding your difficulties, and for insight into a treatment plan or how we can work together toward your goals.
The following sessions will be structured around your tailored treatment plan, focusing on your presenting concerns, goals and needs.
Sessions are typically 50 minutes long.
Intervention may be brief, or may be more complex and long-term.
Online therapy allows those who cannot come into the practice, for a variety of reasons, engage in psychological support and intervention.
This allows rural Australians with limited local services, those who travel or are restricted by time, or those who would prefer an online format to access support and work with a psychologist, that they may otherwise not have had the opportunity to receive.
For online therapy sessions you will require a computer with a microphone and camera and, an internet connection.
Please contact the practice if you have any questions or queries, for more information or if you would like to make an appointment for online psychological therapy.
The practice does have a cancellation policy. You have up to 24 hours to cancel before your appointment, with no cancellation fee. If you cancel your appointment within 24 hours of your appointment, there is a cancellation fee of 50% of your typical session fee.
The cancellation policy is in effect as the short notice of cancelling your appointment means that another client cannot book in. This policy is also in place so that clients can be offered a range of appointment times for their best suitability, as well as, in the consideration of the long waitlist times.