Frequently Asked Questions before seeing a Psychologist
1 . Do I need a referral from my GP to see a psychologist?
No, you do not need a referral, however, in order to get the Medicare Rebate ($124.50 per session, 10 available sessions per year) you will need to see your GP and get him/her to make out a Mental Health Care Plan for you and you need to bring that to your first appointment.
2. What happens during the first appointment?
In your first session, you will have an opportunity to tell your story. The psychologist will ask any and all relevant questions. The psychologist will explain how they work, what the responsibilities of the client and the therapist are, and an initial plan for progress will be outlined.
3. How many and how often will I need to see the psychologist?
This will be largely up to you. The level of severity of the problems, and the length of time they have been an issue all affect how much therapy will be required. If there are time or financial constraints, please let them be known. As a rule, weekly sessions are valuable in the beginning of therapy, then as things improve, time between sessions should lengthen, to give time to consolidate gains.
4. What kind of therapy is offered?
This psychological practice offers a therapeutic model called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This is a practical and interactive therapy that looks at how the way we think affects our emotions and subsequently, our behaviours, with an emphasis on changing problematic thinking. Currently CBT has been widely accepted as a highly effective treatment for most psychological problems.
5. Is information discussed during therapy confidential?
What you say to your psychologist during therapy is confidential. That means without your written consent, a psychologist cannot disclose what you have talked about to anyone. Exceptions exist only when lives are in danger. The psychologist will answer any and all questions about confidentiality and its limits with you.
1 . Do I need a referral from my GP to see a psychologist?
No, you do not need a referral, however, in order to get the Medicare Rebate ($124.50 per session, 10 available sessions per year) you will need to see your GP and get him/her to make out a Mental Health Care Plan for you and you need to bring that to your first appointment.
2. What happens during the first appointment?
In your first session, you will have an opportunity to tell your story. The psychologist will ask any and all relevant questions. The psychologist will explain how they work, what the responsibilities of the client and the therapist are, and an initial plan for progress will be outlined.
3. How many and how often will I need to see the psychologist?
This will be largely up to you. The level of severity of the problems, and the length of time they have been an issue all affect how much therapy will be required. If there are time or financial constraints, please let them be known. As a rule, weekly sessions are valuable in the beginning of therapy, then as things improve, time between sessions should lengthen, to give time to consolidate gains.
4. What kind of therapy is offered?
This psychological practice offers a therapeutic model called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This is a practical and interactive therapy that looks at how the way we think affects our emotions and subsequently, our behaviours, with an emphasis on changing problematic thinking. Currently CBT has been widely accepted as a highly effective treatment for most psychological problems.
5. Is information discussed during therapy confidential?
What you say to your psychologist during therapy is confidential. That means without your written consent, a psychologist cannot disclose what you have talked about to anyone. Exceptions exist only when lives are in danger. The psychologist will answer any and all questions about confidentiality and its limits with you.