Psychologists are experts in human behaviour. Psychologists study the brain, memory, learning, human and social development and the cognitive processes that affect how people think, feel and act. Psychologists use scientifically supported therapies which mean they are reliable, safe and effective.

Psychologists are health professionals regulated by law to provide safe and ethical treatments to the public. They are required to maintain regular professional development to maintain the highest standards of competency in their practice.

Your psychologist will attempt to gain an understanding of you, your difficulties and relevant background information, such as family, health and social circumstances. They will begin to identify issues you wish to address and changes you wish to achieve. Your psychologist will work with you to develop goals for therapy. 

Throughout therapy, you will learn strategies and skills to overcome your problems. You may be asked to complete self-monitoring tasks and implement strategies developed in session. Together with your psychologist, you will review your goals and overall progress. A collaborative approach is important and ongoing feedback about how you are finding the process is welcome. You will learn new skills, review progress together and work on how to better express emotions and meet psychological needs

It is difficult to predict how many sessions you will need. Some clients require 4 to 6 sessions, some will require significantly more, often 20 sessions and more, and over 2 or 3 years. Generally, the more complex and long-standing the problems, the more sessions required to develop and maintain the desired changes and break old patterns.

No, you do not need a referral. However, if you wish to receive a Medicare rebate to reduce the overall cost to you, you will need a referral by a GP or Psychiatrist. You may also be eligible for a rebate from your private health fund. You will need to check with your fund to determine whether your particular cover includes psychology services. If you have a compensable injury, then you will need approval to access psychology services by your insurer (eg. Workcover, Motor Vehicles Third Party Insurer, etc). 

Cancellations result in a missed opportunity for another client. Cancellation fees apply if less than 48 hours notice is provided and the full fee applies for less than 24 hours notice or no-shows.