What is a Clinical Psychologist?

A Clinical Psychologist is a Psychologist specifically trained in the assessment, diagnosis, formulation and treatment of mental health accross the lifespan. They have completed accredited university training, post-graduate studies and supervised practice totalling eight years. Clinical Psychology is a profession guided by science and research, integrating theory and clinical practice to understand, prevent and relieve psychological distress. Unlike Psychiatrists who are doctors with extra training in mental health, Clinical Psychologists are not able to prescribe medication.

Do I need a referral?

A referral is not neccesary to access Clinical Psychology. However if you plan to claim Medicare through the Better Access Initiative, Pregnancy Support Counselling or are accessing appointments through the Department of Veterans Affairs then a referral is required.

What should I expect from my first appointment?

The first appointment is an opportunity to meet with me to discuss your current difficulties and communicate what you would like to gain from therapy. I will listen to your concerns whilst collecting relevant information including any distressing symptoms and your history which will assist me in formulating a personalised treatment plan and select the therapy approaches that I believe will be most helpful and suitable for you. You can then decide whether you would like to make any further appointments.

How can I prepare for my first appointment?

It is common to feel nervous or overwhelmed in anticipation of your first appointment and many individuals are concerned with what to say and where to start in conveying their story. You may find it beneficial to consider what you would like to gain from appointments prior to meeting with me. Please be reassured that I will guide you through this process and will ask you prompting questions to assist you to communicate the information you would like me to know about you and the difficulties you are experiencing. If you do believe it would be helpful, you are welcome to bring in some notes with you to your appointment to help you in structuring your thoughts and make sure you do not leave out any information you think is important for me to know.

What will happen in future ongoing appointments?

Any future appointments beyond the first appointment will focus upon working towards your goals using the therapy approach(es) that I believe would be most suitable for you and the difficulties that you are experiencing. A typical therapy appointment may review the time since the last appointment including improvements or challenges, provide you with skills and strategies that may be beneficial to use at home, problem solve any current stressors or barriers that are impacting recovery whilst also providing you with the opportunity to feel heard, gain support and raise any concerns you may have. Therapy progress is regularly discussed and evaluated allowing for any changes in direction to be made when needed to ensure you are getting the most from your appointments.

How many appointments will I need?

Therapy is a highly individualised process and as such there is great variation in the number of appointments individuals will require. The goal of therapy is to empower you to eventually manage your own mental health and as such therapy continues until you believe you have reached that goal. Therapy progress is regularly discussed and evaluated, allowing for any changes in direction to be made when needed to ensure you are getting the most from your appointments. At the beginning of your therapy journey, more frequent appointments may be helpful to build momentum and allieviate distress in a timely manner. As improvements are experienced and you become efficient in utilising new coping skills and strategies, appointments can become be less frequent.