Frequently asked questions about Psychology Now

We all have ups and downs in life and mostly, people can deal with these ebbs and flows as they occur. However, sometimes difficulties can be overwhelming and, sometimes, overbearing. It can be hard to make sense of problems and even more difficult to find ways to lessen the impact on your life or to move on. No matter what the challenges are in your life – big or small – at Psychology Now, I am committed to helping you deal with them by using the most up-to-date evidence-based treatments for whatever the difficulty might be.

All psychologists in Australia hold general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA). Clinical psychologists hold additional endorsement with the PBA in the area of clinical psychology following their six years of study at university (a 4-year undergraduate and a 2-year Masters including clinical placements). It also includes a period of supervision with an experienced clinical psychologist for two years post Masters. According to the Australian Psychological Society, “clinical psychologists provide a wide range of psychological services to individuals across the lifespan and for mental health conditions that range from mild to severe to complex.”

When you see a clinical psychologist, you can also get a higher rebate from Medicare per session ($126.50) with a limit of 10 sessions per calendar year. For Medicare rebates, you will need to get a Mental Health Care Plan from a general practitioner, psychiatrist or paediatrician (children).

Psychology Now is committed and experienced in seeing clients of all ages including infants, young children and adolescents. Young children are often better seen within the family context but this depends on the age of the child. Sessions may include individual time with the child, the parents or the whole family. With the Maudsley Family Based Therapy for Adolescents with Eating Disorders (MFBT), the whole family is included at every session. However, with systemic family therapy, the whole family or sub-systems of the family can be seen in sessions.

With very young children, play therapy is used which includes interactive activities to deal with the difficulties the child experiences. No two children or adolescents are the same and the therapy used for each child/adolescent is tailored for them.

Psychology Now uses a range of evidence-based therapy approaches and I discuss the treatment with you in the early stages of therapy. Some therapy interventions that are frequently used are: Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EDMR), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Maudsley Family Based Therapy for Adolescents with Eating Disorders (MFBT), Adolescent Focused Therapy (AFT), Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy Enhanced (CBT-E) for young adults and adults with eating disorders, Compassion-Focused Therapy, CBT Mindfulness-based therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Systemic Family Therapy, Play Therapy and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. Read more about these therapies.

I also offer “Circle of Security Parenting”, a relationship-based early intervention program designed to enhance attachment security between parents and children. Find out more information on Circle of Security Parenting.

During the first appointment, I will introduce myself, explain confidentiality and limits of confidentiality and discuss the administrative details contained in the Consent form. For adults, the first session will involve me asking a number of questions regarding your background history, current situation/concerns and obtaining an understanding of your family. This is important information as it guides the type of therapy best suited to you.

For children under 18, I will also spend time with the child or adolescent and parents, both together and separately.

Treatment can last for a few sessions or for many sessions and depends on many different factors unique to you and your situation. Determining the length of treatment is dependent on how you are feeling during our first session. These are discussed in the initial assessment.

I usually suggest that in the early stages of treatment, we have weekly appointments and then this often changes to fortnightly or even monthly once the skills learnt in sessions are put into practise and symptoms are reduced. Ultimately, length of treatment is entirely up to you.

Yes, I provide clinical supervision for provisional psychologists, generalist psychologists and clinical psychologists. Supervision sessions can be provided both face-to-face at one of my rooms, or online. Please get in touch.