Initially, clients are referred to us by their General Practitioner (GP), psychiatrist or paediatrician. Even though referrals are not necessary, Medicare rebates are only available through referral. If you are unsure, please contact our practice for more information.
STEP 1: Referral
Once you have your referral, call our practice and speak to our receptionist who will ask you some basic questions. This will help us determine who the best psychologist will be for you. If you would prefer a male or female practitioner, or any other specific requirements, please feel free to ask. Please note that our receptionists are bound by a strict confidentiality agreement.
STEP 2: Booking
Our receptionist will book an appointment with the psychologist who best fits what you are looking for and who is available at a time that suits you.
STEP 3: First Session
We recommend that you arrive at your first session 10 minutes early. There is some paperwork to complete via iPad as well as a progress monitoring questionnaire. We use this questionnaire each session to track your progress over the course of therapy. If you have never used an iPad, or have any other difficulties, please let our receptionist know so they can help.
STEP 4: Treatment Planning
Your psychologist will meet with you for your first session to understand your personal treatment goals, and to explain what kinds of therapy options may be most appropriate for you. During this initial consultation your psychologist will also discuss elements of your history that may be important in understanding your current problem. At the end of this first session you and your therapist will have come to an agreement about the goals of therapy, an approach to take and details such as the frequency of sessions.
STEP 5: Review
At the end of this session your therapist should ask you a series of questions to make sure you are both on the same page. If there is any aspect of this first session, or the approach the therapist is suggesting that you feel uncomfortable about it is important to let your therapist know so they can change their approach.
Therapy is about helping you. Your therapist will use their best judgement to try and get the best approach from the outset. But if they get it wrong, let them know so they can fix it.