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. Other referral pathways are also possible including WorkCover, EAP, insurance companies as well as others. If you are unsure, please contact our practice for more information.
- STEP 1: Once you have your referral, you will need to call our practice and speak to our receptionist who will ask you to explain briefly what you would like to work on. This will help us determine who the best practitioner will be for your individual needs. If you would prefer a male or female practitioner, or other specific requirements, please feel free to ask. You do not need to reveal anything personal during this discussion, and our receptionists are bound by a strict confidentiality agreement.
- STEP 2: Our receptionist will book an appointment with the psychologist who best fits what you are looking for.
- STEP 3: It is recommended that you arrive at your first session 10 minutes early. You will be given some paperwork to complete and an iPad to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire is important as it will help our team track your progress over the course of your treatment. If you have difficulties with vision, literacy or any other problem that may make this process difficult, please ask our receptionist for assistance.
- STEP 4: 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 come have developed a personalised treatment a plan which sets out information such as frequency of treatment, techniques to be explored, and your goals.
- STEP 5: If at the end of this session you feel that the therapist doesn’t fully understand you, or what you want to get out of the therapy (or for any other reason you are uncomfortable with the therapist) this is a good time to discuss alternative options.
Please let your therapist know, so he or she is clear that there is a problem and you can work together on a plan to make sure you do feel confident that therapy is going to help you.
