Appointment Info

Please note, after you have booked an appointment, you will receive a call from our team to go through the therapeutic approach, answer any questions you may have and to confirm we are the best service for your needs before we go ahead with the appointment.

Please note, an appointment booking is not a guarantee of an appointment as after this call, it may be determined that we are not the best service to meet your needs and as such, your appointment may be subject to cancellation and/or reschedule based on the outcome of our discussion.

The first session is used as a way of getting to know each other and finding out whether you feel comfortable with the psychologist and whether their approach feels like the right fit for your needs.

Psychologists use different frameworks to understand what some of the concerns are for you and how they have been impacting your life. Our approach is a trauma-informed, biopsychosocio-cultural approach which means with your understanding, consent and direction, we gather information about your ecosystem, starting from your body and working outwards in a transparent and safe way.

Feel free to look this approach up further, the peer-reviewed article listed below discusses applications of this approach and has further reading resources:

Suls, J., and Rothman, A. (2004). Evolution of the biopsychosocial model: prospects and challenges for health psychology. Health Psychol. 23, 119–125. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.23.2.119

We are complex beings living in a rapidly changing environment, therapy isn’t rigid and linear. Generally speaking, Mental Health Care Plans allow for 10 sessions with a Medicare Rebate. You may find it takes all of these sessions to feel safe with the person, or you may decide to use 1-2 sessions with one clinician and then seek support elsewhere with the remainder of your sessions.

The key takeaway is to remember this limitation on timing when it comes to thinking about what you would like out of the experience. You and your psychologist can then work out realistic expectations within the timeframe and future planning from there.

We know that many people feel like they have to continue with their psychologist even though they may not feel like the person and/or the service is the right fit. This is not a belief we ascribe to. We see in the literature that the therapeutic alliance is one of (if not the most) important factor that contributes to positive outcomes for a client. As we align to trauma-informed principles, we know that choice and agency are vital for safety building and we want to make sure you experience this from the start of your relationship with us.

If you do not feel it is the right fit, do not force yourself to try and make it work, we will happily recommend alternative practitioners or referral pathways who may be better aligned to you and your needs.