Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Here
By Public Transport
-
We are approximately 7 minutes walk (500m) from City West Train Station
-
Bus 28 stops on Wellington Street, afterwhich it will be a short walk
-
Bus 96 stops on Thomas Street, afterwhich it will be a short walk
-
The Yellow Cat also stops on Wellington Street (5 min walk)
-
The Green Cat also stops on Wellington Street (5 - 6 min)
By Private Transport
​
There is paid metered parking on Douro Place, as well as surrounding streets.
Psychotherapy Session(s)
What do I need to bring?
If you would like utilise the Medicare rebate, you will need to have your valid referral either emailled to me prior to your first session, or to bring that referral with you to your first session. If you would like, you can bring a support person. However, please note that having a support person in session may impact confidentiality; this is something we can discuss in the first session. Otherwise, just bring yourself!
What will it be like?
Well, it will hopefully be like chatting to a friendly person. It's okay to feel nervous - many people are for their first sessions. Just remember that I will be there to listen, and help. If you want more details about what therapy will be like, visit the "what to expect" page.
There are so many therapeutic approaches - how do we know which is the one for me?
Great Question! If you look at the literature, even the best 'gold standard' treatment only impact 60-80% of test subjects. This mean that there really is no one-size-fits-all approach. However, the research also suggest that the best predictor of successful therapeutic outcome is a good client-practitioner fit. Hence, I tend to focus on making sure we will be a good fit first and foremost. After that, I have a wide range of techniques to use to try to match your goals and your personality. I am also flexible so if one approach does not help, we can try other approaches.
Everybody talks about 'client centered approach' - what does this mean for me?
Client-centered approach simply suggest that you are placed in the middle of the whole process. This means you are an important voice in the journey, you will have control over the therapy process, and your wants and wishes will be taken into consideration. In my practice, this mean that we will discuss whats important to you and your goals. I will usually present some options on what I think will suit; and you get to decide! I am also flexible, so if you come in with one issue, but something happens and you want to work on something else instead, I can and will happily move with the flow. This doesn't mean that I will ignore something important if you don't want to work on it, but I will be very frank and open about why I think it is important. Ultimately, it is your choice, I'm just here to support you.
So what happens if we are not a good fit? Or if I want to try a therapy technique that you don't offer?
I follow a "Feedback Informed Therapy" approach meaning that I give a very short (only 3-4 questions) questionnaire at the end of every session where you rate me as a psychologist. This is just a measure that helps me tune in quicker to what you want and how you're finding my approach so that I can adjust my style to suit you and your needs better. Usually by session 3, we will both have a good idea of where this is going. If we're going well; Great! If not, we can have that conversation and discuss referrals to other psychologists if needed. This also suits if you really want to try a therapy technique that I am not trained in. We can discuss a short term referral where you go to another therapist for a few sessions for that technique, or a permenant one where I assist you to continue your growth journey with your next therapist by providing a handover if required
Wait, I get to rate you every session? That sounds stressful!
Firstly, one of my big focus will be authenticity. I will really try to focus on creating a safe space where we can honestly talk about how things are going. The rating thing is just a conversation starter really. It's a good opportunity for us to check in and re-calibrate if needed. Secondly, remember that I am here to support and assist you. If it comes to it that either we are not a good match, or I do not have the skills required to support you, I would not want to hold you back just to sate my ego. I would rather know and assist you to your next step. So while it can be daunting at first, my experience is that most clients do like the opportunity for the feedback and I certainly enjoy receiving the feedback as a way to reflect on our sessions and how I can help you better.
Assessment Session(s)
Why are young children not recommended to come along to initial/feedback sessions?
Small children have big ears. I tend to discourage young children from attending initial/intake sessions as we will mostly be discussing the areas they are struggling with. For young children to stay for 50 minutes and hear their parents/caregivers discuss areas in which they are struggling for that whole time often has a negative impact on their self-esteem and confidence. In relation to feedback sessions; their results will be discussed in detail. If the children are excused from the feedback session, their parents/caregivers will have greater control as to how to explain their potential diagnoses to them in an age-appropriate manner; rather than letting them find out through a confusing 50-minute session where the adults are doing most of the talking.
How do I explain to my child what the assessments are for?
Every child is different - generally I would suggest letting them know that they will be doing a series of activities with an adult (me). That the purpose of these activities are to figure out how their brain works. That they are not expected to get everything correct, and all they have to do is to try their best.
Can I accompany my child when the assessments are conducted?
Yes! If your child is young, this is encouraged. If possible, we will likely have you sit in the waiting room and your child can come to you for brain/activity/snack breaks. If your child is nervous or anxious, you are welcome to stay in the assessment room with them. However, great care must be taken to ensure that your presence does not influence their responses to the assessment, which we can discuss if this is preferred.
How do I prepare my child for the assessment?
Stay in routine. Ensure they take the medication they usually take (if they do), follow their usual bedtime/morning routine. Try to encourage them to have a good night's sleep and some breakfast in the morning.
Can my child's teacher/care team come to the feedback session?
Yes - but only if you consent and are fine with it. We can have the feedback session online so their teacher/care team can attend. If this is preferred, it is recommended that the full account be settled before the feedback session so that you can receive an electronic copy of the report before the feedback session. This will allow you to have time to take in the results, and to come up with questions you may have.
Billing and Policies
How do I pay?
I offer my clients a variety of options to make payment. I have an tap-and-go facility for taking card/contactless payment. I can also take payment over the phone or after session if given the card details. Both these methods attract a 1.1% merchant fee. Lastly, I can issue an invoice to facilitate payment via bank transfer.
How is Payment made for assessments?
Payment for assessments are split into 2-3 portions. The first is right after the initial session, afterwhich a session fee of AUD$230 is owed. The remaining fees are charged at the end of the assessment sessions and varies dependant on whether the assessment is commonly split into one or two sessions. There are no refunds if the assessments are done in a quicker timeframe than expected. Just as there will be no extra charge if the assessment takes longer and requires another session to complete. The final report will not be released until the full account has been settled.
How does the medicare rebate go through?
I use a management software called Halaxy. Upon payment of the invoice/session, Halaxy can facilitate the medicare rebate as long as we have your valid medicare details. The rebate usually appears in the bank account you have on file with Medicare within 1-3 days. Alternatively, I can email you a copy of your paid invoice and you can claim the medicare rebate independently via the medicare portal or app.
What happens if I miss a payment
A courtesy text/email will be sent to remind clients of non-payments of invoices. If the invoice remains unpaid, all future sessions booked will be cancelled. This is to prevent the accumulation of debt for clients which may place an additional stressor on them.
What if I can't afford to keep sessions ongoing after my medicare rebate runs out for the year?
I understand that the cost of living pressures may impact the affordability of sessions. If you are concerned about this, please bring this up in session; we may pick therapy approaches that may be more efficient over a shorter term, or spread out sessions to maintain contact over the year. Some clients also switch from medicare-rebate sessions to private health fund rebates after their 10 sessions is used for the calendar year. I also do have a limited number of reduced-rate sessions I may be able to offer to ongoing clients.