RESOURCES
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to see a Psychologist?
How to I get a referral under a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from my GP?
If you wish to claim a medicare rebate for psychological services, your GP will need to complete a mental health care plan assessment with you. You are able to see a psychologist without a mental health care plan, if you are willing to pay the full cost of the session. Should you wish to obtain a mental health care plan, you will need to:-
-
Book a double or extended appointment with your GP. Tell the receptionist that you specifically require a mental health care plan, as they may need to confirm your eligibility with Medicare before confirming your appointment. -
Discuss your concerns with your doctor. They will ask you to complete a brief questionnaire. -
Ask your GP to refer you to Curious Mind Psychology or Magdalena Mills directly. -
Bring your referral along to your first appointment in order to claim the rebate.
What can I expect at my first appointment?
-
Each session will run for 50 minutes.
-
Your psychologist will go through your consent form and paperwork, filling in any missing details with you, and answering any questions you may have.
-
Therapy is confidential, with certain exceptions that will be explained before you begin therapy.
-
Your psychologist will explain how they work.
-
Your first session is an opportunity to discuss the reasons you are seeking treatment, and to get a sense of whether your psychologist is a good fit for you. Your psychologist will ask questions about your current symptoms, distress, relationships, family and begin to define significant or traumatic experiences. This is so your psychologist can assess and explore relevant factors that affect your coping skills and distress levels, and provide you with the best treatment options.
-
The initial 2-4 sessions will focus on assessing and understanding the reasons you came to therapy, the history of the problem, your attempts to address the problem and how the problem affects your life.
-
At the end of each session, you will discuss and decide when you will next meet and whether or not to book a regular appointment.
Is therapy for me?
People work with psychologists for a wide array of reasons, and come with a variety of symptoms or problems. Suffering and pain are things that most people seeking therapy have in common, along with the belief that their life can be, or should be, better. Many people make judgments and assumptions about whether therapy will help them, perhaps believing their suffering is not important or severe enough to seek help, that their problem is too overwhelming and they are beyond help, or that they should not need help to understand and alleviate the suffering they experience. If you are struggling with suffering, I encourage you to reach out, call us and talk to a psychologist about your situation, to see what could be possible.
What if the therapy or therapist is not the right fit for me?
The therapeutic relationship is one of the most fundamental predictors of success in therapy. Without a sense of trust, positive regard, safety and collaboration between the psychologist and client, therapeutic work cannot progress and will not be effective. Here at Curious Mind Psychology, your psychologist will facilitate the formation of the therapeutic relationship in the first session by encouraging you to reflect on how you experience the connection with them, whether you feel there is potential for the connection to develop, if you think it is a good fit and that you are welcome to be honest and open about any concerns or feedback you have. If you get the sense the fit of your psychologist or therapy is not quite right, your psychologist will support you with any resources they have to help you to continue your therapeutic work with them or with another therapist.
How long are sessions?
How many sessions will I need?
Everyone will have a different journey through therapy that depends on the nature of their issue and the outcomes they are seeking in seeing a therapist.
How do I book an appointment?
You can book an appointment by calling us, or by emailing us through our contact form here.
What is a Psychologist, and can they prescribe Medication?
A Psychologist is a registered health professional, who undertakes ongoing training and professional development to maintain their registration and retain the title of a Psychologist. Psychologists specialise in the assessment and treatment of everyday concerns and mental health illnesses. Psychologists use talk therapies and they cannot prescribe medication. They can support you to talk with your doctor or Psychiatrist if they believe medication will complement your talk therapy treatment.