What is the difference between a psychotherapist, a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
A Psychiatrist has a Medical Degree and can prescribe medications; a Psychologist has an Academic Degree from a University. Either of them MAY (or may not) also be a Psychotherapist who has specialist training in longer term and sometimes quite intensive work with people who know they need something more than medication or cognitive strategies to resolve (usually) issues that date back to childhood and/or trauma. Psychotherapists may also have a Social Work or other academic degree but the crucial difference is that they will have themselves entered into their own Psychotherapy journey.
How long does a session last?
Usually 50 minutes to an hour.
How long does treatment take?
That is a choice made by each individual. It could be weeks or years but the crucial aspects are regularity and reliability.
What sorts of issues do you treat?
Those who most need Psychotherapy have usually discovered that the same issues or situations or relationship difficulties keep repeating themselves in their life and they often have some sense that their early years still affect them in their adult life. Some people who come to us have chronic physical conditions that have been made worse by life experiences. They may come with relationship issues, some degree of depression or anxiety. Most particular we are Trauma Informed therapists so many of our clients have a history of some sort of abuse, neglect, mal-treatment or the early loss of a parent.
What exactly is Somatic Psychotherapy?
These days with us it is mostly a “talk therapy” but we are trained in the links between body, mind, emotion and life experience. We do a lot of listening to you!
Somatic Psychotherapy encompasses the mind/body/emotions experience, and whilst we mostly are using what is known as “talk” therapy we are always listening to your words and also taking into account what is happening somatically – eg: change of breathing, posture, expression, voice etc so that those forms of communication are included too. Some somatic psychotherapists may also use “Sensiomotor” work or “Focussing” which can often help you discover more about what what you are experiencing.
What might I expect from seeing you?
Hopefully after a few sessions you will feel better regarding the initial issue that has brought you to therapy. That may be enough for you. For others it may be that in those initial sessions it has become clear that you need to give yourself more time. In a supportive and non-judgemental environment you are likely to make important links between your present day issues and your life experience. With that you can gradually have more choices in the way you live your life.
Can I claim medicare rebate?
That is possible with some Psychotherapists. But it requires a diagnosis of some sort of mental health problem from the Medical profession. So some Psychotherapists choose to maintain the total privacy of their clients and do not enter into such third party arrangements.
Some Psychotherapists with an additional degree in Psychology or Social Work may offer a limited number of Medicare rebatable sessions with a GP referral
Can I claim a rebate from my health insurer?
As with Medicare. This may be possible with some Psychotherapists but not with others.
Are you insured?
We all belong to a Professional Association that demands we be insured.
How do I book an appointment? Simply ring or fill out the Contact Form for the therapist you decide may best suit you.
Can you come to me?
As a general rule we mostly do not make home visits.
Can you cater for Disabled Access?
That will vary depending on where each therapist works. Personally, at Camberwell I have 22 stairs and no way of by-passing them. My other colleagues will need to be asked what their access is like.
I have been in a Psychiatric Hospital. Can you still see me?
Each person and each therapist is different. All of us will be willing to talk to you about whether we are the best fit for you at this time but we have all had clients who have “been through the system”.
What is your experience of people in my situation? Have you treated people like me before?
Again that is very individual but myself and all of my colleagues have had very broad experience and have been working a long time with many different people in many extreme or unusual situations.