Therapy and Treatment
Therapy and Treatment
We offer psychology services across the lifespan with a focus on ‘early in life, early in illness’. We take a family systems approach and believe multi-disciplinary care achieves the best outcomes for patients with complex care needs.
Children
- Emotional and Mental Health Support: Helping children navigate issues like persistent anxiety, depression, phobias, or low self-esteem.
- Behavioural Challenges: Addressing frequent outbursts, aggression, defiance, or difficulty managing anger.
- Developmental and Learning Assessments: Identifying and supporting a range of conditions including Neurodevelopmental Disorders including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Specific Learning Disorder, Intellectual Disability.
- Major Life Transitions: Assisting children in coping with family separation, divorce, grief, moving home, or starting a new school.
- Social and Peer Issues: Improving social skills, dealing with bullying, or managing difficulties in making and keeping friends.
- Physical Signs of Stress: Investigating unexplained headaches, stomach aches, or changes in sleep and appetite that may be linked to emotional distress.
- Regressive Behaviour: Noticing a child reverting to habits they had previously outgrown, such as bedwetting or excessive clinginess.
- Duration: Changes in mood or behaviour that last for more than a few weeks.
- Intensity: Emotional reactions that seem excessive for the situation or cause significant family stress.
- Daily Functioning: Difficulties that interfere with school performance, hobbies, or relationships.
- Safety Concerns: Any talk of self-harm or expressions of hopelessness require immediate professional attention.
Psychologists use age-appropriate methods such as play therapy for younger children and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for older children. Early intervention often leads to better longer term outcomes.
Adolescents
Psychologists help young people navigate the intense physical, emotional and social changes of adolescence. Psychologists offer a safe space to address mental health problems like anxiety and depression, emotional and behavioural issues, social and relationship problems, identity and low self-esteem, academic difficulties, life changes and trauma. Psychologists help young people by teaching coping skills, improving communication and understanding, and building resilience for long term wellbeing.
Adults
Psychologists specialise in helping adult clients understand how their past and present experiences shape their beliefs, values and reactions. Psychologists also work to reduce their adult clients distress and improve their well-being by assisting them to challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that contribute to distress.
Some of the emotional and behavioural issues psychologists help adult clients with include:
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Anxiety and panic symptoms
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Depression
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Social anxiety and public speaking
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Child, family and parenting difficulties
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Separation and divorce
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Chronic illness
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Stress, conflict and tension
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Work stress and burn out
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Anger difficulties
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Poor assertiveness skills
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Domestic violence
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Trauma
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Grief
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Sexual assault
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Sleep problems
Psychologists tailor therapy and treatments to meet an individual clients needs using evidence-based therapies. Our Psychologists use a variety of evidence- based therapies and techniques including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), Internal Family Systems, Attachment-based Interventions such as Circle of Security parenting program.
Couple Therapy
Family Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological intervention that has gained significant attention over the past 15 years, with a growing body of research supporting its effectiveness. It combines mindfulness, acceptance strategies, and behaviour-change techniques to help individuals develop psychological flexibility, allowing them to engage in meaningful actions despite distressing thoughts or emotions. While early reviews found ACT was not yet a well-established treatment, more recent evaluations indicate that it has strong empirical support for chronic pain and promising evidence for other psychological disorders.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a structured, short-term intervention that addresses the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. It is one of the most extensively researched and evidence-based psychotherapies, making it a recommended treatment for various mental health disorders, including depression, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. CBT is grounded in Beck’s (1964) cognitive model, which proposes that emotions and behaviours are shaped by an individual’s interpretation of events rather than the events themselves. A fundamental component of this model is the conceptualisation of cognition, which refers to how individuals perceive, interpret, and process information.
Mindfulness-based CBT (MBCT) integrates CBT with mindfulness-based stress reduction in an eight-session program. Originally designed to prevent relapse in individuals with recurrent depression, MBCT has since been applied to various conditions, including mood and anxiety disorders. Unlike traditional cognitive therapies, MNCT focuses on helping individuals develop a new way of relating to their thoughts and emotions rather than directly challenging specific cognitions. Research supports MBCT’s effectiveness in preventing relapse in recurrent depression. Emerging evidence also suggests potential benefits for bipolar and anxiety disorders (Sipe & Eisendrath, 2012).
Trauma Focused CBT (TF-CBT) is a structured, evidence-based intervention used to treat post-traumatic stress, depression, and behavioural issues exposed to trauma. Delivered over 12 to 16 sessions, TF-CBT integrates cognitive-behavioural principles with exposure techniques. Treatment components include psychoeducation, gradual exposure, behaviour modelling, coping strategies, and body safety skills. Techniques such as relaxation training, affective modulation, and cognitive restructuring help manage distress, challenge unhelpful thoughts (e.g., self-blame), and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based treatment initially developed to help individuals with high-risk, complex disorders, particularly those experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Originating from standard behaviour therapy, DBT evolved through clinical experience to address a broad range of mental health challenges. DBT is a modular and hierarchical treatment that includes individual therapy, group skills training, telephone coaching, and a therapist consultation team. Its flexibility allows it to be adapted for different populations and clinical settings. The therapy focuses on teaching skills related to mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. A key feature of DBT is its adaptability. Specifically, its modular structure enables components of treatment to be adjusted based on individual needs, while its hierarchical approach prioritises the most severe issues first.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy primarily used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It has gained increasing recognition for its effectiveness, with numerous randomised controlled trials demonstrating its efficacy. A key component of EMDR is bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements), which is believed to facilitate the brain’s natural processing of distressing memories. While EMDR was initially developed for PTSD, it is increasingly being applied to other mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance use disorders. As research continues, EMDR is being adapted for broader clinical use, offering a promising approach to addressing trauma-related psychological distress across diverse populations.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy is a form of therapy that helps individuals re-author their life stories by viewing problems as separate from their own identity. It empowers a patient by recognising them as experts in their own lives and encourages them to challenge dominant narratives that may be hindering their well-being. Narrative therapy assumes people have many skills, competencies, beliefs, values, commitments and abilities that will assist them to reduce the influence of problems in their lives. The core principle is to help individuals develop more positive and empowering stories that reflect their values and strengths.
Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy is a therapeutic approach that helps individuals identify and change long-standing negative patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving known as ‘schemas’ that develop from early life experiences. The goals of Schema Therapy are to identify and modify maladaptive schemas, improve emotional regulation, improve relationships and fulfill unmet emotional needs. Schema Therapy aims to promote healthier thinking and behaviour, ultimately enhancing overall mental well-being. Schema Therapy is implemented through a combination of cognitive, experiential, and behavioural techniques, including imagery rescripting, role-playing, and homework assignments.
Solutions Focused Brief Therapy
Solutions Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a strengths-based, collaborative therapeutic approach that emphasizes finding practical solutions rather than focusing on problems. It centres on identifying client strengths and reinforcing effective behaviours. SFBT empowers clients by helping them identify their own goals and resources for change, rather than relying on the psychologist for answers. Its flexibility and patient-centred nature have contributed to its growing popularity. As an approach, SFBT aligns with a positive, goal-oriented perspective, making it a valuable intervention for individuals seeking brief, solution-driven therapy.
Pathways to Psychology Services
You do not need a referral to see a Psychologist, however you may be eligible for one of the funding pathways listed below.
Medicare
You might be eligible to claim for your psychologist consultation through Medicare.
People who can claim Medicare benefits include (but are not limited to):
- People with mental health disorders
- Women concerned about a current pregnancy, or one that occurred in the previous 12 months
- People who have a chronic medical condition and complex care needs
- Follow-up allied health services for people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
To be eligible to receive psychological services under Medicare, you must be referred by your GP or in some instances by a psychiatrist, paediatrician or consultant physician.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Psychology Services
Individuals with a disability including intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder may be eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Psychological Solutions™ offers NDIS-funded psychological therapy and assessments for adults, adolescents and children. We accept plan-managed and self-managed NDIS clients.
Psychological Solutions™ has psychologists who offer therapeutic support for NDIS participants. NDIS psychology services:
- Functional Assessments and Behaviour Support Plans
- Social and Emotional Skills Programs
- Emotion Regulation skills
- Respectful Relationship, Protective Behaviour and Consent Education Programs.
- Progress Review Assessments
Private Health Insurance
Contact your private health insurance provider to find out if they offer part rebates for psychological consultations.