Emotional Health Clinic

Frequently Asked Questions

When you are looking for psychological services, you would like the process to be easy and informative.  Many people say they would like to know what will be involved before they book an appointment. Knowledge about the process seems to make the process less daunting and more comfortable.  "How can a Psychologist help me?" and "What can I expect from psychological assessment or therapy?" are questions many people wish could be answered before they commence the process of booking an appointment. At the Emotional Health Clinic, we have attempted to make your search for the right services not only easy but also informative.  Have a look below at the most frequently asked questions people have before booking an appointment with a Psychologist.  Please contact us if we have not touched on your particular question.  We are happy to help in any way we can.

What are Psychologists?
Psychologists have been trained to be experts in human behaviour.  They have studied Psychology in their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and undertaken many hours of supervision.  In order to legally practice as a "Psychologist" in NSW, a person must meet the requirements of the New South Wales Psychologists Registration Board and become registered. 

What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?
A Psychologist does not have a medical degree and cannot prescribe medicine and a Psychiatrist may not have the same therapy experience as a Psychologist.  However, many Psychologists and Psychiatrists study for a similar amount of time.

Who sees a Psychologist? 
Many people see psychologists for many different reasons.  Some very highly functioning and/or mentally well people see a psychologist to help them around a specific problem or to help them function even better.  For example, Psychologists will often work with people to help with work-life balance issues or how to cope with "everyday" stress more effectively.  Of course, Psychologists also see many people who are very distressed or have very serious challenges.  Psychologists have been trained to see people with a very large range of difficulties and intensity of problems.

Psychologists see people with the following:

• Anxiety
• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
• Adjustment difficulties
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Grief or bearevement issues
• Marriage problems
• Parenting strategies
• Phobias or specific fears
• Prevention of suicide
• Relationship problems
• Trauma

How can a Psychologist help?
Your Psychologist will conduct an assessment -- essentially figuring out what it is that you have come for help with.  He or she may ask you many questions that relate to the issues you present in order to know how best to help.  A treatment plan will be discussed with you -- answering any questions you have along the way.  This treatment plan will cover what the issues are, how best the Psychologist will help and using what strategies, and a sense of how long treatment will take.  With your guidance, a Psychologist will assess what are the most pressing needs and will target those first.

Psychologists often help clients achieve answers as to why they struggle with their current difficulties.  Also, Psychologists help clients on how to make changes in life to overcome these difficulties or how to become more accepting of problems that are unchangeable.  With more understanding of the why and the how, clients tend to feel they can live their lives much more successfully.

What to expect in an Assessment appointment?
In a typical assessment interview, a Psychologist will ask many questions that can be semi-standard.  This means that the Psychologist will need to ask questions that relate to your particular situation and some that do not.  The questions that seem to not be related are included in order to make sure that the assessment is thorough and no issues are inadvertently overlooked.  There are no "right" or "wrong" answers to these questions.  The point of an assessment interview is to make sure that the Psychologist is familiar with your difficulties and the right treatment is then selected.

If you bring a child in for an assessment interview, it will consist of you (the gaurdian or parent) speaking with the Psychologist and your child speaking with the Psychologist (perhaps at times separately if appropriate).  The Psychologist will tailor the interview to fit the needs of your child.

At the end of an assessment interview, you will be given feedback.  Your Psychologist will provide you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.  You will be left with an understanding of your next step which will likely be treatment if appropriate.   

What to expect in Individual therapy?
Individual therapy is individualised for the person and can vary a great deal.  The common attributes are that you meet one to one with a Psychologist whose goal is to help you with your current difficulties.  Meetings are normally 50 minutes in duration.  Some Psychologists may assign some "homework" to be accomplished between sessions that can help with your progress.  You should expect that your Psychologist will be open and ready to hear your thoughts, questions and concerns -- listen to you as well as offer strategies to help you with your particular situation.  Sometimes people meet on a regular basis with their Psychologist (weekly, fortnightly or less frequently).  Others come in for a few times and find that is all they need.  All registered Psychologists are bound by ethical standards that are outlined in their Code of Conduct.  One example of the ethical guidelines is that your sessions with your Psychologist are confidential.  There are limits to confidentiality and your Psychologist will be able to tell you about these when you meet.

What to expect in Group therapy?
Group therapy usually consists of one or two clinicians who will lead the group and several other clients who have a shared difficulty.  Group therapies have been found to be an effective way to treat several issues including anxiety.  Many people say that group therapy offers a unique forum that helps people to overcome their particular difficulties in a very supportive manner.  Numbers in each group are deliberately set and confidentiality is still upheld.  Often group therapy can allow people to recognise that they are not alone in their difficulties, help a person to "see" what similar issues look like up close and offer an opportunity to hear different perspectives regarding difficult issues.  All groups run at the Centre for Emotional Health Clinic are research-based and manualised which means that there is a standard treatment used that has been shown to be effective. 

To find out more, please feel free to call the clinic directly on (02) 9850-8711.