Question 1

Referrals

Accepted Answer

You don’t need a referral to book an appointment. However, if you’d like to access Medicare rebates, you’ll need a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. This involves a brief appointment with your GP to discuss your mental health and obtain a referral.

Referrals may also come from other health professionals, such as psychiatrists or specialists. These referrals can help with coordination of care, but they’re not required to begin therapy. If you’re unsure what applies to your situation, please get in contact with us and we can talk it through.

Question 2

Getting started, the first sessions

Accepted Answer

The first one or two sessions are usually focused on building a clear understanding of what’s been happening for you. This involves a detailed assessment where we explore your background, current concerns, relevant history, and what you would like to be different. The pace of this depends on complexity, some people feel comfortable covering a lot early on, while others need more time.

These early sessions are also about developing rapport. Therapy works best when you feel understood and comfortable enough to speak openly, so we take time to establish a working relationship that feels safe and respectful.

Question 3

Developing a shared plan

Accepted Answer

Based on what we discuss, I’ll work with you to develop an initial therapy plan. This plan outlines areas of focus and possible strategies, drawing from evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based approaches, and other frameworks where relevant.

The plan is collaborative and flexible. It’s not a rigid manual. If your priorities change, a crisis arises, or we discover other factors that feel more important to address, we can adapt the focus. Therapy often evolves as new insights emerge, and the approach is adjusted accordingly.

Question 4

Using questionnaires and measures

Accepted Answer

At different points, I may suggest brief questionnaires or rating scales. These are used to help:

• Clarify patterns or symptom severity

• Track changes over time

• Inform clinical decision-making

They’re not about labelling or reducing your experience to numbers. Instead, they offer another perspective that can support reflection and guide the work. You’re always welcome to ask why a particular measure is being used or to decline if it doesn’t feel helpful.

We have availability for new clients. Get in touch today.

What to expect in therapy

Therapy is a collaborative process, shaped around your needs, goals, and readiness for change.

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