FAQs

Psychologists have studied human behavior and the brain (including how people think, feel, learn and behave) and have been trained to assist people who are having challenges coping with emotions, thoughts and actions. This can include those experiencing mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, addictive behaviours and childhood behaviour disorders. Psychologists use evidence-based approaches that are tailored to suit each client and circumstance and they assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of clients and areas of concern.

Learn more about whether you should see a Therapist.

Psychologists provide counselling and therapy to clients, but not all counsellors or therapists are Psychologists or Social Workers. In Australia, practicing psychologists are legally required to be registered with the national registration board, the Psychology Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. The term ‘counsellor’ is not protected in Australia, so anyone can use this title.

Clinical and Registered Psychologists must have a minimum of six years of university training and supervised experience and take part in ongoing education to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. Seeing someone who is registered ensures you receive high quality ethical treatment from a competent practitioner who follows a strict Code of Conduct.

Psychologists are university trained and registered practitioners who assist people with challenges they are facing in their life including depression, anxiety, stress and relationship difficulties, as well as mental health issues. Their focus is on tailoring plans to help their clients develop skills and techniques to cope with difficulties and to prevent on-going issues and they often use a combination of therapies appropriate to the situation.

Psychiatrists are specialist medical doctors who have obtained additional qualifications to practice in the specialty of psychiatry. They specialise in the diagnosis and medical treatment of mental illness and can prescribe medication as well as using other therapies.

No – you can make an appointment with our psychologists without a referral from your GP or a psychiatrist. If you have private health insurance that includes psychological counselling as extras cover, you may be eligible for a partial rebate on the cost of your appointment.

If you have a referral for a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP or Psychiatrist, you will be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate.

Whether you have a referral or not, simply request an appointment online or call us on
1300 322 068 and our team will be happy to assist you.

It’s very normal to feel anxious, nervous, or unsure about your first therapy session. Our psychologists and/or social workers will provide a private, comfortable, safe, respectful and non-judgmental place for you to discuss anything you need to.

In the first few sessions, the practitioner will typically ask you questions about yourself, your life, and any presenting problems you would like to work on. Together, you will create a plan of how therapy can assist you with these problems, how many sessions it may take, and how frequently you should meet. Prior to your first session it can be helpful for you to ask yourself what changes you would like to make in your life. The aim of therapy is for us to then work together to help you achieve those changes.

In the first session with your child, your therapist will often invite you both into the session at the beginning, then ask to see the child by themselves. After this, the therapist will discuss with you the most appropriate structure of future counselling sessions with your child.

In the case of adolescents, depending on the age of your teenager they may wish to see their therapist without their parent present. However, it is recommended that a parent is always available to attend the sessions if needed, and parental consent is needed for under 16s to attend therapy.

Each individual therapy session is 50 minutes in length. How many sessions you need depends on your situation and can be discussed with your psychologist. After the first 1-2 sessions, your therapist will discuss what they think is an appropriate amount of sessions to help you address the presenting problem. This way you can set goals and work together on achieving them.

Many factors can influence the length of therapy including the issues you are seeking help with, the coping strategies you already use, your support network and previous counselling you may have had.

Our group therapy program for children, teens, and adults offers a variety of different topics including:

• Building resilience
• Forming positive relationships
• Self-esteem
• Positive thinking
• Mindfulness

Please check our group therapy page for details of current courses.

All subject matter is age-appropriate and group therapy programs generally run for 6 weekly sessions. Medicare rebates may apply in some situations when you have a obtained a GP Mental Health Care Plan that includes Group Therapy. Please email us or call 1300 322 068 for further information.

Direction Psychology has developed several online courses to offer general psychological strategies for common concerns such as stress management and emotional resilience. They are designed to help teach evidence-based strategies that our psychologists use with clients every day, at an affordable price. These courses are general in nature – should you need an individualised approach, Individual Therapy may be more appropriate.