You’ve already begun your path to self-improvement if you’ve scheduled an appointment with a psychologist, so part of the work is already done. Remembering why you chose to take these actions in the first place is a good idea because the entire process might be daunting. The objective is to enhance your mental well-being, build your skills and improve your quality of life. Even though about 47 million individuals worldwide suffer from some form of mental disorder, mental health is frequently neglected. There are several things that you can do to prepare for your first appointment. It can be useful to make some notes or write a list of the things that you would like to share and discuss and reasons that you are seeking support. Remember that it is the job of the psychologist to lead the conversation and ask the right questions, so you do not need to have concern about what to say. In preparing for your first appointment make sure that you have on hand any relevant reports of documents that your psychologist may need (such as referrals, previous assessment reports, or letters or reports from other professionals that you have seen). Make sure that you have some time following your appointment that is free of commitments as therapy can be emotionally taxing and often requires processing time following. Lastly, be prepared to be honest. Psychologists provide the best support for each client’s situation and circumstances based on the assumption that what you tell them is true and that you are not withholding information. If clients chose not to share, psychologists are limited in their understanding of the client’s needs resulting in a lower therapeutic effectiveness. .

Throughout the entirety of your treatment, beginning with the very first session, you can anticipate being treated with respect at all times. During this session, we will discuss what you can expect to occur during the course of therapy in relation to a number of important topics. To begin, concerns regarding the privacy of your information and the extent to which confidentiality can be maintained will be addressed.

• There are expectations regarding what the therapeutic process will be like, as well as the processes that surround this. This might include information about writing letters of response to people who referred you in certain circumstances.

• Placing your expectations and the motivation behind seeking treatment within the context of the therapeutic framework that will most effectively assist you in moving through this process.

• In conclusion, you should anticipate being asked questions about a variety of topics in order to determine the optimal way to make the most of the treatment..

During your first few appointments, the psychologist will ask a range of questions to obtain a background history. The psychologist will speak to you about your concerns and any difficulties that you are experiencing, including the nature, duration and severity of your symptoms. The psychologist will gather information regarding your family history, current and past medications, daily activities, social life, emotions, behaviour, schooling and/ or employment, financial situation, and relationships. Your psychologist’s ultimate goal is to obtain a better understanding of how you arrived at the point in your life that you are in now, as well as what you hope to accomplish with the help of therapy. Because of this, they will be able to adjust their strategy to be more in line with what is most effective for you. There are numerous therapy modalities, each of which takes a distinctive approach to the issues at hand; therefore, it is imperative that you identify a strategy that will be of the greatest use to you during your sessions. 

A treatment plan is a documentation tool that outlines the specific goals you have for therapy as well as guide the interventions that your psychologist may employ to assist you in achieving these goals. It is common practice for a treatment plan to be developed at an early stage in the therapeutic process. The treatment plan is developed in collaboration between you and your psychologist. By forming a cooperative relationship, you and your psychologist will work together to create a new understanding of your circumstances and facilitate dialogues that lead to positive change. Your treatment plan acts as a roadmap to direct your sessions in a manner that is congruent with what you want to accomplish through the process. Treatment plans also help psychologists monitor progress and individually tailor and adjust treatment approaches where necessary. It is common practice to revise treatment plans on a regular basis, to account for shifts in client’ priorities and to take into account the client’ overall progress.

This will be determined by the circumstances and objectives you have set. Following the initial consultation, your psychologist should be able to provide you with an estimate of the number of sessions that will be beneficial to you.

Clients often wonder how long it will take to see the results of therapy. This is contingent upon the nature and severity of your condition, as well as the treatment that is being administered. Everyone will have a unique experience with psychotherapy, and the amount of time it will take before they notice an improvement in their condition will also vary. Even minute improvements can sometimes be readily observed, but most clients report feeling improvements after three months of treatment. Because ingrained behaviours and interpersonal patterns are resistant to change, therapy must be given some time before it can be effective. You won’t get much out of therapy unless you participate actively in the treatment, put in the effort to undertake between session tasks, and are truthful with your psychologist about the symptoms and situations you’re dealing with. 

• A general update and sharing of information regarding what has happened since the last session

• Reviewing the ‘between session activity’ tasks set in the previous session 

•Setting an agenda and identifying goals for the current session

• Participating in psychological intervention which involves discussion, activities, exercises and rehearsing skills to promote better coping and quality of life

• Explaining, discussing and setting the next ‘between session activity’ task wer here.

The professions of psychology and psychiatry are frequently confused. Both psychologists and psychiatrists have a comprehensive understanding of how the human mind, including our feelings, thoughts, and emotions, functions. While both are trained to identify and work with mental issues and disorders, psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors that favour the use of pharmaceuticals as a method for treatment. Psychiatrists prescribe medication, whereas psychologists are primarily concerned with providing clients with psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy.

IPA recognises how vital it is for therapy to be safe, and secure, and you can be certain that we take client privacy and confidentiality very seriously. Your information will be kept strictly confidential, as required by the Australia Psychological Society (APS)’s Code of Ethics for Psychologists. In the APS Code of Ethics, the Australia Psychological Society (APS) and the Psychological Board, a division of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APRHA), set forth principles on confidentiality and privacy, including: Psychologists protect the privacy of data they collect while providing psychological therapy. Psychologists must: (a) make provisions for maintaining confidentiality in the information they collect, record, access, store, disseminate, and dispose of; and (b) take appropriate measures to protect the confidentiality of information after they leave a particular work setting or stop offering psychological services. Only one or more of the following situations apply when a psychologist must disclose confidential information acquired during the course of providing psychological services: (a) with the consent of the relevant client or a person with legal authority to act on the client’s behalf; (b) in the case of a legal requirement; or (c) in the case of an immediate and specific risk of harm to an identifiable person or persons that can be avoided only by disclosing information.

As of 21 April 2022, appointments will be charged as per the new fee schedule. Please note that IPA’s fees are still below the recommended Australian Psychological fee of $267 per hour. Current fees for private paying clients are $250 per 50 minutes. Sessions are required to be paid in full within 24 hours of the session date. Payments can be self-funded or paid using NDIS funding (self-managed only) by bank transfer and these details will be provided to you as part of the welcome information pack prior to your first session. Invoices and receipts for payments will be emailed to you directly for your records. 

Mental Health Care Plans are treatment plans that are developed and provided by general practitioners. Your doctor will assess your situation and determine whether you would benefit from additional support for mental health issues. Mental Health Treatment Plans entitle individuals for 10 individual rebated sessions of psychology.. If you have a Mental Health Care Treatment Plan the government will pay some of the cost for  up to 20 appointments in a calendar year. To determine if you are eligible, book an appointment with your general practitioner and let the practice know that you would like to explore eligibility for a Mental Health Care Plan. It is important that you let the staff know that this is what you are booking an appointment for as doctors may require longer appointments for this process. You will be able to tell if you already have a Mental Health Care plan as the document will read “Mental Health Assessment Plan”. Usually, you would have also signed the plan.

It is your responsibility to check your coverage and eligibility with your private health fund and confirm if rebates apply to your psychological service. Unfortunately, we are unable to let you know how much your private health will be able to cover as each person’s level of cover and insurer differs. You can contact your private health company to see how much they will cover for your sessions. IPA will provide an itemised receipt that you may present to your health care fund for any rebates you may be entitled to.

Getting to an appointment in the middle of your working day can be inconvenient and problematic. While this suits some individuals, IPA also routinely offers after hours appointments, so if you require flexibility with appointment times and have other commitments during your day you are still able to access support. IPA offers early morning, evening and weekend appointments that can fit with your schedule by arrangement.

IPA is a telehealth psychology service that involves communicating with your psychologist using video sessions. During these sessions, you and your psychologist will see and hear each other through the video and microphone on your device (computer, tablet or phone). The week of your appointment you will receive an email reminder of your appointment date and time and this will include a video link that you can click on at the time of your scheduled appointment. Once you have clicked the link you will need to wait until your psychologist admits you to the video session and from this point the session begins. You will need to ensure that you have internet access and that your video and microphone settings are turned on. It is also important to be mindful of other people who may be around at the time of your appointment and either find a private space or if this is not possible let your psychologist know that others can hear the conversation. It is important that your psychologist is aware of other people who may be able to overhear as this may restrict clients from fully disclosing or sharing information.