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"My relationship is feeling so much better after the few sessions that i've had. The simple changes that we discussed made such a difference, and you gave me some amazing insight into the female psyche!" |
FAQsQ. Is a psychologist the same as a psychiatrist? A. No. A psychologist has a minimum 4 years of psychological education which focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings and patterns of behaviour. A psychiatrist trains in medicine and then completes a further 3 years specialising in mental health. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication where psychologists do not. Q. Are PACT psychologists qualified? A. Yes. PACT psychologist qualifications and registration details can be verified at the Psychologists Board of W.A. website (http://www.psychboard.wa.gov.au). They are also members of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Q. How long will my treatment take? A. After an initial assessment relating to the nature of the problem, the length of time you have had this difficulty and any additional issues, treatment options will be discussed. There will be reviews where we discuss how things are going for you throughout the counselling and psychotherapeutic process. Open discussion about the therapeutic alliance between yourself and the counsellor is an essential part of the process and will be entirely in your hands. Q. Are my sessions with you confidential? A. Yes your sessions with your therapist are confidential. At times it is relevant to discuss your counselling with another professional (e.g. your doctor). On those occasions, your permission will be obtained and you will be asked to sign an formal agreement about this. You will always be informed whether there may be any possible contact made with other health professionals. This is the duty of care undertaken by all psychologists. Q. Will any of my family members or partner be able to find out about my visits? A. Family members will only be contacted if the therapist has your permission and there is a need to do so. However, there are times (although rare) where family members or partner's have contacted the Psychologist. On these occasions, PACT therapists will neither affirm your attendance at, or discuss, your counselling with them. You are free to tell them if you wish to, but PACT therapists will only provide information to you. Q. Does Psychotherapy work? A. Yes it does. Although each problem is unique and requires a specific approach, the level of effectiveness will be dependant on your input and amount of growth you wish to undertake at any given time. There are some issues where psychotherapy is not appropriate and you will be informed if this is the case. If a PACT therapist is not able to deal with your particular issue, then resources will be given or a referral will be made to an alternate service. Q. Why consider a visit? A. If you feel overwhelmed or have the need to address an issue, then a PACT therapist can assist you in finding ways and options to better deal with your concerns. Q. Is my relationship to the therapist important? A. Apart from ensuring that your therapist has the appropriate qualifications, we believe that the next step in finding a therapist is to find someone who you feel comfortable with. This is essential if you are to fully explore the issues you want to address. As such, we suggest you talk with your potential therapist over the phone before making your first appointment. The therapists at PACT Psychology Services always make telephone contact with their new clients prior to the first session, thereby providing the opportunity for some discussion before therapy begins. It is also necessary to realise that talking about your issues with a stranger is going to be difficult. So, we ask that you keep this in mind for your first session. However, at the end of your session we suggest that you ask yourself a few questions. Some that we recommend you ask are; do you believe you will become increasingly comfortable with this person as time passes, did you feel supported and understood by the therapist and did the therapist instil confidence in you that they can help? Another important matter when choosing a therapist is to find someone who is committed to his or her own personal and professional development. It can be a difficult question to ask, but we at PACT Psychology Services are more than happy to give you an answer! The profession of psychology is dedicated to furthering its understanding of human thought, feeling and behaviour. As such, there are psychologists worldwide who dedicate their working lives to undertaking research in order to hone our collective knowledge and practice. Therapists at PACT Psychology Services believe it is important to remain up to date with these new developments and therefore, undertake further personal and professional development. |