Unsure about what to expect or are you wanting further information about psychology?
I have put together a list of questions and answers that may help you decide whether I am the right fit,
as well as decide if psychological services are for you.
What to Expect from Tiny Dots Psychology
So you have reached out to me. Now what?
I will endeavour to get in contact with you as soon as possible with any questions you may have.
If you have made a booking via the booking form, you will receive three forms. These are:
- Client Contact Details
- Informed Consent Form
- Cancellation Policy Form
Please complete these forms prior to attending your first appointment.
Please let me know if there is anything that you would like to make your first appointment as comfortable as possible (e.g., a tour, images of what the room will look like)
When you arrive here, please wait in the waiting area. I will come and get you.
There are tea and coffee making facilities available to use in the kitchenette to the right.
Toilets are located outside.
I will offer you a tour if you would like of where all the facilities are.
For client appointments, I will ask you the following information:
- What made you decide to see a psychologist
- Reviewing the Informed Consent and Intake Forms
- What you would like to focus on
- Complete initial assessments (if relevant)
- Talk about my therapy style and approach
- Obtain your feedback about the assessment
- Booking further appointments
My therapy style is to be warm, open-minded, and calming. I endeavour to work along side with you to achieve your aims within the session.
I try to work as flexibly as possible and try to accommodate for your individual needs as best as possible.
I check in during the session with you with how the session is tracking and how you are feeling.
I utilise activities and whiteboard work in sessions where necessary and if you want me to do this. I find for many of my clients that this helps to ground the strategies and techniques within the session and makes it easier to notice how they could work in your life. Please don't be shy, take a photo of the whiteboard at the end of the session if you would like.
Feedback is extremely important to me, which is why I will generally ask you to complete a Session Rating Scale at the end of each session. This allows us to track our progress together and identify what I can do to make therapy work best for you.
Psychology Questions
For me, I primarily utilise:
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
- Solution Focused Brief Therapy
- Positive Behaviour Frameworks
- Trauma-focused Frameworks
- Neurodiverse Affirming Frameworks
Counsellors and therapists are not protected titles, but they should be registered with their professional body e.g., PACFA.
Psychiatrists are medical professionals and are specialised in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses and can prescribe medication.
Psychologists are professionals who are trained to use scientific principals who help people who are experiencing challenges in their life such as life stressors, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Medicare Questions
I am able to offer in person appointments, telehealth appointments, appointments outside of the clinic, and parent-only appointments.
You are entitled to 10 Medicare rebates per calendar year under the Better Access for Mental Health Care program, assuming you have met the criteria of having a diagnosable mental health condition. Sometimes this is not provided by the GP, but can be established in the beginning phases of your sessions with me.
The initial care plan is for 6 sessions. After the 6th session, you will need to go back to the GP for a review appointment if you would like an additional 4 sessions. I will write the GP a letter updating them of your progress after the 6th and 10th sessions.
This becomes a little tricker when you start sessions and then it rolls over into the new year. I will explain this in more detail if this occurs to you.
A mental health care plan is created by your GP or Psychiatrist. This mental health care plan does not expire and is updated when there is a change in your presentation (e.g., improvement, increased difficulties, or new diagnosis).
A mental health care referral outlines the number of sessions you are entitled to. The referral can be used for any psychologist (it doesn't have to be for the one the GP has listed on the letter). If you have already seen a psychologist under this referral, please let me know how many sessions you have used, as this will impact how many sessions you are allowed to use.
There are a few options available that you may like to consider. These are:
- Private Health Insurance (PHI). There are no requirements for me to report to your PHI. However you will need to manually make the claim with your PHI as I am unable to do this currently.
- Full Private Rate of $200 per session
- For those that have seen me for an extended period, talk to me about your situation.
- Referral to another agency or to the Primary Health Alliance
NDIS Questions
This is because as per the NDIS guidelines, we cannot charge NDIS participants differently for the same work that we charge other clients.
However, charges may apply for additional work completed beyond the session such as letter or report writing, creating resources, or extended consultations.
To access NDIS services I will need details of your current NDIS plan that include the plan date, plan goals, and whether psychology sessions are able to be accessed with your Improved Daily Living funding.
We will need to create a service agreement during your first appointment that outlines the number of sessions, budget, and rights and responsibilities of both parties.
At the 11 month of each year of your plan, I will need to write a report that outlines your goals, progress, future directions, and other supports you may benefit from. NDIS may roll your plan over to the next year (meaning you have the same amount of funding for another 12 months), but this report is still important as it helps us to review your progress, review therapy directions, advocate for your needs, and for my accountability.