Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I book an appointment? Click on the 'Book Now' button. 1. If you are a new client, follow the prompts to the contact form and complete this. 2. If you are a continuing client, follow the prompts to the client portal to book an appointment. Alternatively, you can email the practice on info@kirupsychology.com.au or call us on 0404 774 163.
What should I expect in my first session? Most people are often nervous or unsure in their first session. This is a perfectly normal reaction especially if you have not spoken with a psychologist before. This reaction usually settles once you become familiar with the location of the practice, your clinician and the flow of therapy. The session will often begin by discussing any paperwork (eg referrals, reports), policies and procedures (eg booking appointments, cancellation policy, confidentiality and associated limits). Following which, there will be a discussion about the difficulty you are struggling with and any relevant background history. Together with your clinician, you will collaborate on developing treatment goals and a personalised treatment plan. The first session is often different to subsequent sessions. The purpose of the first session is to elicit a broad overview of the difficulty and history, pinpointing triggers and factors influencing the difficulty. Subsequent sessions tend to be more action oriented and geared towards building skills and strategies to reduce the difficulty and enhance wellbeing.
How long do sessions last? Sessions last a maximum of 50mins, with the last 10 mins focused on reiterating key concepts and homework tasks, booking subsequent appointments and if applicable, processing a rebate.
How many sessions will I need and how often do I see my psychologist? This varies from person to person and is often dependent on the nature of your difficulty. This is something that is discussed in the first session.
Do I need a referral to see a psychologist? No, you do not need a referral to see a psychologist. However, if you do have a valid referral from your GP or psychiatrist, you may be able to claim a Medicare rebate.
What are the differences between a psychiatrist and a psychologist? Psychologists and psychiatrists both help people with mental health issues but in different ways. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have specialist training in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. Psychiatrists can provide appropriate medication as part of treatment that can be in conjunction with therapy. Psychologists typically provide therapy and help clients develop skills to cope with difficulties and mental health issues in healthy ways. To become a registered psychologist, a minimum of a Masters degree is required which consists of 6 years of education, research and training. Only then can the title ‘psychologist’ be used as it is a protected term. All psychologists must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and ensure ongoing learning and development standards to maintain registration.
What is an organisational psychologist? An organisational psychologist is a registered psychologist who has undertaken an additional 2 years of supervised practice to become endorsed in their area of practice. An organisational psychologist specialises in applying psychological principles to the workplace. This can include areas such as performance management, workplace motivation and morale, organisational development, workplace wellbeing, leadership and team dynamics, research and consultancy, employee selection and recruitment and training and development.
What is your cancellation policy? As per the recommendations of the Australian Psychological Society, we respectfully request a minimum of 24 business hours’ notice for any rescheduling or cancellations. As a courtesy service, email and SMS reminders are sent 48 hours prior to your session. Business hours means that if your appointment is 1pm Monday, you will need to contact us prior to 1pm of the Friday before your appointment. Cancellations or rescheduling within 24 hours will incur the FULL session fee. This policy is in place to allow us enough time to contact someone on the waitlist who may have been waiting several weeks for an appointment. Please note that Medicare and private health funds do not provide a rebate for cancelled or unattended sessions.
Is what I talk about in sessions confidential? Confidentiality is important to this practice and is critical in helping clients feel comfortable and safe. In addition, psychologists are bound by the Australian Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics which requires psychologists to maintain the confidentiality of sessions. There are exceptions to this where confidentiality may be breached: if you are at risk to yourself or others, if a subpoena requires the release of information or if you disclose knowledge or are involved in criminal activities including harm to a minor.
Do you provide letters and reports? Our practice provides psychological treatment and does not conduct medico-legal assessments or generate reports for legal purposes. Additionally, we do not issue support letters for Centrelink, courts, or similar requests. If you require a letter or report, please discuss this during your session with your psychologist. Your psychologist will need details about the request, including the purpose, the recipient, specific questions or information required, and the timeframe. Based on this information, your psychologist will determine if the letter or report can be provided. Please be aware that all letters or reports require a minimum of two weeks for preparation from the date of approval. If your request is beyond our scope of practice, your psychologist will suggest alternative options. A fee applies for the preparation of psychological reports and letters that require work outside of standard consultation times.