FAQS
What is a Clinical Psychologist?
Clinical Psychologists have specialised training and expertise in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of major mental illness and psychological problems. They provide a wide range of services for mental health issues ranging from mild to severe and complex. Clinical Psychologists are trained in implementing scientifically validated, evidence-based interventions, and are specialists in applying psychological theory and scientific research to the difficulties facing their clients.
What is a Provisional Psychologist?
A Provisional Psychologist is someone who has completed their tertiary qualifications in Psychology (minimum 4-5 years) and is eligible to undertake an internship to develop their applied skills ‘on the job’. This is similar to the medical registrars you'll encounter in hospitals and GP clinics. Provisional psychologists are qualified and experienced to provide assessment and treatment under the supervision of a Board Approved Supervisor. All of the provisional psychologists at Southern Child and Family Psychology are supervised by Dr Catherine Matthews. Our provisional psychologists are able to provide low cost assessments and treatments to children and families, and with no requirement for a Medicare referral, there are no limits on the number of sessions that can be accessed.
Do I need a referral?
You do not need a referral to consult a psychologist. However, if you would like to receive Medicare rebates for psychological services, then you will need a referral from your GP, paediatrician, or psychiatrist. Learn more
Are there Medicare rebates available?
Yes, Medicare rebates are available for many services. Learn more
What should I tell my child about coming?
It is best to be upfront and honest when telling your child about the appointment. This is the best way to set up a positive and trusting relationship between your child and their psychologist. We suggest telling them about what a psychologist is, using language and concepts that are developmentally appropriate to their age. This may be as simple as "a psychologist is someone who helps with hard feelings or behaviour". Most children will have some level of awareness of the difficulties they or their families are experiencing and may be relieved by knowing that help is being sought.
What do I need to do before the first appointment?
Please ensure you have completed the online intake form and online consent forms that were emailed at the time of booking. Your appointment cannot proceed without this as it is an essential part of the consent process. Please also email through your referral and any relevant reports. For younger children, you may wish to bring their maternal and child health book to your first appointment.
What should I expect in the first appointment?
In the first appointment, you will have an opportunity to talk about what has brought you along for an assessment or therapy, and how you are hoping we can help. As part of this process, there may be a combination of time spent with the parents, child, and family. Together, we work towards developing a clearer picture of your goals and what types of intervention or therapy will be most appropriate.
What if I need out of hours assistance?
Southern Child & Family Psychology is not a crisis service and is not able to provide 24/7 assistance. After hours and crisis support can be accessed via the following services:
What if my child won't talk?
There are many different ways to work with children, and talking is only one of them. Children are often able to express themselves more freely through drawing and play. Even many adolescents find drawing a helpful way to express themselves.
What if my child doesn't want to come?
When a child refuses to come to an appointment, parents may chose to go ahead and attend without them. We can then explore what is happening for your child and what is the best way to proceed. Sometimes a child's curiosity will then motivate them to attend the next appointment. If not, we can discuss other ways to help your child attend. In cases where a child continues to refuse, child-focussed parent work, where the parent attends sessions to learn about how they can support their child at home, may be a good option. In other cases, we may be able to help you think through alternative services that your child may be more able to engage with.
Clinical Psychologists have specialised training and expertise in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of major mental illness and psychological problems. They provide a wide range of services for mental health issues ranging from mild to severe and complex. Clinical Psychologists are trained in implementing scientifically validated, evidence-based interventions, and are specialists in applying psychological theory and scientific research to the difficulties facing their clients.
What is a Provisional Psychologist?
A Provisional Psychologist is someone who has completed their tertiary qualifications in Psychology (minimum 4-5 years) and is eligible to undertake an internship to develop their applied skills ‘on the job’. This is similar to the medical registrars you'll encounter in hospitals and GP clinics. Provisional psychologists are qualified and experienced to provide assessment and treatment under the supervision of a Board Approved Supervisor. All of the provisional psychologists at Southern Child and Family Psychology are supervised by Dr Catherine Matthews. Our provisional psychologists are able to provide low cost assessments and treatments to children and families, and with no requirement for a Medicare referral, there are no limits on the number of sessions that can be accessed.
Do I need a referral?
You do not need a referral to consult a psychologist. However, if you would like to receive Medicare rebates for psychological services, then you will need a referral from your GP, paediatrician, or psychiatrist. Learn more
Are there Medicare rebates available?
Yes, Medicare rebates are available for many services. Learn more
What should I tell my child about coming?
It is best to be upfront and honest when telling your child about the appointment. This is the best way to set up a positive and trusting relationship between your child and their psychologist. We suggest telling them about what a psychologist is, using language and concepts that are developmentally appropriate to their age. This may be as simple as "a psychologist is someone who helps with hard feelings or behaviour". Most children will have some level of awareness of the difficulties they or their families are experiencing and may be relieved by knowing that help is being sought.
What do I need to do before the first appointment?
Please ensure you have completed the online intake form and online consent forms that were emailed at the time of booking. Your appointment cannot proceed without this as it is an essential part of the consent process. Please also email through your referral and any relevant reports. For younger children, you may wish to bring their maternal and child health book to your first appointment.
What should I expect in the first appointment?
In the first appointment, you will have an opportunity to talk about what has brought you along for an assessment or therapy, and how you are hoping we can help. As part of this process, there may be a combination of time spent with the parents, child, and family. Together, we work towards developing a clearer picture of your goals and what types of intervention or therapy will be most appropriate.
What if I need out of hours assistance?
Southern Child & Family Psychology is not a crisis service and is not able to provide 24/7 assistance. After hours and crisis support can be accessed via the following services:
- Psychiatric Triage Service: phone 1300 369 012
- Kids Helpline: phone 1800 55 1800
- Lifeline: phone 13 11 14
What if my child won't talk?
There are many different ways to work with children, and talking is only one of them. Children are often able to express themselves more freely through drawing and play. Even many adolescents find drawing a helpful way to express themselves.
What if my child doesn't want to come?
When a child refuses to come to an appointment, parents may chose to go ahead and attend without them. We can then explore what is happening for your child and what is the best way to proceed. Sometimes a child's curiosity will then motivate them to attend the next appointment. If not, we can discuss other ways to help your child attend. In cases where a child continues to refuse, child-focussed parent work, where the parent attends sessions to learn about how they can support their child at home, may be a good option. In other cases, we may be able to help you think through alternative services that your child may be more able to engage with.
