Frequently Asked Question
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A) Psychologists have studied human behavior and the brain, including how people think, feel, learn and behave and have been trained to assist people who are having challenges coping with emotions, thoughts and actions. This can include those experiencing mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, addictive behaviours and childhood behaviour disorders. Psychologists use evidence-based approaches that are tailor made to suit each client and circumstance and they assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of clients and areas of concern.
A) Psychologists provide counselling and therapy to clients, but not all counsellors or therapists are Psychologists or Social Workers. In South Africa a clinical psychologist is legally required to have a four-year bachelor of psychology professional degree approved by the HPCSA. An approved six-month/720-hour face-to-face practicum, or an equivalent of not more than 12 months part-time practicum. Successful completion of the National Examination of the Professional Board for Psychology. Seeing someone who is registered ensures you receive high quality ethical treatment from a competent practitioner who follows a strict Code of Conduct.
A) Psychologists are university trained and registered practitioners who assist people with challenges they are facing in their life including depression, anxiety, stress and relationship difficulties, as well as mental health issues. Their focus is on tailoring plans to help their clients develop skills and techniques to cope with difficulties and to prevent on-going issues and they often use a combination of therapies appropriate to the situation.
Psychiatrists are specialist medical doctors who have obtained additional qualifications to practice in the specialty of psychiatry. They specialise in the diagnosis and medical treatment of mental illness and can prescribe medication as well as using other therapies.
A) No, you can make an appointment with me without a referral from your GP or a psychiatrist.
A) Whether you have a referral or not, simply request an appointment online or call us and our team will be happy to assist you.
More Questions
A) It’s very normal to feel anxious, nervous, or unsure about your first therapy session. I will provide a private, comfortable, safe, respectful and non-judgmental place for you to discuss anything you need to.
In the first few sessions, i will ask general questions about yourself, your life, and any presenting problems you would like to work on. Together, we will create a plan of how our sessions can assist you with these problems, how many sessions it may take, and how frequently we should meet. Prior to your first session it can be helpful for you to ask yourself what changes you would like to make in your life. The aim of therapy is for us to then work together to help you achieve those changes.
A) In the first session with your child, i will invite you both into the session at the beginning, then ask to see the child by themselves. After this, i will discuss with you the most appropriate structure of future counselling sessions with your child.
In the case of adolescents, depending on the age of your teenager they may wish to see me without you being present. However, it is recommended that a parent is always available to attend the sessions if needed, and parental consent is needed for a child under 16 to attend therapy.
A) Each individual therapy session is 50 minutes in length. How many sessions you need depends on your situation and can discuss it. After the first 1-2 sessions, we will discuss what would be an appropriate amount of sessions to help you address the presenting problem. This way we can set goals and work together on achieving them.
Many factors can influence the length of therapy including the issues you are seeking help with, the coping strategies you already use, your support network and previous counselling you may have had.
A) Our group therapy program for children, teens, and adults offers a variety of different topics including:
• Building resilience
• Forming positive relationships
• Self-esteem
• Positive thinking
• Mindfulness