Individual Therapy
At Headz Up Health, we offer individual psychotherapy to help our clients manage a range of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. Our therapy team is trained to provide non-drug therapies, strategies, and techniques to promote positive psychological function and growth.​​
1. Choosing a Therapist
Evidence has shown that therapeutic change from a current to desired future state of your self is largely attributed to the quality of the therapeutic relationship an individual is engaged in. In this context, finding the right therapist to support you is essential.
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This is not to say that self-help and personal development activities involving actions and interventions that a person can take on their own or with guided literature does not bring about change in response to mental health concerns. Rather, engaging with a qualified and skilled therapist helps individuals to not only build self-awareness and capability for change and improved mental health, but also provides a trusted, supportive, and confidential connection to help navigate the process of change. This is essential when change can feel like a challenge.
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Choosing the right therapist is an important first step to consider when you are ready to commence individual therapy. The difference in an individual’s experience of the therapeutic relationship is somewhat like going to a restaurant for a dining experience. You enter the restaurant, take a seat, and order your food from a menu of select dishes. You are then served a dish matched to your preference, but the dish can be somewhat different depending on the restaurant you attend. Differences include the dishes presentation, the taste, and your overall experience. If the dish is prepared by a ‘cook’ your experience will be vastly different from a dish prepared by a qualified and skilled ‘chef’. Similarly, choosing a qualified and skilled therapist that is right for you is absolutely critical for engaging in a quality process for achieving individual change and improved mental health.
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2. Therapeutic Approach
The therapeutic approach chosen by your therapist in working with you and supporting you to navigate change and improved mental health responsive to your presenting concerns will typically be drawn from a combination of person-centred and cognitive behavioural therapy approaches. It should be recognised that since the introduction of these fundamental therapeutic approaches in the 1960-70s, there have been multiple advancements and evidence generated for the detailed application of derivatives of these approaches for different mental health presentations.
This includes but is not limited to dialectical behaviour therapy (i.e. mindfulness skill development for managing emotional distress and the impacts of trauma ), schema therapy (i.e. understanding learnt patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that stem from the past and influence current experiences), narrative therapy (i.e. understanding a client’s life story and considering opportunities for experiencing this story from an alternate viewpoint that creates future shifts in experience), solution-focused therapy (i.e. identifying and strengthening the application of factors attributable to the attainment of favourable outcomes), and more intensive trauma focused therapies that target cognitive, social, emotional, neurodevelopmental, and body somaticising transformation in navigating the impacts of trauma experiences on current life experience. These referenced approaches are only a few that your therapist may drawn upon in developing a client-centred approach to working therapeutically with individual clients in addressing their assessed needs and concerns.
3. Types of Presenting Problems
Common mental health concerns for which an individualised therapy approach is well suited include:
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Depression and anxiety
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Post traumatic stress disorder
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Obsessions and compulsive behaviours
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Personality problems
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Addictions (including substance misuse, gambling, internet/gaming and pornography)
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Self harming behaviours and suicidality
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Adjustment difficulties (including complex grief reactions)
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Behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties (including those associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit disorder)
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Sleep disorder
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Sexual disorder
4. What Else You Need to Know
Individual therapy sessions will typically last 50 minutes. They may be conducted as a face-to-face appointment in our Therapy Centre in Caringbah or as a videoconference or telephone appointment. You will be provided details to assist you attend your appointment once you have made you booking.
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If attending your scheduled appointment at the Therapy Centre, you can seat yourself in the waiting area and wait for your therapist to come and greet you.
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The initial session will include introductions, the therapist outlining what you can expect in commencing therapy and how to make the most of your participation. It will also include the therapist undertaking an assessment that may include the therapist inquiring about broader life experiences that are not limited to only asking about your presenting concern.
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Some areas of inquiry may include addressing sensitive topics and your therapist will be gentle in speaking with you about this. At the end of the initial session, your therapist will provide you with feedback about your presenting concerns and options for addressing those concerns. This may include the therapist offering to work with you, providing indication as to the number and frequency of therapy sessions that may be required.
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Rebates for individual therapy services are available for Medicare, private health, and workers compensation insurance eligible clients to help reduce the fee for services. Payment of any client fees are to be made promptly by cash, credit card or bank transfer after each session.
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Clients who have a Medicare number may be eligible for a rebate to reduce the fee they pay when seeing a psychologist. Eligible clients need to be initially assessed by their doctor (GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician) who will register a Mental Health Care Plan with Medicare. The Medicare rebate will reduce client fees for up to 10 treatment sessions with a psychologist.
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Clients who have private health insurance may receive a rebate on therapy service fees where this is covered by their insurance policy. Clients should refer to their insurance policy to confirm the level of coverage that is included with respect to accessing therapy/counselling services.
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Clients who have been injured at work, or while commuting to and from work, may be eligible for workers compensation. The NSW Workers Compensation Scheme includes insurance for eligible workers to pay for therapy/counselling services to assist clients to return to work. The GP who is treating your work-related injury can refer you under Workers Compensation insurance to our therapists who are registered with the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA). Treatment fees are fully paid through this Scheme.
Couples Therapy
Our couples therapy services are designed to help couples overcome relationship challenges and improve communication, intimacy, and trust. Our therapists have experience working with a range of problems couples may face, including infidelity, financial stress, and parenting difficulties.
Family Therapy
Our family therapy service focuses on the interpersonal experiences of the members that make up a family system. Our therapists are here to help families communicate and navigate relationship challenges, working towards growth and improved interactions.
Child Therapy
Our child therapy services are designed to help children navigate challenges and improve communication and understanding while offering emotional support. Our therapists have experience working with children dealing with a range of issues, including behavioural difficulties, sibling conflict, and grief and loss.