Psychology in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

According to statistics taken from the AHPRA website (2016), there are approximately 28,000 fully qualified psychologists in Australia. Of that, approximately 8,000 reside in Victoria. In addition to psychologists, there are numerous other mental health practitioners including social workers, psychiatrists, counsellors and mental health nurses.  With a numerous array of practitioners to choose from – how do you know which one is right for you? Psychological treatment can be expensive; the recommended fee for psychologists is $241.00 for a 46-60min appointment.  If a person sees their psychologist 15 times in a year, it means they will have spent $3615.00 on treatment. Medicare may cover some of the costs, but if you’re going to be spending thousands of dollars on treatment you want to make sure the psychologist you choose is right for you.

Medicare Rebates

In order to receive psychological services under Medicare, a person must have a referral from their GP. Generally, a person can claim up to 10 sessions per calendar year. Medicare classifies psychologists into two separate categories, General Psychologists and Clinical Psychologists, which differ in experience and qualification.

The amount you receive back per session from Medicare will depend on what psychologist you see. If it is a Clinical Psychologist it will be $124.50, and if it is a General Psychologist you will receive $84.80. Some psychologists may bulk bill.

Importance of choosing the right Psychologist

Studies indicate that a positive client-practitioner relationship maximises the effectiveness of psychological treatment. In fact, having a good therapist, particularly one that is empathetic and warm-natured, has been found to be critically important!

While it can be tempting to book in with the first psychologist that appears on your online search, choosing the wrong practitioner can leave you with an empty pocket, minimal psychological improvement, and feelings of discouragement. Therefore, we highly recommend you be picky with the psychologist you choose.

Finding the right Psychologist in Melbourne

• Referral source: Ask your local GP to recommend a psychologist, but keep in mind that you are not obliged to see who your GP recommends and have the freedom to see whomever you please. Another idea might be to ask a close family or friend, however it is important to consider whether this person has sound mental health, whether they have the same values as you, and anything else that may be of importance to you.
• Another way of finding an appropriate psychologist in Melbourne would be by going on the APS Website http://www.psychology.org.au/findapsychologist/, selecting your requirements, whereby a list of suitable practitioners should appear.

• Credentials and Registration: Ask the psychologist whether they are registered to practice, if they are not then they might be a fake psychologist or have lost their right to practice. This is a red flag! You might also consider asking where they studied psychology, when they graduated, and whether they’ve ever been disciplined for professional misconduct.

• Experience: All psychologists specialise in treating different psychological conditions and have different treatment modalities. You can come across a great psychologist, but if your condition is not within their realm of speciality, then he or she is probably not an appropriate match for you. Therefore, make sure you ask what the psychologist’s speciality is, whether they’ve published any articles on your condition, how many people they’ve treated like you in the past, and how they stay up to date in the field.

• Values: You will be sharing very personal and sensitive information with your practitioner; therefore it may be important to know whether you and your therapist share similar values. For example, a feminist may check whether their psychologist is sympathetic to issues associated with sexism.

Working with the right psychologist

While it may seem like you have found the right fit, you won’t be sure until you have seen the practitioner a few times. At this point you should decide whether you’d like to continue treatment with this practitioner or re-commence your search for a better fit.  Drawing upon empirical evidence, Wampold (2011) identified a number of ways to determine whether a psychologist is appropriate for you. Some questions you might like to ask yourself are as follows:

1. Ask yourself whether you consider your psychologist

2. Do you feel understood and accepted by your psychologist?

3. Ask yourself whether you think your psychologist can help you.

4. Ask yourself whether you think you can work WITH your psychologist.

5. Has your psychologist asked you about your goals of therapy?

6. Can your psychologist offer an explanation for your distress?

7. Do you agree with their explanation?

8. Does their explanation provide you with a means by which you can overcome your distress?

9. Does your psychologist have a treatment plan?

10. Is your psychologist willing to adjust the treatment plan if it is not proving successful?

11. Do you find your psychologist persuasive and influential?

12. Are you convinced the treatment plan will work for you?

13. Does the psychologist seem interested in monitoring your progress?

14. Is your therapist willing and able to discuss challenging topics?

15. Is your therapist optimistic?

16. Do you leave the sessions feeling hopeful?

17. Will your psychologist take your feedback on board?

Go with your gut:

One of the benefits of having more than 8,000 psychologists in Victoria is that your options are almost endless. If for some reason a psychologist makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, even if you can’t articulate why, you can find someone else better suited to you. Go with your gut. While the quest for a well-suited psychologist may seem daunting at first, hang in there because it is well worth it. Finding the right psychologist in Melbourne can be incredibly rewarding, and help you to lead a fulfilled life with a deepened sense of perspective. Plus, after reading this blog you are well equipped with what to look for, and what questions to ask, making finding the right psychologist for you a whole lot easier!