|
Sometimes we hear that people are judged by their family or friends, suggesting they “get over it”. Here at ME, we realise that if this were that easy, we would all just do it! Some of the things that impact on us may be very powerful and your psychologist will work with you on identifying your unique needs, as well as tailoring and delivering a well-researched intervention. For details on Nikita ( Nik ) Kotlarov, his training, and his therapeutic approach, see Staff page for more details... You can also enjoy an entertaining slideshow from WebMD here: http://www.webmd.com/depression/ss/slideshow-therapy-myths-and-facts |
|
What usually happens? Your first appointment will be very different from the rest. Please arrive 15-20mins early if you may need to fill out some forms. First session usually involves a one hour face-to-face meeting in which you will have the opportunity to discuss some of the things that are important to you. During the session, we will try to understand the hopes you have for your future, and the things that are holding you back from making effective steps toward your hopes. We also may ask you to complete some questionnaires to help us get a better idea of your concerns. After the meeting we will work with your referrer (typically, your doctor), and make recommendations that outline the service which we believe will best address your concerns. These recommendations will be discussed with you at the end of you first consultation. Please understand that your first session may be very different from the rest because during the first session, we will try to understand your situation. After you have left, your psychologist is likely to research the current literature to ensure your treatment is provided within the guidelines of the most recent scientific advances. Later consultations may involve psychological services as appropriate, for example: Focused Psychological Strategies, Psychological Therapy Services, Chronic Disease Management, Psychotherapy, Counselling, etc. If you want to know more about services that are supported by Medicare, you may wish to visit Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) listing here: www.mbsonline.gov.au Our services are evidence-based therapies as appropriate for your individual concerns. During the time you are engaged in our services, we will continue to assess your progress verbally or through questionnaires in order to gain feedback and assist you in taking effective steps toward your hopes. Change Tasks In order to help you make your desired changes we are likely to ask you to complete Change Tasks. Change Tasks can be continued practice of the skills that you have acquired in your session. This is an important part of your therapy as working in the session alone will not be as effective as applying learning in your daily life. The goal is for you to continue with the changes long after your therapy has concluded. If you have any difficulties with these tasks, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will try to overcome such barriers together. It is in your best interest to complete the change tasks as they will help you accomplish what you set out to do with the our assistance.
Confidentiality and Privacy At the initial appointment we will ask you to complete a confidentiality form which will allow us to disclose specific information to specific individuals such as your referrer (typically your doctor). We are not allowed to release any information about you to anyone else unless you give us a written and signed permission to do so. There are some exceptions to this rule. If you are referred to us by a doctor or other health professional, we will usually send a brief report regarding the recommendations for service, your concerns, and your progress as a multidisciplinary team. Detailed and intimate information will not be provided. This is a requirement by Medicare and if you are concerned about these reports please discuss this with us and we will do our best to alleviate any concerns. Some information is also exchanged with Medicare. If you are involved in a court case and our file is subpoenaed by court, or your psychologist has to appear, we are legally not allowed to withhold any relevant information from the court. Finally, some information, but not personally identifying information, may be discussed within professional development activities and research, with the intent to increase therapists’ skills and advance the field of psychology. This is done, so that ultimately, we service our Clients the best we possibly can. If your psychologist forms a professional opinion that you, the Client, or another individual is at risk of significant harm, a legal and a moral obligations may exist to act on this information with the aim of preventing such harm, regardless of your consent. In this case, only minimal information necessary to prevent this harm may be disclosed. If you are a minor (under 18 years of age) we are obliged to keep your parent(s) or guardian(s) informed of your progress if they ask. But we are not obliged to provide them with the details of our discussions with you. If your costs for consulting with us are being paid by a third party (e.g. Employment Agency) you should have a clear agreement with them regarding their access to the personal information that you provide to us. If you have any concern regarding the management of your personal information, please contact the Regional Coordinator regional@mindzone.com.au Time and Punctuality A consultation will generally last between 51-55minutes. If you are late your consultation will generally finish at the scheduled time, to be mindful of other Clients with scheduled appointments. We suggest that you allow enough time to arrive early. This should also allow you to centre and focus on what is important to you at your session. We will do our absolute best not to keep you waiting. We would like to ask your patience and mention that due to the nature of our service, some delays can not be avoided. For example if we are dealing with an unexpected crisis, we may devote more time to address the situation. In such an event, your psychologist will provide you with the agreed upon session duration, to ensure you are not disadvantaged as a result. Broken Appointments Please notify your psychologist at least 2 days in advance if you are unable to come in for your appointment. This way, we can reallocate your session to someone else that needs to be seen. Please understand that we care about our Clients and seek to allocate our time and resources in the best way possible. If we do not receive at least days notice, your account will be charged at $50 to cover our costs. Please note there are no Medicare rebates for missed appointments. Finer detail is available here Thank you! If you have any further questions please feel free to speak to your psychologist. Here at ME, we invite you to make a shift in perspective – we are here to provide you with service, not the other way around. As a result, we will not judge you, it is not our place – we will do our absolute best to work with you on finding ways to help you make effective steps toward your hopes.
Feedback Throughout your work with us, please let us know how we are doing by filling out an anonymous feedback form. Available from the office, or online – http://www.mindzone.com.au/feedback_person . Or you could simply email us at admin@mindzone.com.au or call 0450 MY MIND (0450 696 463)
We look forward to meeting with you! |
