Individual counselling or therapy

Why go to individual counselling or therapy?

Most people who ask for advice and help with their problems go to individual counselling or therapy.

Who can I go to for individual counselling or therapy?

If you want counselling or therapy, you first need to decide whom to see. This may be a counsellor, social worker or psychologist. For more info about how these people can help, check out the Who can help you section.

To find a mental health professional see the beyondblue Directory of Medical and Allied Health Practitioners in Mental Health.

Or, you can also find a psychologist through the Australian Psychological Society Find a Psychologist Service.

The yellow pages or Just Ask (1300 13 11 14 - Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) may help you find these services in your local area.

You may also want to ask friends or your local doctor if they can recommend anyone.

Before you have your first appointment, it is a good idea to be clear about whether the service is free or not.

What happens at individual counselling or therapy sessions?

At the first appointment it is usual for both the client and the counsellor, or therapist, to talk about what the client wants from the counselling or therapy.

For more info about what to expect check out the First counsellor visit fact sheet.

There are many different approaches to helping to sort out issues or manage mental health difficulties.

You may find it helpful to know what some of these are. For more info check out the Different counselling techniques fact sheet.

Getting free sessions with your counselling psychologist under medicare

If your counsellor is a psychologist registered with the Psychologists registration board in your state or a clinical psychologist, you may be able to get free sessions with them.

The mental health psychology Medicare items involve two categories - 'general' psychology services and 'specialist' clinical psychology services.

Both general and specialist psychology services can only be provided to people with 'an assessed mental disorder' that is being managed by a GP under a GP mental health care plan or a psychiatrist assessment and management plan, or on direct referral from a psychiatrist or a paediatrician (for treatment of a child).

All psychology Medicare services are limited to a maximum of 12 individual sessions per client per calendar year, with a review by the doctor who referred you required after the initial six sessions. In addition, you will also be eligible for 12 group session services, where appropriate, in a calendar year.

For more info, check out the fact sheets on Psychologists or Counsellors, the APS site or the Department of Health and Ageing's website.

Asking questions

This is an important time, so it is OK to ask any questions you may have about how the counsellor or therapists work. You can ask these at your first session, or you can also ask when you first make the appointment.

Some questions you may want to ask, if you feel comfortable enough:

• What training or experience does the counsellor or therapist have?
• Do they belong to a professional association?
• How many sessions do they want you to commit to?
• How often do they want you to make an appointment?
• Do they feel comfortable discussing your particular dilemma or concern?
• Will they be discussing your case with anyone else?

In many instances counsellors or therapists will suggest a short-term contract with you. For example, you will see them every week for short period of time.

Deciding to continue

Within the first few sessions, you need to decide whether you want to continue seeing this counsellor or therapist or not. You will only have your own impressions to rely on.

Make sure you feel comfortable enough with the person you are seeing. Most counsellors or therapists will be very professional and trustworthy.

If your counsellor or therapist does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable talk to someone you trust about it.

It is not OK for a counsellor or therapist to make sexual advances towards you. If you feel your counsellor or therapist has made sexual advances toward you it is important that you talk with someone you trust. This may be a family member, teacher, local doctor or another counsellor.

For information about who else you could talk with, you may want to check out the Who can help you section of the website.