Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right Psychologist?

Finding the right psychologist for you is an important first step in getting the help you need. Having a team of psychologists who enjoy working with treating trauma, anxiety, depression, stress and more means that at Darlinghurst Psychologists we can usually find the psychologist that best suits your needs.

Do certain psychologists specialise in different areas, or does every psychologist cover every area?

Every psychologist has specialisations in what mental health concerns they are best equipped to provide treatment for. For example some of the psychologists focus on dialectical behavioural therapy, some of the psychologists focus on acceptance and commitment therapy and some of the psychologists do both but not others. For more information please look at our individual psychologists to see their areas of treatment.

What if my psychologist does not feel like a good match?

Given the human nature of psychology sometimes this can happen and that is okay! If that is the case we usually recommend talking to your psychologist about it first to see if it can be addressed. If things do not improve that’s also okay it can happen! At Darlinghurst Psychologists we have multiple trained clinicians and we can help you try and find an alternative that suits you – at the end of the day we want to help you feel your best and understand if you want to explore a change in psychologist.

Can my problems be helped?

At Darlinghurst Psychologists we believe the answer is yes! Through implementation of evidence-based psychological treatment both during your sessions and through completing any practice tasks the research shows that psychological distress is workable as long as you find the right psychologist and treatment for you!

How long will it take?

Sessions go for 50 minutes at a time. Short-term therapies tend to take between six and 18 sessions when focusing on specific problems (examples being Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and EMDR) with this impacted by frequency of contact, severity of the challenges and engagement with the process. Sometimes a problem may be more longstanding, complex, or severe. The good news is that there are really effective approaches that can help here too, such as Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) or Schema Therapy. DBT or Schema Therapy are longer term and can last between six months and a few years.

Your Psychologist will help you decide what is right for you and guide you through the treatment process in a clear and communicative manner.

What therapies/treatments do you offer?

We offer a wide range of treatments including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Schema Therapy and more. For more information please see our treatments page here.

Will this involve talking about my childhood?

That depends (and either way you get a say!). Many of our treatments focus on present day practical problem solving and helping people developing helpful skills rather than talking about childhood (i.e. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). However, for longer-term challenges and challenging experiences in childhood sometimes it is helpful to explore early life periods to look at how and why unhelpful patterns developed (i.e. Schema Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy). If this is the case the overall focus still remains on what you want your life to be about now, and what is preventing you from achieving it rather than only discussing the past.

Do I need a referral to make a booking?

No referral is required to see one of our psychologists, unless you wish to claim a rebate from Medicare.

How much does it cost?

The cost of individual counselling sessions varies by practitioner. Payment is required at the end of each session. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, please bring it to your first appointment to claim the rebate for individual sessions. Medicare does not offer rebates for couples counselling or family therapy.