Frequently Asked Questions
What is a psychologist?
Psychologists have specialist training in human behaviour and expertise in dealing with a wide range of personal issues. Unlike some related professions without national registration requirements, such as counsellors and psychotherapists, all psychologists are required to be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. Psychologists complete a minimum of six years' training in order to receive full registration, and complete ongoing professional development as a condition of registration.
I'm not sure if counselling will help. What should I do?
Many people are unsure if counselling will assist them. Please feel free to contact us to speak more about what you would like from counselling, and to determine whether we can assist you.
Sometimes, it can be helpful to have an initial session to discuss what is going on for you and work out if you would like further counselling. You are under no obligation to continue counselling after this if you do not feel it will be helpful. If you are still unsure, you may want to make an agreement for a limited number of sessions, in order to see if counselling is able to help.
What happens during the first session?
During the first session, the psychologist will need to gain a thorough understanding of your reasons for coming to counselling, meaning that may ask many questions about your issues. They may also administer some questionnaires to better understand your issues. As part of a detailed assessment, they may ask questions about your personal history. If you are uncomfortable at any time with these discussions, please let your psychologist know.
By the end of the first session, you and your psychologist will generally have established some shared goals for therapy, and will start to develop a treatment plan.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions that will benefit you is dependent on the nature and extent of the issues for which you are seeking assistance. This can be discussed further at your first session, where we can make plans to review your progress after a set number of sessions.
How much will it cost?
We aim to provide the services that you need, and we know that finances can be a concern when looking for a psychologist. If you obtain rebates through Medicare or private health, as discussed below, this will typically cover a significant part of the cost of each session. Please see our Fees and Rebates page for further information, or contact us to discuss this.
Can I claim a rebate through Medicare or private health insurance?
Please see our information about rebates under Fees and Rebates.
How long is each session?
Sessions are usually 50 minutes in duration.
How often will I need to attend?
Regular attendance at sessions is important in order to work towards goals and make progress in counselling. While sessions usually occur on a weekly basis at first, they may move to fortnightly or less often during the course of therapy. Please feel free to speak to your psychologist about this.
Where are you located?
In order to provide a convenient service for those living in the eastern and north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, we are located at 13 Highview Drive Doncaster.
What appointment times are available?
As it can be difficult to make time to see a psychologist, we aim to be flexible and therefore offer daytime, evening, and Saturday appointments. We operate on a part-time basis and are not therefore available every day, but can offer appointments most evenings, some weekdays, and all day on Saturdays. Please contact us on 1300 552 686 or info@aurorapsychology.com.au for further details about appointment times, or request an appointment.