How much do you charge?

Our fees are as follows:

Privately funded

Initial session (assessment):      $70

Standard (subsequent) session:     $140

Missed appointment, less than 24 hours notice:   $70

W & I funded

Surcharge for W & I Disability Allowance funded sessions - $20

W & I Disability Funded missed session with less than 24 hours notice - $20

Payments

Fees are paid at the time of the appointment via bank transfer, Eft-pos or cash.  

How long are sessions?

A standard session usually lasts between 50 - 90 mins, depending on need and preference.  It is better to have a shorter, focused session that you remember well than a longer one that doesn't have as much impact.  Our goal is for you to get the most out of each session regardless of the length of time.  

What happens in a CBT session?

The first CBT session is usually an assessment - what is happening for you that is of concern; how long has it been going on; what impact it is having on your life and similar aspects.   I try to introduce the CBT model in the first session as this is the basis of the work that is undertaken.  There may be other specific psychological models that we use depending on your situation.  

Subsequent sessions usually start with a quick rundown of how things have been since we last met, any events that have occurred relevant to the therapy which would be useful to discuss; following up on between session work (helpful or not? any barriers?) and then moving to the next aspect of the treatment plan.

How long will I need to be doing CBT?

When I first started working in DBT, my supervisor would answer most of my questions with, "It depends".  This was a response I found frustrating when I just wanted a clear answer, and the intervening years have taught me he was absolutely correct - it does depend.  

It is hard to put a specific figure on the number of sessions that may be required (how long is a piece of string?), though CBT is usually seen as a short term therapy .  I would say that if CBT is not assisting you in some ways after 5-6 sessions then we would need to re-consider if CBT is right for you.  

I do incorporate aspects of DBT into CBT work when required, usually in regards to the psychological skills that are specifically taught in DBT, which fall into 4 major groups - Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness.  

What about DBT sessions?  And how long will I need to be doing DBT if this is the therapy I need?

DBT is a specialised form of CBT which tends to be more structured than a standard CBT session.  The basis of an individual DBT session is the diary card which provides vital information to guide the session.  A chain analysis of a problem behaviour is always conducted followed by a solution analysis which is about strategies and skills that can be used in the future to assist with difficult behaviours.  Time frames regarding how long DBT will be required are longer than for CBT.  Given the circumstances which are usually prevalent when DBT is the preferred treatment, a year long process is not uncommon.  While this sounds like a long time, most are surprised at how quickly it passes. 

What age groups do you work with?

I am most familiar with those aged between 18 - 65 years.  I can work with younger and older people - 16 years at the younger end (at a pinch maybe 14 years old though definitely no younger, sorry) and there is no real upper age limit as long as the person has enough cognitive ability (i.e. understanding) to manage the work. 

Are there people who won't be able to do either CBT or DBT?

Both forms of therapy I offer do require a degree of cognitive ability.  By this I mean people need to be able to understand the  concepts (some of which can be a bit abstract and need to be experienced rather than talked over too much); practice the concepts / skills and be able to hold a conversation about experiences in their life and any benefits or difficulties in using the skills and strategies covered. 

People with a moderate to severe Learning Disability and those under 14 years old will likely struggle with this though there are exceptions of course.

Can you work with ADHD?