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Making an Appointment
Connecting with us is only a phone call away. A chat with our warm, friendly reception staff will provide you with all the information you need to move forward.
To make an appointment call us on 08 9226 3401, alternatively send an email to admin@vividpsychology.com.au or fill in our online contact form.
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Common Questions
How do I prepare for my first session?
We know coming into a psychology practice and engaging with a psychologist can be a very nerve wracking and a potentially anxiety provoking experience. Don’t worry this is a common feeling.
All our clinicians at Vivid understand just how daunting it may seem at your first session, but please remember it’s a safe space just for you to explore your issues and your life values WITHOUT judgment. Your therapist is there for you, to provide a warm & comfortable experience.
Before commencing your sessions with a clinical psychologist, you will be required to complete intake and consent forms. At Vivid we email these to you to complete beforehand online, so that we have everything ready for your arrival.
Consent forms often cover issues such as privacy, confidentiality, and access to information. If you have any questions about these or your rights in therapy, it’s a great opportunity to start that discussion with your psychologist in your first session.
Before your first session, please take some time to write down any questions you might have, or main points you feel are the most important to communicate. The first session is a great opportunity to discuss your goals. Many of our clients feel stuck in the problem and setting goals is important. Take some time to think about what you would like to be able to do. This will help you get the maximum benefit from therapy.
Remember that we are on your team. Even if you can’t find words for what is wrong, and even if you don’t know what’s causing the problem, we will be able to help you. This is our specialist area. Our role encompasses both assessment and treatment, and our team are skilled at both. Following your initial session we will probably have an idea of how many sessions you will require. Some clients require only a few sessions to feel better or learn strategies and skills to overcome the problems they are seeking help for. Others come for many sessions. There is no right or wrong, only what is most helpful for you
What is the difference between a Clinical Psychologist and a Registered Psychologist?
All psychologists in Australia hold general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, meeting high standards in education, training, supervised practice, ethical and professional standards, and ongoing professional development.
When you seek help from a psychologist, you might see a psychologist with general registration, or one who also has a specific ‘area of practice endorsement’ (such as clinical psychology, health psychology or sport and exercise psychology). A psychologist with an area of practice endorsement usually has additional university qualifications and supervised training in that specific area.
Whichever type of psychologist, you should expect the same quality of care, ethical behaviour and standards of practice.
Psychologists with general registration have a minimum of six years of university training and supervised experience, and build on that every year with ongoing education to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. They are often experts with supplementary skills, experience and training in other areas applying their skills in psychology within a broad range of professional settings.
Psychologists with general registration can work in any number of settings and assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of clients and areas of concern. They use evidence-based psychological approaches customised to suit each individual, setting, issue or challenge. They are often called upon to conduct psychological assessments and write reports for individuals, education and forensic settings, health and government departments. Where appropriate, Medicare rebates are available via mental health plan referrals.
Psychologists with general registration apply their skills, knowledge and experience in psychology across a range of areas including:
Mental health and wellbeing
Education and training
Population health
Drug and alcohol
Justice and corrections
Public policy
Corporate and commercial
Marketing and communication
Emerging technology and design.
What is a Clinical Psychologist?
A clinical psychologist is a psychologist who is an expert in mental health. They have undertaken highly specialised APAC-accredited training in the assessment, diagnosis, formulation, and psychological treatment of mental health, behavioural, and emotional disorders across the lifespan.
The education and training of clinical psychologists takes eight years.
Clinical psychology is a science-based profession that integrates theory and clinical practice to understand, prevent, and relieve psychological problems or disorders whether they are mild, moderate, severe, chronic, or complex.
A clinical psychologist’s training
Training in clinical psychology is at minimum an 8-year requirement. Students firstly undertake a 4-year Honours degree in psychology covering the scientific foundations of psychology. Students then progress to a 2-3 year accredited post-graduate degree, focussed on the assessment, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. This study is then followed by a 1-2 year registrar program overseen by the Psychology Board of Australia. We know of no other health professional who undertakes this length and level of accredited training in psychological practice in mental health.
A clinical psychologist’s specialised training is recognised by the National Law
The additional training of clinical psychologists is recognised under the National Law
Further, the general register of psychologists records when a clinical psychologist has undergone accredited post-graduate training to receive an Area of Practice Endorsement (AoPE). According to the Psychology Board of Australia an AoPE is a legal mechanism under the National Law which identifies practitioners who have an additional qualification and advanced supervised practice. The advanced, specialised training required for an AoPE occurs primarily within a 2-year Masters degree leading to registration in which the AoPE competencies are addressed.
The competencies required within the additional qualification and advanced supervised practice for clinical psychologists are outlined on the AHPRA website and within the Accreditation Standards for Psychology published by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.
Skills
Clinical psychologists have skills in the following areas:
Assessment & Diagnosis
Clinical psychologists are trained in the assessment and diagnosis of mental illnesses and psychological problems and are qualified to provide advice in clinical and compensation areas.
Treatment
Clinical psychologists use a range of techniques and therapies to treat mental health disorders. They hold particular skills to solve complex clinical psychology problems requiring individually-tailored treatment.
Learning
Research, teaching and evaluation are all integral to being a clinical psychologist. Research is often conducted on prevention, diagnosis, assessment and treatment. Clinical psychologists are involved in the design and implementation of treatment strategies in various settings (such as primary care, psychiatric and rehabilitation) and in the subsequent evaluation of treatment outcomes.