psychology
What is Clinical Psychology?
Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Clinical psychologists are highly trained professionals who use evidence-based psychological therapies to help people manage a wide range of issues from mild to severe psychological difficulties. Unlike psychiatrists, clinical psychologists do not prescribe medication; instead, they focus on understanding and improving mental health through therapeutic techniques.
What Does a Clinical Psychologist Do?
A clinical psychologist provides support and treatment for individuals facing mental health challenges, including:
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Anxiety, worry, and fear
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Depression or low mood
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Stress and trauma-related issues
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Difficulty adjusting to life changes
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Obsessional thoughts or compulsions
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Sleep problems or insomnia
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Substance use problems
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Body image and eating disorders
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Child and adolescent behavior issues
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Complex mental health conditions
Clinical psychologists also help with psychological problems that arise from life transitions, such as grief, relationship changes, and workplace stress. They offer both short and long-term therapy, depending on the individual's needs.
How Can a Clinical Psychologist Help?
The clinical psychologist can provide tailored treatment plans to help clients:
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Develop coping strategies for psychological distress
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Understand and manage emotions and thoughts that lead to difficulties
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Improve mood and enhance daily functioning
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Address addictive behaviors, including gambling or substance use
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Assist with childhood conditions such as ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities
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Work through complex issues like trauma, suicidal thoughts, or treatment-resistant conditions
What to Expect from Therapy?
Therapy is a collaborative process where the clinical psychologist works with you to explore the challenges you're facing and develop strategies for improvement. It’s not just about talking—therapy focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behaviour that may be contributing to your difficulties and learning how to change them.
Some common techniques used in clinical psychology include:
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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Hypnotherapy
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Mindfulness-Based Therapies
How Can You Access Clinical Psychology Services?
You can access the clinical psychologist’s services by obtaining a referral from your GP under a Mental Health Care Plan. This referral allows you to claim a Medicare rebate for your sessions. We conveniently have Women's Health GP's practicing from our clinic that can organise a Mental Health Care Plan for you.
Psychology is also often a service that can be included in your private health extras cover. This means that your health fund will pay a set benefit or percentage of the cost of the service, and you pay the remaining amount.
Contact our clinic today to discuss your mental health needs and schedule an appointment.
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