Psychotherapy services FAQ
What can I expect from therapy with Catharine?
Psychological therapy gives an opportunity to explore and understand personal problems, painful feelings, and uncomfortable issues in an accepting and confidential environment. It is also a place to acknowledge and celebrate strengths.
Catharine likes to work collaboratively and actively with people. This includes a focus on together working on understanding yourself better, unravelling the difficulties you are having in your life, together getting a sense as to how they developed, and from that working towards thinking about a way of living that feels more satisfying and meaningful.
What therapeutic approach does Catharine use?
Catharine primarily uses a cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) framework in her practice. CAT attempts to understand how patterns of relating with yourself and others may have developed and how they may affect your day-to-day life in important ways, both positively and perhaps less helpfully. Through this understanding, it is possible to have a better awareness as to what may be getting in the way of things being different, and to develop ways of both doing things and being in the world that are closer to what you’d like them to be. At the core of this therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the person seeking help, being together in a safe, warm and boundaried way to help make sense of the situation, with a strong focus on supporting choices that start building change for the better. What this looks like in practice will of course vary depending on the age and preferences of the person seeking help and the work that is created together.
The inclusivity of CAT means that, within this approach, Catharine also uses other evidence-based approaches, including acceptance and commitment therapy, schema-focused therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and mentalisation-based approaches.
Even when CAT appears less indicated (e.g., with particular types of problems, when people prefer more structure in their therapy), there is an emphasis on working side-by-side in a relationally-minded, whole-hearted, respectful, and engaging way to understand troubles and what might be helpful in managing them.
In saying all this, evidence demonstrates that in many ways the ‘branding’ of the therapy is much less relevant than the connection that you have with a practitioner.
for young people
Therapy can be a tricky thing to start for young people (as it can be for anyone!), especially if you haven’t seen a mental health professional before, or if you’ve found seeing mental health professionals weird or awkward. Young people are also much more likely than adults to feel like other people are making them come along for help. Catharine has lots of experience working with young people who are not that excited about coming along to see her (!), and in helping things to be different for them so that other people aren’t suggesting therapy quite so much. She’s happy to talk to you over the phone before you come in so you can ask any questions you might have and maybe check out how work with her might be able to be helpful.
How much does it cost to see Catharine?
Please contact Catharine if you would like further information about her fees.
Can I receive a rebate for clinical services?
If you are referred by a psychiatrist, or by a general practitioner under a Mental Health Care Plan, you can receive up to 10 sessions per calendar year that attract a partial rebate from Medicare. This referral needs to be written by your medical professional prior to your first appointment for the appointment to attract the rebate. It is best to book a double appointment with your GP when you are seeking a referral under a Mental Health Care Plan. There are some further technicalities regarding receiving rebates under Medicare that Catharine can chat with you about at your first appointment. Medicare rebates for clinical psychologists are currently set at $126.50 per session.
If you have private health cover, your insurer may also cover some of the costs associated with attending sessions, although private health cover and Medicare cannot both be applied to the same session. It is best to check this with your health insurer, as whether psychology sessions are covered will depend on your specific plan.
How long do sessions last? How long will I come for therapy?
Each session is usually 55 minutes, including a little bit of time for billing and confirming the next appointment. While it is common for people to have between 10 and 16 sessions, this decision can be made together, taking into account varying factors, like the nature of the difficulties, and your time and financial circumstances. These things, as well as any questions you may have and what you would like to work towards, can be discussed your first appointment.
When does Catharine practise?
Catharine works on Tuesday evenings (4pm-7:30pm), Thursdays during the day (9:30am-1pm), Thursday evenings (5:30pm-9pm), and Fridays during the day (9:30am-1pm).
What happens if I miss an appointment?
A. Unavoidable issues do crop up and sometimes cancellations are necessary. If you give less than 24 hours’ notice of a cancellation, you will be charged a cancellation fee of $60; if you give less than an hour’s notice, or don’t attend your appointment and don’t call beforehand to let Catharine know, you will be charged the full fee. This is done in the spirit of acknowledging the costs incurred in this work. Medicare and private health insurers do not provide rebates for cancelled or unattended sessions.
WHAT is therapy anyway?
What therapy is will vary enormously between practitioners and people seeking help. The below video, from The School of Life, explains a little how therapy can be helpful. (although Catharine doesn’t use a couch as can happen in classical psychoanalysis, but rather chairs, side by side; and no therapist can or should aspire to wear a cape, even a therapist who is a bear!)