Our Approach

 

Using an evidence based approach to psychological treatment we teach our clients to develop the willingness to deal with the challenges and struggles of life and truly lead a meaningful and functional life.

This is strongly founded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Below is a brief intro to ACT from Dr Russ Harris.  Also see his website  www.actmindfully.com.au

“Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) gets it name from one of its core messages: to accept what is out of your personal control, while committing to do whatever is in your personal control to improve your quality of life.

The aim of ACT is to help people create a rich full and meaningful life, while effectively handling the pain and stress that life inevitably brings. ACT (which is pronounced as the word ‘act’, not as the initials) does this by:

  1. teaching you psychological skills to deal with your painful thoughts and feelings effectively – in such a way that they have much less impact and influence over you. (These are known as mindfulness skills.
  2. helping you to clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you – ie your values – then use that knowledge to guide, inspire and motivate you to change your life for the better.”
person forming heart with hands

acceptance and commitment therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Using an evidence based approach to psychological treatment we teach our clients to develop the willingness
to deal with the challenges and struggles of life and truly lead a meaningful and functional life.

This is strongly founded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Below is a brief intro to ACT from Dr Russ Harris.  Also see his website  www.actmindfully.com.au

“Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) gets it name from one of its core messages: to accept what is out of your personal control, while committing to do whatever is in your personal control to improve your quality of life.

The aim of ACT is to help people create a rich full and meaningful life, while effectively handling the pain and stress that life inevitably brings. ACT (which is pronounced as the word ‘act’, not as the initials) does this by:

  1. teaching you psychological skills to deal with your painful thoughts and feelings effectively – in such a way that they have much less impact and influence over you. (These are known as mindfulness)
  2. helping you to clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you – ie your values – then use that knowledge to guide, inspire and motivate you to change your life for the better.”

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

 

What is CBT ?

CBT is a successful and proven therapy that helps treat a wide variety of emotional and physical health conditions in adults, young people and children.  CBT focuses on how we think about circumstances in our life and how this affects the way we act. As a result our actions can influence how we think and feel.The client and the therapist work together to change the client’s thinking patterns and behaviours.

What can CBT help with?

Research shows that CBT is effective in the treatment of the following conditions:

  • anxiety disorders (including generalised anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder)
  • depression
  • schizophrenia and psychosis
  • bipolar disorder

There is also good evidence that CBT is helpful in treating many other conditions, including:

  • chronic fatigue
  • behavioural difficulties in children
  • anxiety disorders in children
  • chronic pain
  • physical symptoms without a medical diagnosis
  • sleep difficulties
  • anger management

CBT can be used if you are on medication which has been prescribed by your GP. You can also use CBT on its own. This will depend on the difficulty you need assistance with. Once a thorough assessment has been completed by one of our experienced psychologists we will discuss the treatment path with you and identify how to best meet your needs moving forward.

 

smiling man showing thumbs up

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

 

What is CBT ?

CBT is a successful and proven therapy that helps treat a wide variety of emotional and physical health conditions in adults, young people and children.  CBT focuses on how we think about circumstances in our life and how this affects the way we act. As a result our actions can influence how we think and feel.The client and the therapist work together to change the client’s thinking patterns and behaviours.

What can CBT help with?

Research shows that CBT is effective in the treatment of the following conditions:

  • anxiety disorders (including generalised anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder)
  • depression
  • schizophrenia and psychosis
  • bipolar disorder

There is also good evidence that CBT is helpful in treating many other conditions, including:

  • chronic fatigue
  • behavioural difficulties in children
  • anxiety disorders in children
  • chronic pain
  • physical symptoms without a medical diagnosis
  • sleep difficulties
  • anger management

CBT can be used if you are on medication which has been prescribed by your GP. You can also use CBT on its own. This will depend on the difficulty you need assistance with. Once a thorough assessment has been completed by one of our experienced psychologists we will discuss the treatment path with you and identify how to best meet your needs moving forward.

 

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing  (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing  (EMDR)

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is an approach used in psychotherapy to enable people to heal from the symptoms and distress of intense disturbing life experiences. Such memories have a long lasting negative effect and continue to intrude on day to day life and in how you see the world and relate to other people. EMDR assists how the brain processes information so that the disturbing event can still be recalled however it no longer feels upsetting. Attention is given to past disturbing memories and related events, current situations that cause distress and the development of skills and perspective needed for positive future actions. EMDR has the strongest scientific evidence based effectiveness for treating post traumatic stress disorder. According to the EMDR Association of Australia EMDR has also been successfully used as a treatment component of depression, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, personality disorders and pain disorders.  For further information and details of the treatment techniques used please visit the attached link.  https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/

schema therapy

Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy is an innovative psychotherapy that has been shown to be effective with personality disorders, as well as other chronic psychological patterns.  This approach can be used for both individuals and couples struggling with difficult problems they are finding challenging to change.  Often the problems present in relationships, this may be with family, partners, friends and or at work. The pattern has a repetitive feel about it and causes enormous distress and turmoil to the person. It often is expressed by the sufferer as if things will never change whatever the person tries to do.

This life pattern, as Dr Jeffrey Young (the founder of Schema Therapy) has termed, results from maladaptive schemas, that were developed in childhood and adolescence, repetitively playing out in a person’s, or couples life. If you are wishing to read more about this area of treatment in greater detail the link below is a useful starting point or book in to see us for an initial assessment and we can discuss if this approach is appropriate for you.

man sitting on rock in water

schema therapy

Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy is an innovative psychotherapy that has been shown to be effective with personality disorders, as well as other chronic psychological patterns.  This approach can be used for both individuals and couples struggling with difficult problems they are finding challenging to change.  Often the problems present in relationships, this may be with family, partners, friends and or at work. The pattern has a repetitive feel about it and causes enormous distress and turmoil to the person. It often is expressed by the sufferer as if things will never change whatever the person tries to do.

This life pattern, as Dr Jeffrey Young (the founder of Schema Therapy) has termed, results from maladaptive schemas, that were developed in childhood and adolescence, repetitively playing out in a person’s, or couples life. If you are wishing to read more about this area of treatment in greater detail the link below is a useful starting point or book in to see us for an initial assessment and we can discuss if this approach is appropriate for you.

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