Therapy FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions we frequently get about therapy, therapists, and the process

How much does therapy cost?

Our fees start from $180 for a 50-minute session. Information about our fees is here

Do I need a referral?

You do not need a referral to attend The Therapy Hub for counselling. You can find out more information here

Are you a registered NDIS provider?

Currently, we are not registered with the NDIS. However, if you have self-managed or plan-managed funding through the NDIS you can utilise applicable services at The Therapy Hub

How many sessions will I need?

During your first few sessions with your therapist, they will talk with you about your goals and discuss your presenting concerns. Together you will come up with a ‘treatment’ plan that will give you a sense of what type of therapy will best suit you at the time and the expected duration. Keep in mind this can change as things progress. While we generally find that people need 2-3 sessions to know their therapist and for the therapist to conduct their assessment, you will usually start to notice positive changes after one or two sessions. Depending on needs, complexity or other factors, you may require more frequent sessions this will be discussed in your first appointments.

Some people only require short-term counselling (6-10 sessions) in order to achieve sustainable change in their lives.

For almost anyone who is considering therapy or who has made the decision to start, we’d encourage you to stick it out for 12 weeks minimum. Real change takes time.

Recent research indicates that on average 15 to 20 sessions are required for 50 percent of patients to recover as indicated by self-reported symptom measures.

For people with more complex, long-standing issues, longer-term therapy may be required, it can be weekly for months, OCD and eating disorders for example can require around 40 sessions a year, and others find between 15-20 sessions work for them. In the end, it is up to you.

We will work together to achieve your goals and regularly review how things are going so that you get the most benefit out of counselling. Sessions usually occur on a weekly or fortnightly basis to begin with, and then taper out over time.

What will happen in my first therapy session?

Your first session is for setting expectations and starting to build trust between you and your therapist. Doing some research and planning before your session can help give you a sense of calm and help you work out if the therapist is going to be a good fit for you and your goals/ needs for therapy.

If you don’t get a chance that’s ok, you do not need to worry about coming prepared with what to say in the first session. Just come with an open mind and your therapist will guide you through the process.

It takes around 3 sessions to establish your concerns, review your history, get to know your therapist and set some goals for therapy so allow this time to figure out whether or not therapy is right for you at this time and if your therapist is a good fit.

In the first few session, your therapist will explore what led you to seek counselling and what you hope to change in your life or what goals you have for therapy. Your therapist will ask you lots of questions. Some will include

What do you want to get out of therapy
Any accessibility or learning needs and preferences you have
Any worries or concerns you have about therapy
Information about your current concerns and past experiences

They may also ask you to complete one or more questionnaires to help them better understand your issues. This helps them to get to know you and determine what counselling approach might be most helpful for you.

You don’t have to share everything, you have control over what information you choose to share, and the pace at which you share. Our priority is creating an environment in which you feel safe and empowered.

By the end of the first or second session you and your therapist usually will have agreed on some counselling goals, and outlined a plan for achieving these. Your therapist may also give you one or more strategies to start practicing at home.

If you’re unsure about anything it’s ok to ask your therapist questions at any time. We welcome feedback and questions. We’re here to support you.

What will I talk about in therapy?

A lot of this depends on what you’re attending therapy for. What your goals are or what you are working on. This varies from person to person and may vary at different times in your life. To develop an understanding of what brought you to therapy your therapist may ask you questions about:

Your current and past relationships
Your childhood and family upbringing
Past experiences and significant life events
Situations or events you find difficult
How you feel
How you behave
What you think about things
Issues that have come up in previous sessions
What your experience with therapy has been in the past

But it’s important to remember that you don’t have to talk about anything you’re not ready to talk about or do anything you don’t want to do.

What if I don't like my therapist /or they’re not a good fit?

Finding the right professional or professionals and finding the right kind of treatment and support is a fine balance. What has worked well for someone else may not work for you. It’s important to keep in mind there are many different techniques therapists use and they can all offer different benefits.

Here is a list of things you can do to get the most out of therapy

It can take a while to find a mental health professional who ‘clicks’ with you. In most cases, it’s helpful to see the same therapist for a few sessions before deciding whether to continue with them, as this will give the therapist time to get to know you and build a good relationship.

It’s also possible that you’re not engaging in therapy for reasons not related to the therapist, so it’s good to reflect on what else is going on for you.

The single best predictor of whether therapy will work is whether you and your therapist are a good fit. You can change approaches, talk about homework and they’re all great things. Deep down, you need to find someone you ‘click’ with. Who makes you feel accepted and heard. If your therapist isn’t offering you this, it’s time to try someone else.

Remember that mental health is complex and that it’s not your fault if the help you’ve accessed hasn’t worked so far. Many different kinds of treatment are available. Even if it takes some trial-and-error, it’s important to remember that it’s possible for you to find the right support.

What if after all this it still doesn’t feel right?

Check out our blog post I saw a professional for help for my mental health but it didn’t work – what do I do next? For some additional tips and strategies.

Remember you can ask to see a new therapist if you don’t think the one you’re working with is the right fit for you. We won’t get offended. We want you to feel comfortable and find the right person for you.

Who do I need to see?

What’s the difference between a Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Counsellor or Social Worker?

What's the difference between psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health social workers, counsellors or psychotherapists?

There are several professionals who provide psychotherapy including psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health social workers, registered counsellors, marriage and family therapists and mental health occupational therapists and loads more. Of that group, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Accredited Mental Health Social Workers and counsellors are the most common. All of these professionals are trained to offer psychotherapy, there are differences in their education and training.

At the Therapy Hub, all of our clinicians have extensive training, skill and experience as therapists and are registered with the relevant professional associations. The biggest predictor of how helpful people find therapy is the relationship they have with their therapist, not what mental health professional they come from.

The most important thing is to find a therapist that will best suit your needs and has experience in the area you’re seeking help for. Asking things like do they work with trauma? Can they help you if you have OCD? Do they have experience working with eating disorders? Will be more helpful.

Start by asking yourself a few questions:

What are the issues I would like help with?

What are my goals for therapy?

How often am I able to have sessions?

Am I looking for long-term therapy or short-term help with a recent problem?

How much does each cost?

One general rule of thumb in finding the best therapist for you is to search for a therapist who

understands and has expertise in the area you are seeking support for;

Eg eating disorders, relationships, couples therapy, working with PTSD or anxiety

you feel comfortable with, who is accepting, kind and warm; and
you feel understands you and empathises with you

What is a Psychiatrist?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed specialised training in psychiatry, which is how to diagnose, treat and prevent mental, emotional and behavioural disorders.

They work in different ways and can use a combination of treatments such as counselling or medication.

They can usually admit people to hospital if needed.

You will probably need to see a psychiatrist if you have a severe mental health condition or require an assessment and medication for something like ADHD.

What is a Psychologist?

Psychologists have specialist education in the science of how people feel, behave and react. All psychologists are required to be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. Psychologists complete a minimum of six years of training in order to receive full registration, and complete ongoing professional development as a condition of registration. They provide help with issues such as anxiety, depression, stress and eating disorders. Psychologists do not prescribe medications. Psychologists can specialise in a number of areas including mental health disorders, jobs and careers, chronic pain, addiction, and sports and exercise.

What is a Clinical Psychologist?

A Clinical Psychologist has the same foundation of training as a general psychologist does, however, a clinical psychologist will have studied a Master’s or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. A Clinical Psychologist will also have completed a registrar program, which requires two years of post-study work experience with intense supervision

Similar to a general Psychologist, Clinical Psychologists are required to attend ongoing training and education, to stay relevant in the ever-changing world of mental health.

Clinical Psychologists are required to train in providing cognitive assessments in their postgraduate degree, not all go on to continue providing these/stay up to date with this initial training. None of the of the Clinical Psychologists at The Therapy Hub provides formal diagnostic assessments.

What is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker?

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers are registered providers with Medicare Australia. They have a degree in social work with a minimum of an additional 2 years of training and supervision to apply for their Mental Health Accreditation. They have been assessed on behalf of the Commonwealth Government by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) as having specialist training and expertise in mental health. Like other allied health professionals such as Psychologists, they use a range of counselling interventions to assist people who are experiencing mental health issues. Accredited Mental Health Social Workers have a breadth of experience in assessing and treating mental health disorders

What is a Counsellor/Psychotherapist?

The terms ‘Counsellor’ and ‘Psychotherapist’ are not regulated in Australia, so they can be used widely in the community by people with varying levels of training and skill. All of the Counsellors/Psychotherapists at The Therapy Hub have completed university training at a post-graduate level, are trained in a number of psychological strategies, and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience.

What’s the difference between a social worker and a psychologist

The biggest differences between the two aren’t in therapy, it’s more the focus in their early training – psychologists (generally) have more training in research and statistics*, whereas social workers (generally) have more training in how people and systems interact – but BOTH psychologists and social workers get training and experience in therapy and BOTH of us engage in evidence-based practice and we all learn about all of those things. Mental health social workers complete additional training and sit an exam to be registered, they are able to provide services under the Medicare Better Access scheme. They have additional training in using focus psychological strategies like CBT, ACT & EMDR

All clinicians at The Therapy Hub are registered with the relevant registration body for their profession, which requires they undertake ongoing professional development and access regular clinical supervision (meeting with a clinician who has additional qualifications in supporting, mentoring, and overseeing their practice).

After their initial training, both will pursue certain specialisations, and all our clinicians at The Therapy Hub have undertaken and continue to engage in ongoing training/development in talk therapy; the differences between social workers and psychologists tend to get smaller and smaller over time.

FAQ’s for Parents

I want my teen to go to therapy but they do not want to

There is an option to have a parent-only session first. This will give you the opportunity to discuss your thoughts/concerns with the therapist and receive support and guidance regarding how you might speak to your young person about therapy.

If your young person engages in therapy after this session, the clinician is required to tell them that a parent session took place, and will give them a summary of what was discussed (e.g. your parents talked to me about how it’s been hard for you to get to school, and mentioned you’ve had some issues with friends recently. They also asked for some advice about how they could talk to you about therapy, and I asked them some questions about your development).

Please keep in mind that we do not encourage forcing someone to attend therapy. While this comes from a place of concern, forcing someone to come to therapy when they don’t want to can actually do more harm than good, giving them a negative experience of therapy and in turn, making it more difficult for them to engage if they decide to try it again in the future.

Can I share information with my teen's therapist without them knowing?

There will be opportunities for you to speak with your young person’s therapist to provide information, share your concerns, and ask questions. Sometimes parents want to give their young person’s therapist information but don’t want their young person to know the information has been shared. This often comes up when parents aren’t sure how to talk to their young person about something or are worried it will lead to an argument.

While this is understandable, receiving information in this way prevents the therapist from being able to act on or use this information in therapy with your young person. However, your young person’s therapist can help you to raise the issue/discuss the information openly with your young person in the session. The Therapy Hub prides itself on its family/systemic practice, and all our therapists aim to strengthen the relationships of the families we work with.

My teen is seeing a therapist can I be involved?

Parental involvement is highly encouraged in the first session with you teen or child. Find out more about how we involve parents here

The Therapy Hub is a youth and family-inclusive clinic and all our therapists routinely involve parents/carers in therapy with young people, and will discuss this with you at the beginning of therapy. The set up of sessions will be tailored to you and your young person to be responsive to your needs and comfort. For example, some young people want a parent/carer in for the whole first session, others for the first 15 minutes, and others for the last 10-15 minutes. It is a common space for there to be sessions in which your young person is seen alone, and for parents/carers to join for a portion of some sessions.

Can I speak to my child's therapist?

Parent/carers are often keen to speak to the therapist before their young person, and there are cases where the therapist will opt to speak to your young person first if this is their preference. Rest assured your young person’s therapist values your input and will make time to speak with you. Remember, your young person’s therapist is working on building a relationship with your young person from the very first session, and research shows that the therapeutic relationship is the most important factor in how useful therapy is.