FAQ

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker provide Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS). They primarily offer evidence-based therapy modalities, guidance, support, and a safe space for individuals to explore emotions, behaviours, and personal challenges. They assist in problem-solving, coping strategies, and enhancing overall well-being through conversation-based therapy with a holistic approach.

Psychologists provide therapy sessions like Accredited Mental Health Social Workers but often employ a broader range of therapeutic techniques. Additionally, psychologists conduct psychological assessments to diagnose mental health disorders or evaluate cognitive and emotional functioning. These assessments help tailor treatment plans.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors specialising in mental health. They can prescribe medication and often manage more severe or complex mental health conditions requiring pharmacological interventions. Psychiatrists may also offer therapy, but their primary focus lies in medication management for mental health disorders.

Clients typically attend consultations fortnightly in the early stages in order to establish concerns and identify the contributing factors. This also allows time for the therapeutic alliance to develop. Often, clients then attend monthly to monitor progress. Alternatively, counselling can end and plans can be made to manage the next steps.

Yes. In some cases, having support can greatly improve therapeutic outcomes. However, please raise this with your therapist during your consultation to ensure all ethical and confidentiality concerns are discussed before an additional person attending.

Yes, but please check with your insurer if your policy covers mental health support. Your session fee will need to be paid in full at the time of the consultation, then you can process the receipt directly with your private health insurance provider to claim your rebate. Please Note: Private health insurers cannot cover the Medicare gap fee. Rebates can only be claimed from either Medicare or your health insurer – not both.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

Mindknit Counselling is not a crisis help service, but there are many 24/7 services available for support. If you or someone else is in danger, call emergency services immediately on 000. If faced with a serious mental health crisis, please phone Access Mental Health Services on 1800 332 388. If a person cannot attend counselling, consider mental health helplines like Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), or the Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800). These services offer confidential support and guidance. Alternatively, visit the nearest hospital emergency department. 

You could also schedule an appointment with your GP, for yourself or a loved one, so they can assess the situation and provide initial support.

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.

Absolutely yes. Mindknit Counselling treats confidentiality seriously. We want to ensure whatever you discussed and disclosed in the session remains in the therapy room. Unless there is a risk of harm to others or yourself.

All accredited Mental Health Social Workers must currently registered with the Australia Association of Social Work (AASW). To maintain the registration, the Accredited Mental Health Social Workers must follow the AASW Code of Ethics, and Practice Standards which mandates ongoing professional development and clinical supervision.