FAQs

Do I need a referral?

No referral is needed, however if you wish to claim a Medicare rebate a valid letter of referral is required.

How long is an appointment?

Therapy sessions are generally 50 minutes in duration. Sometimes they are longer, sometimes shorter, but your psychologist will talk with you about this if necessary. Assessment sessions vary and you will be provided an estimate of the session lengths based on your particular needs.

How long will I need to see a psychologist for?

Therapy is a personal experience, the purpose of which is often to work through challenging issues and emotions. Some issues are resolved within a few sessions, while other require a longer commitment in order to achieve the desired therapeutic gains. As you work with your psychologist you will develop a plan with them to give you a better idea of what to expect.

What happens in the first visit?

Initial appointments are an opportunity to get to know each other. It is of course normal to feel a little nervous when you meet someone for the first time! While there are some admistrative things to discuss, like confidentiality and consenting to your service, most of the session will be talking about your personal circumstances (like school or work, family, interests and more), your concerns and difficulties, and what you would like to get from therapy. For child appointments, we will always start initial appointments with the parent and the child together until the child or young person feels comfortable to talk with the psychologist on their own.

What do I tell my child or young person about attending?

It is normal for children and young people to be nervous about coming to see a psychologist – they don’t know what to expect! Reinforce that they are not ‘bad’ and there is nothing ‘wrong’ with them. We suggest telling children and young people that coming to see a psychologist is a bit like going to see the dentist or doctor. You see the dentist for a sore tooth and the doctor for a sore tummy. A psychologist helps with feelings, thoughts, behaviour, or relationships.

If they are still unsure, make sure they know they will not be forced to talk or answer questions if they don’t want to. Give them some notice so they can process what is happening. Depending on your child, it might be helpful to talk about it 1-2 days or 1-2 weeks before your scheduled appointment. You can show them our website or a photo of the Psychologist they will be seeing. Usually after the first visit, children will look forward to sessions and understand that they are in a safe place where they can enjoy being themselves, and talk about things they may find difficult.

What is a Provisional Psychologist?

A provisional psychologist is someone who has completed their tertiary qualifications and is undertaking an internship, or a program of supervision. They have met the registration standards outlined by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), are a registered health professional with AHPRA, and are continually committed to meeting AHPRA standards in future practice. The difference between a provisional psychologist and generally registered psychologist is that, as Provisional’s are in the early stages of their career, they have a senior psychologist supporting them in their work with whom they check in with regularly as they effectively support clients. Provisional psychologists are also required to complete extensive professional development which means they are regularly learning more ways to help clients.

Provisional psychologists are not eligible to offer Medicare rebates; therefore a lower rate than general psychologists is charged for therapy appointments. However, when working with clients, provisional psychologists are still doing the same things a fully registered psychologist would be doing but with support from their supervisor.

All provisional psychologists who join the Kanda team already have experience working with children and young people. They are an asset to the team given this previous work experience, the recency and currency of their study, their passion for their work, and their alignment with the vision, mission, and values of the practice. They are supervised by Principal Psychologist Kylie Campbell who has almost 20 years of clinical practice experience.

Kanda Psychology is dedicated to ensuring the very highest quality of health, therapy and support is provided by each and every member of the team for each and every one of our clients while remaining committed to the growth and development of psychologists in rural and regional areas, expanding the future workforce of health professionals in our region.

What age groups do you work with?

Psychological assessments are facilitated for children, young people, and young adults from 3 years of age. Psychological therapy is provided for children from 4 years of age, adolescents, young adults, and families.