Frequently Asked Questions

A clinical psychologist is a psychologist who has completed a Master’s degree or Doctorate and specialises in treating psychological disorders. They have at least seven years of training, which includes a post graduate degree in psychology and two years of practical training.

You don’t need a referral, but you may have been referred by another Health Practitioner. Either complete the enquiry form, send an email or call on the telephone number provided to make an appointment.

Clinical psychologists work with people to overcome and cope with challenges they are facing in their lives using well researched and proven therapeutic techniques. The problems people get help from a clinical psychologist for vary greatly. However, they tend to fall into one or a combination of emotional, social, behavioural or relationship problems.

Clinical psychologists treat a wide range of mental health conditions, emotional challenges, and behavioral issues. They use various therapeutic techniques, such as talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other evidence-based approaches, to help individuals manage or overcome their difficulties. Some of the conditions a clinical psychologist may treat are included in more depth.

At the first session, we conduct what’s called an “initial assessment.” These sessions usually last around 50 minutes. During this time, you’ll have the opportunity to share details about yourself, including the challenges and difficulties you’re currently facing. I’ll ask a series of questions to gain a clearer understanding of what might be contributing to the issue. Additionally, Christopher may ask you to complete a few written questionnaires to help gather more information. By the end of the session, we’ll have developed a solid understanding of what may have triggered the problem and the factors that are keeping it going.

For more complex or long-standing issues that affect multiple areas of your life, the initial assessment might take more than one session. Once I have a good grasp of the situation, I’ll discuss the most suitable treatment or coping strategies with you, and we’ll work together to create a personalised treatment plan. Throughout the process, we’ll regularly review the plan and adjust as needed to ensure it remains effective.

Seeing a psychologist is entirely voluntary, and you have the right to discontinue treatment or an assessment at any point. It’s important to feel that the psychologist is a good fit for you and that you are comfortable with the type of treatment they suggest. If you have concerns, it’s often helpful to discuss them directly with your psychologist. However, if you’re not comfortable doing so, you can choose to stop seeing them without providing a reason. If you do choose to address your concerns, your psychologist can assist you in finding someone who may be a better fit or explore adjustments to your treatment plan.

Yes, sessions with a clinical psychologist are private and confidential. However, there are some exceptions, such as if there’s an immediate risk of harm to someone’s safety or if a client’s file is subpoenaed by law.

People often see a clinical psychologist for a variety of reasons, including:

• Stress 
• Life changes like a break-up 
• Dissatisfaction with life 
• Work-related problems 
• Anxiety, panic, or phobias
• Depression, sadness, or grief 
• Substance misuse/abuse
• Burnout
• Historical sexual/physical/emotional abuse

There are several different types of psychological therapies (also known as talk therapies or psychotherapies), each with its own approach to addressing mental health issues. Here are some of the most widely used therapies:

Here’s a brief summary of the main types of psychological therapies:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. It’s effective for anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
2. Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores unconscious thoughts and past experiences to understand how they influence current behavior. Useful for deep-seated emotional issues.
3. Humanistic Therapy: Emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and the therapeutic relationship. Client-centered therapy fosters self-exploration and healing.
4. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Combines CBT with mindfulness and emotional regulation techniques, particularly for individuals with borderline personality disorder and emotional dysregulation.
5. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Focuses on accepting difficult emotions and living in accordance with one’s values, despite emotional distress. Used for anxiety, depression, and stress.
6. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and communication to reduce emotional distress. Commonly used for depression and relationship issues.
7. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): Combines mindfulness practices with CBT to prevent relapse in depression and manage stress.
8. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): A short-term, goal-oriented therapy that focuses on finding practical solutions to current problems rather than exploring past issues.
9. Exposure Therapy: Gradually exposes individuals to feared situations to reduce anxiety and avoidance behaviors, often used for phobias and PTSD.
10. Family Therapy: Involves working with families to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and address dysfunctional behaviors within the family unit.
11. Group Therapy: Involves therapy in a group setting where individuals can share experiences and support each other, often used for anxiety, depression, and addiction.
12. Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT): Helps individuals and couples explore and regulate emotions to improve relationships and emotional well-being.
13. Narrative Therapy: Encourages individuals to rewrite their life story in a way that aligns with their values and strengths, helping to reframe challenges and identity issues.

Christopher collaboratively develops a personalised treatment plan for each client, drawing on techniques and models from various therapeutic approaches. This plan is tailored to best align with the client’s unique ways of thinking, feeling, and interacting both internally and within their broader interpersonal relationships. Below is a general overview of each therapeutic framework.

• 1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Focus: CBT helps individuals identify and change negative or unhelpful thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors.
  • How it works: It’s a structured, short-term therapy that often focuses on the present. CBT is used for conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and OCD.
  2. Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Focus: This therapy explores how unconscious thoughts and past experiences (especially early childhood) influence current behavior and emotional issues.
  • How it works: The therapist helps the client gain insight into their unconscious patterns and unresolved conflicts, aiming for long-term change and self-awareness.
  • Common uses: It is often used for deep-seated emotional issues, relationship difficulties, and personality disorders.
  3. Humanistic Therapy
  • Focus: Humanistic therapies, including Person-Centered Therapy (also known as Client-Centered Therapy), focus on helping individuals achieve personal growth and self-actualization.
  • How it works: The therapist provides a non-judgmental, empathetic, and supportive environment to help clients explore their feelings and experiences. The emphasis is on personal responsibility, growth, and self-discovery.
  • Common uses: It’s used to treat depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, and existential concerns.
  4. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Focus: DBT is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that was specifically developed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD) but is now also used for various mood disorders.
  • How it works: DBT helps individuals manage strong emotions and improve their interpersonal relationships through techniques like mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance.
  • Common uses: It’s effective for emotional dysregulation, self-harming behaviors, and issues related to BPD.
  5. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Focus: ACT helps individuals accept difficult emotions, thoughts, or memories instead of fighting them. It focuses on mindfulness and values-based action.
  • How it works: The goal is to increase psychological flexibility, which allows people to act in ways that align with their values, even in the presence of distressing thoughts and feelings.
  • Common uses: ACT is helpful for depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and stress-related conditions.
  6. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
  • Focus: IPT is based on the idea that improving interpersonal relationships and communication can reduce emotional distress.
  • How it works: The therapist helps the client improve their relationships, resolve interpersonal conflicts, and navigate life transitions, such as grief, divorce, or job loss.
  • Common uses: It is often used for depression, grief, relationship issues, and anxiety.
  7. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
  • Focus: MBCT combines aspects of mindfulness meditation with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It focuses on awareness of the present moment and helps prevent relapse in people who have recovered from depression.
  • How it works: Clients learn mindfulness techniques to become more aware of their thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgment. This helps to break the cycle of rumination.
  • Common uses: MBCT is often used to prevent depression relapse and to manage stress and anxiety.
  8. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
  • Focus: SFBT is a future-focused, goal-oriented therapy that helps individuals find solutions to current problems.
  • How it works: The therapist encourages the client to focus on their strengths and resources, helping them create practical solutions and strategies for overcoming challenges.
  • Common uses: It’s commonly used for a wide range of problems, including relationship issues, stress, and work-related challenges.
  9. Exposure Therapy
  • Focus: Exposure therapy is a behavioral treatment that helps individuals gradually face and overcome their fears.
  • How it works: It involves controlled, repeated exposure to the feared object or situation in a safe environment. Over time, this helps reduce anxiety and avoidance behaviors.
  • Common uses: It is effective for phobias, PTSD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
  10. Family Therapy
  • Focus: Family therapy involves working with families to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and address dysfunctional patterns.
  • How it works: The therapist helps the family members understand their roles in the system, improve relationships, and develop healthier ways of interacting.
  • Common uses: It’s often used to address issues such as adolescent behavior problems, family conflict, and mental health disorders that affect family dynamics.
  11. Group Therapy
  • Focus: Group therapy involves one or more therapists working with a group of individuals. The focus is on creating a supportive environment where people can share experiences, learn from one another, and receive feedback.
  • How it works: Group members interact with each other under the guidance of the therapist. It fosters a sense of connection and reduces feelings of isolation.
  • Common uses: It’s effective for individuals with depression, anxiety, substance abuse issues, or trauma.
  12. Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Focus: EFT is designed to help individuals and couples understand and regulate their emotions to improve relationships and emotional well-being.
  • How it works: The therapist helps clients explore their emotions, identify patterns, and work toward healthier emotional expression and regulation.
  • Common uses: EFT is often used in couples therapy, as well as for individual emotional issues like depression and anxiety.
  13. Narrative Therapy
  • Focus: Narrative therapy views individuals as the authors of their own stories, with the belief that people can change their lives by changing the way they interpret and tell their stories.
  • How it works: Clients are encouraged to reframe their experiences and challenges in a way that aligns with their values and strengths.
  • Common uses: Narrative therapy is often used for issues related to identity, trauma, and life transitions.

Each of these therapies offers different tools and approaches for addressing mental health issues, and some may be more suitable than others depending on a person’s specific needs. Many therapists may also integrate techniques from different therapeutic approaches to create a more personalised treatment plan.