Your first session, and what comes after.
A walk-through of the practical mechanics, followed by an outline of how the work typically progresses across a course of therapy.
1. Book a free 15 minute call
Pick a time online. No paperwork or Medicare plan is needed for this. It is a brief, low-pressure conversation to determine whether the practice is the right clinical fit.
2. Book your first session
Consultations are 50 minutes via secure video. A card on file is required at booking, with a 48 hour cancellation policy. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you may upload it at the time of booking or send it through later.
3. Before we meet
You will receive the session link by email and SMS. Find a private space and use headphones where possible. If the video connection fails, the session can be continued by telephone; the same Medicare item applies.
4. The first session itself
The first 50 minutes are spent on three things. First, the presenting concerns in your own words. Second, a structured clinical assessment of when symptoms began, what intensifies them, and what has been tried. Third, a collaborative discussion of your treatment goals. By the end of the session you will have a clearer formulation of what is being treated, and a sense of the direction of subsequent sessions.
5. Afterwards
Payment is processed automatically from the card on file. If you are claiming Medicare, the rebate is processed at the end of the session and typically arrives in your nominated bank account within one to two business days. You will receive a short summary by email, including any agreed between-session task.
What the work usually looks like.
The first few sessions
The opening sessions are focused on clinical assessment and formulation. We identify the patterns maintaining the presentation, the contexts in which symptoms intensify, and the factors that have already been protective. From that we develop a shared, individualised formulation: a working clinical theory of what is being treated and what tends to help.
The middle stretch
This is the active phase of treatment. Each session targets a specific clinical objective: a worry pattern, sleep disturbance, a particular avoidance behaviour, or a recurrent depressive thought. The session provides a structured context for review and planning; the change generally occurs in the deliberate between-session practice we plan together.
Between sessions
Between-session work is targeted and individualised. It generally consists of one defined experiment or practice, scaled to your context, with a clear rationale tied to the formulation. The aim is to test the formulation in the situations where the difficulty actually occurs.
Indicators of progress
Most clients begin to notice meaningful shifts between sessions 6 and 12. Standardised outcome measures (GAD-7, PHQ-9, K-10) are administered periodically to corroborate the clinical impression and to identify areas requiring continued attention.
Concluding treatment
When clinical goals are met and the gains are consolidating, session frequency is gradually reduced (typically to fortnightly, then monthly), and treatment concludes with a relapse-prevention plan. The objective is for you to leave with a clear understanding of your own patterns and the skills required to manage them independently.