Psychology
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of mind, how it works, and how it affects emotions and behaviour. A Psychologist can help you to understand, prevent, and alleviate psychologically caused distress or dysfunction, and promote well-being and personal development.
Types of therapy / methods we use:
There are many types of psychological interventions that may benefit clients. A psychologist has a minimum of 6 years training to allow them to provide evidence-based therapies and solutions that will meet an individual client’s needs.
There is no “one” therapy that will suit everyone, and your psychologist will spend time with you to determine the best treatment option for your particular issue/s.
Who can benefit from seeing a Psychologist?
Psychologists work with all age groups; however, most psychologists will choose to work with specific age groups.
Some common reasons people seek psychological support include:
- Adjusting to major life changes
- Anxiety, fear or worry
- Depression or low mood
- Working on self-esteem, body image or eating
- Behavioural problems, poor concentration, or hyperactivity
- Insomnia or sleeping problems
- Stress management
- Communication skills
- Conflict resolution
- Parenting strategies
- Problems related to alcohol use, drug use, gambling, or other addictive behaviours
- Processing difficult emotions
- Improving relationships
- Grief and loss
What are the potential outcomes ?
Seeing a psychologist can lead to a variety of potential outcomes, depending on the individual’s needs, goals, and the nature of the psychological issues they are dealing with. Psychologists are trained to provide therapy, counseling, and interventions to help individuals improve their mental and emotional well-being. Some potential outcomes from seeing a psychologist include:
- Improved Mental Health
- Increased Self-awareness
- Better Relationships
- Stress Management
- Improved Coping Skills
- Behavioral Changes
- Personal Growth and Development
- Emotional Regulation
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Improved Overall Quality of Life
It’s important to note that the outcomes of seeing a psychologist can vary widely from person to person. The effectiveness of therapy depends on factors such as the individual’s willingness to engage in the process, the quality of the therapeutic relationship, the therapist’s expertise, and the nature of the issues being addressed.
Delivery methods:
- Face to Face
- Video
- Telephone
Locations for Face to Face Psychology:
Judy Rafferty:
126 Hume St.
East Toowoomba, QLD
Video & Phone Sessions also available
Wendy Campbell:
Video & Phone Sessions
What is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy (talking therapy) based on the idea that how you think and act affects how you feel. It can help in many different situations — with both mental and physical health problems.
How does CBT work?
If you are thinking negatively about yourself or a situation and that is causing you problems, CBT might be able to help.
In CBT, you work with a therapist to recognise the patterns of thinking (cognition) and behaviour that cause you problems. Then CBT teaches you practical ways to learn or re-learn more helpful and healthy habits. Basically, the aim is to challenge and break the habit of negative thinking. Negative and unhelpful thinking can show itself in different ways. Some examples are catastrophising, where you always assume the worst possible outcome, and personalisation, where you take everything personally.
CBT is a practical therapy — it focuses on goals and is specific to an individual. It doesn’t look back over your past, it centres on solving current problems.
CBT has been around for many years. It’s the basis of other therapies such as acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, schema therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
What can CBT help with?
CBT can help children, teenagers and adults with emotional, psychological and psychiatric issues such as anxiety and depression.
CBT has also been shown to help people with:
- anxiety issues like generalised anxiety
- disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety
- disorder, health anxiety and phobias
- obsessive compulsive disorder
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- depression and bipolar disorder
- eating disorders
- relationship issues
- anger and stress
- problem gambling
- substance abuse
- schizophrenia
CBT can also help people with physical problems, such as:
- chronic pain
- fibromyalgia
- migraines
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- insomnia
Who can provide CBT?
Psychologists, psychiatrists, some GPs with training in mental health, mental health nurses, some counsellors and other therapists may provide CBT. You may be eligible for a mental health plan by your doctor to access Medicare rebates for CBT.
CBT can be conducted in private or group sessions — it may be in person or via telehealth (phone or video). Your doctor can refer you to a
CBT therapist, or help you find a counsellor or psychologist experienced in it.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps a person accept stressful events, such as experiencing psychotic symptoms, and commit to develop positive attitudes towards them and focus on the present moment.
ACT is an action-oriented approach to psychotherapy that stems from traditional behaviour therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. Clients learn to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their inner emotions and, instead, accept that these deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations that should not prevent them from moving forward in their lives. With this understanding, clients begin to accept their hardships and commit to making necessary changes in their behaviour, regardless of what is going on in their lives and how they feel about it.
ACT therapists operate under a theory that suggests that increasing acceptance can lead to increased psychological flexibility. This approach carries a host of benefits, and it may help people stop habitually avoiding specific thoughts or emotional experiences, which can lead to further problems.
What is Neurocognitive Therapy?
Neurocognitive Therapy is a form of therapeutic intervention that recognises our brain’s ability to reorganise itself by establishing new neural connections throughout life. For example, learning a new ability or challenging our thoughts and behaviours would result in neurological changes in our brain. This implies that our brain is capable of undergoing biological changes throughout our lifetime, typically as a result of psychological experiences. This ability is often referred to as “neuroplasticity” in the brain.
Neurocognitive Therapy is often incorporated into the client’s treatment plan in order to aid their ability to sustain attention and concentration over long periods of time.
Neurocognitive Therapy can assist to improve areas such as auditory and visual processing, memory, attention, mental capacity, decision-making, sequencing, spatial awareness, and cognitive flexibility.
Support… where, when and how you need it.