The information presented on this page highlights the key elements contained in our consent form, which you will be asked to sign before beginning treatment. This ensures that you are fully informed about the terms and conditions of our services prior to commencing therapy.

Description of Services

We offer a range of psychological services, including Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT).  

ISTDP is an emotion-focused approach designed to resolve psychological problems by helping you experience and express feelings that you may have been avoiding. The therapy focuses on the emotional blocks that prevent you from experiencing true feelings about current and past events.

CBT is a structured, time-limited psychotherapy that aims to address negative patterns of thinking or behaviour that are contributing to your psychological distress. It involves efforts to change thinking patterns and is commonly used to treat anxiety, depression, and other conditions by teaching you specific skills to use in everyday life.

You have the right to choose between these therapeutic modalities or switch between them at any time based on your comfort level and treatment goals.

Risk of treatment
While both CBT and ISTDP are generally safe, effective, and widely accepted therapeutic practices, like all forms of psychotherapy, they can carry certain risks.

ISTDP, known for its focus on emotional expression, can provoke intense emotional experiences as clients are encouraged to express deep-seated feelings. This intensity may lead to psychological discomfort or even physical reactions like headaches or muscle tension during and after therapy sessions.

 CBT typically involves addressing unpleasant thoughts and feelings, which can sometimes lead to emotional discomfort. This type of therapy challenges existing thought patterns, and as a result, clients may experience a period of confusion and heightened awareness of negative thoughts.

Therapy can also impact your personal relationships. As you change and grow, the dynamics in your relationships may shift, which can be challenging to navigate. The outcomes of therapy vary widely among individuals, and there are no guaranteed results.

Purpose of Treatment

Our goal is to work collaboratively with you to determine the most effective approach for your needs.

Session information

The frequency of sessions will be tailored to meet your individual therapeutic needs and goals. Typically, sessions may be scheduled once a week but can be adjusted depending on your progress and specific requirements. The total number of sessions will additionally vary depending on your personal circumstances, the nature of the issues being addressed, and how you respond to therapy. This will be continuously assessed and discussed throughout the therapeutic process. Each session will last approximately 50 minutes.

Service Delivery
At The Psychology Box, we offer flexible therapy options to accommodate your needs, including services via Telehealth and in-person sessions through home visits. We ask that you ensure your session space is free from distractions and interruptions. This might mean choosing a quiet room, informing others in the home to avoid disruptions, and turning off unnecessary digital notifications. The environment should promote your comfort, as this significantly contributes to a successful therapy session. Creating this space not only enhances your ability to engage in the therapy process but also supports privacy and confidentiality during our sessions.

Confidentiality
At The Psychology Box, we prioritise the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. All information shared in therapy is confidential except in circumstances where disclosure is required by law. These include:

Risk of Harm: In situations where non-disclosure would, in our reasonable belief, place you or another person at serious risk to life, health, or safety, we may disclose relevant information as necessary to prevent harm.

Legal Requirements: If your information is subpoenaed or otherwise required by a court, or if disclosure is authorised by other legal provisions, we may be compelled to release your information in compliance with such legal requests.

With Your Consent: We may share information with other professionals, such as your GP upon receiving your prior approval.

Confidentiality of Young People

We adhere to the ethical guidelines set out by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) for working with young clients. Although parents are involved, confidentiality between child and psychologist is paramount:

General Information Sharing: Typically, general session topics may be shared with parents, but specific details discussed by the child will remain confidential.

Safety Exceptions: Confidentiality will be broken only if the child’s safety is at risk, under which circumstances necessary actions will be taken to ensure their safety.

Court Orders
We encourage both parents' involvement in the therapy process unless restricted by court orders. If there are court directives regarding parental responsibilities, consent from both parents must be obtained before initiating therapy. Our practice does not prepare court reports or act as a mediator in legal disputes.

Client Rights

You have the right to access your records upon request, withdraw consent at any time, and lodge a complaint about the service received.

At The Psychology Box, we maintain a policy that ensures you can access your personal therapy records in a way that maintains the confidentiality and integrity of the information. If you wish to review your records, we require that you arrange a specific time to do this in the presence of your psychologist. This allows for any necessary explanations and discussions about the contents of your records, facilitating a better understanding and addressing any questions you might have. Please note that while you are entitled to view your records during these sessions, you may not keep these yourself. This policy helps protect your privacy and the security of your personal information. If you need copies of specific parts of your records for legal or medical purposes, arrangements can be made through your psychologist following the appropriate consent procedures.

Here are the details regarding costs associated with our services:

Telehealth Sessions: Each 50-minute session conducted via Telehealth is priced at $210.

In-Person Home Visits: In some instances (for clients preferring face-to-face sessions), in-person visits can be arranged. These sessions are also 50 minutes in length and are additionally priced at $210 per session. Please note that Medicare rebates are not available for home visits. 

To secure an appointment, a $99 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. This deposit will be deducted from the total cost of the session at its conclusion.

Payments are due at the end of each session. We offer several convenient payment options to suit your preferences:

Credit or debit cards

Online payment

Bank transfer

Fees and Payment

Our cancellation policy is designed to respect the time of both our clients and psychologists. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, we require at least 24 hours’ notice. If an appointment is cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, we will make every effort to reschedule your appointment to another time that suits you. However, if we are unable to find a suitable time due to full bookings, the deposit will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.

This policy helps us manage our schedule effectively and ensures that we can offer timely services to all our clients. We understand that emergencies and unforeseen circumstances can occur, and we will assess such situations on a case-by-case basis to potentially waive the cancellation fee.

Cancellation Policy

The Psychology Box operates as a private practice and, unfortunately, cannot provide phone support outside of scheduled sessions. As such, we are not equipped to handle high-risk situations or serve as a crisis centre.

Emergency Situations:
Please be aware that The Psychology Box does not offer emergency appointments. In cases of an emergency, immediate actions are necessary, dial 000 or visit the nearest hospital emergency department. If you find yourself in need of support between scheduled sessions, we encourage you to consider contacting emergency services such as:

- Your local public mental health service, call 1300 MH CALL (1300 64 22 55).
- For individuals under the age of 18, kindly reach out to The Acute Response Team based at Children's Hospital Queensland at (07) 3068 2550, available 24 hours a day.
- Seek a referral to an appropriate service by contacting your local General Practitioner (GP).
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
- Kids Helpline (for those under 25): 1800 55 1800
- Parentline Queensland: 1300 30 1300
- Domestic Violence Information Line: 1800 811 811
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Mensline Australia: 1300 78 99 78
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467