There are many reasons why you may want to consult a psychologist. Everyday problems and issues can impact on our daily functioning. Stress, sadness, anxiety for example, can make it difficult to enjoy life and to be able to get the most out of life.
Talking to a psychologist can help. A psychologist can help you to understand what is going on and can help you to learn the skills necessary to manage or change the situation, thereby allowing you to function better and prevent further problems.
Psychologists use a range of techniques and strategies that are reliable and scientifically supported.
It is a requirement of the registration board and the Australian Psychological Society that psychologist seek regular supervision and attend courses and workshops as continuing education. Elizabeth actively seeks out courses that will better enable her to help her clients. She attends monthly supervision with an extremely experienced clinical psychologist and also attends regular peer support groups.
In a counselling session it is the role of the psychologist to provide the client with a supportive and confidential space in which to talk. Psychologists are bound by laws which protect the clients confidentiality. No information will be exchanged with others without the written consent of the client. There are some legal limitations to confidentiality which will always be discussed at the first session.
Often there is some confusion between the terms Psychologist and Psychiatrist. Both work in the general area of mental health, however a psychiatrist has a medical degree as well as specialised study in the mental health field. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication. A psychologist can not prescribe medication.