adult & child Psychology
& Counselling adelaide

During your first appointment, the psychologist or counsellor will evaluate your needs and collaborate with you to set therapy goals. They will pose questions about your personal experiences and might request that you fill out some checklists or questionnaires. This initial session will be charged for 1.5 hours. However, not all of this duration will involve direct interaction, as it is crucial for your therapist to take notes immediately after the appointment to customise future sessions to your specific needs.

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You are welcome to bring someone for support to your first appointment, whether it be your partner, a friend, or a professional support person. Initial appointments are preferably conducted in person, either at our offices or in your home.

In the first session, your therapist will also discuss the frequency of future meetings and give an overview of our service agreement, outlining both your rights and responsibilities.

Subsequent appointments can be conducted in person, via telehealth, or a combination of both.

Feeling comfortable, respected, and heard is crucial when working with your psychologist or counsellor, especially when discussing sensitive topics. Our administrative team supports this process by providing details about the qualifications, experience, and availability of our psychologists and counsellors upon referral. Additionally, you have the option to speak with your psychologist or counsellor before starting services to address any particular questions or concerns you may wish to discuss.

A typical psychology or counseling session lasts for one hour, which may encompass time for note-taking following the session. The initial session lasts for an hour and a half, encompassing note-taking because it's crucial for your therapist to document observations immediately after the first appointment to customise subsequent sessions to your specific needs.

If you require shorter or longer sessions, please discuss this with our administration team.

Absolutely, our psychologists and counsellors are able to offer video telehealth sessions and phone consults. Please note that initial assessment will be face to face except in exceptional circumstances.

After your initial assessment with your psychologist or counsellor they will develop a proposed treatment plan which will include frequency of sessions. Depending on your goals this may be weekly, fortnightly or monthly. If you would like to see your psychologist or counsellor more or less frequently than they have recommended, please discuss this with them.

The primary distinctions between counsellors and psychologists lie in their qualifications, expertise, and treatment methods. Counsellors are mental health professionals who offer guidance and support to individuals facing emotional, social, or behavioural issues. Psychologists, with in-depth training in psychology, evaluate, diagnose, and treat a wide array of problems through diverse therapeutic techniques. While both roles are grounded in mental health principles, psychologists generally have more extensive education and training.

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Counsellors typically serve as the initial support for individuals confronting mental health challenges. They employ a variety of therapeutic methods to aid clients in developing coping mechanisms, setting objectives, and navigating complex situations, covering issues like stress, grief, relationships, and self-worth.

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Psychologists, as specialists in psychology, assess, diagnose, and manage a comprehensive spectrum of mental health conditions. Their responsibilities include performing evaluations, applying evidence-based treatments, and crafting customised care plans to meet the specific needs of their clients, tackling concerns such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and learning disabilities.

A provisional psychologist is a mental health professional who is in the process of obtaining full registration. Once they have completed this process, they are known as registered psychologists. Provisional psychologists offer the same support to clients as registered psychologists, but they have the added benefit of being able to consult with their supervising psychologist when needed to ensure effective client support. Additionally, they must undertake extensive professional development each year, ensuring they are always learning new and effective methods to assist their clients.

Yes. When you fill in our online referral form, you can request to see a male psychologist or a female psychologist.

If you request to see a female or male psychologist, and a psychologist of the opposite gender has a shorter waitlist - or immediate availability - our administrative team will let you know about differences in wait times. You will then have the ability to change your preference if you would like to.

Activ8 Mind psychologists provide sessions at our Adelaide practices located in Parkside and Parafield. They also offer Telehealth services for added convenience.

We accept referrals from South Australian residents who request face-to-face support and are:

a.) Able to attend an in-person appointment at our Parkside or Parafield practices in Adelaide.

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b.) Requesting support via Telehealth.

Please be aware that, all travel to and from our Parkside and Parafield practices is at your own expense, and our cancellation policy applies.

If you live outside of South Australia and are seeking support from our psychologists and counsellors, please contact us to discuss your needs.