Psychology 101: Supporting your clients to access psychological supports
Vanessa Launer Clinical Psychologist Connected Self
Goal : At the end of the session you will be better informed about the role of Psychologists and be confident and capable of making a high quality, appropriate referral.
Connected Self Connected Self has three service arms: • Psychology • Based at Carrington St, Adelaide • Provide outreach & video-conferencing options • 6 Psychologists • 1 Art Therapist • Offer private, third party and Medicare supported services • NDIS approved • Services to Young People • ICAN Case Management • Therapeutic Mentoring • Consultancy & Training • Rock & Water
How are psychologists trained? To practice as a Psychologist, individuals are required to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) – www.ahpra.gov.au There are two main pathways to becoming a psychologist: • Completing a Master of Psychology (6 years) or • Completing a Honours degree in Psychology (3 year Bachelor degree + 1 year Honours degree) and then undertaking 2 years of supervised practice (4+2 pathway) Individuals who have completed a Master in Psychology can undertake a period of supervised practice after registration to gain a specialisation • e.g., Clinical psychology, Neuropsychology
What does a psychologist do? Psychologists are experts in human behaviour. They use scientific methods to study the factors that influence the way that people think, feel, behave and learn, and use evidence-based strategies and interventions to help people to overcome challenges and improve their performance or wellbeing. Many psychologists work directly with those experiencing difficulties, such as mental health disorders including PTSD, anxiety and depression. Some other things psychologist can help people with include overcoming relationship problems, eating disorders, learning problems, substance abuse, parenting issues, or to manage the effects of a chronic illness.
What does a psychologist do?
In the tradition sense, psychologists assess, diagnose, treat or prevent problems with people who wish to improve their wellbeing. The work performed by psychologists is always underpinned by research. Many thousands of Australian psychologists work in academic or research settings, adding to the evolving understanding of human behaviour, and how it might be improved for the better. Psychologists can work a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, courts, community health services, prisons, the defence forces, and private practice.
What age ranges can a psychologist work with? Through their training, psychologists have an understanding of development across the lifespan and are taught strategies to support individuals of all ages. Many psychologists will work with individuals across the lifespan. Some psychologists will work with a restricted age range because of the nature of their employment or due to personal preference. • Therefore, not all psychologist work with young people A Psychologist will generally work differently with younger children and adolescents by including parents and caregivers in the therapy provided.
When to refer a young person to a psychologist? As a guide, it is recommended to seek additional supports when: • someone is experiencing significant distress or intense feelings • someone is over-using or abusing something or someone to manage their symptoms • someone is self-harming or expressing a desire to end their life • someone has suffered a trauma and cannot stop thinking about it • someone becomes disconnected from previously enjoyed activities • the ways of managing the issue/s are not working or are making things worse • the symptoms and/or ways of coping are impacting on significant relationships • the young person requests it • as the case manager/support worker you are concerned about the young person’s wellbeing
How to refer a young person to psychological support Speak to the young person and their parents/caregivers regarding your concerns Encourage the young person to consult with their doctor to rule out any medical reasons for their symptoms Ask the young person to speak to their doctor about accessing a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP: allows access to Medicare subsidised treatment) Find a psychologist in your area • The young person’s doctor may be able to help with this • Ask your network for recommendations • Or look up psychologists on the Australian Psychological Association website Check that the psychologist can support the young person in a timely manner and offer affordable services – not all psychologists bulk bill or offer low-fee sessions Organise an appointment and send copy of the MHTP to the psychologist
What is happens in an average psychology session? Initial session • History taking to get an overview of the individual, their presenting problem/s and how the individual is currently managing their problem/s • Baseline assessments Subsequent sessions • Exploration of the presenting problem/s • Psychoeducation to deepen understanding of the presenting problem • Addressing lifestyle factors that may contribute to the presenting problem • e.g., sleep, diet, exercise, drug and alcohol use, etc • Provision of therapy • e.g., trauma therapy, narrative therapy, EMDR, hypnosis, etc • Teaching new skills to manage/address the presenting problem/s • e.g., cognitive-behaviour therapy, mindfulness, relaxation, stress management • Challenging the beliefs that maintain or exacerbate the presenting problem • Ongoing review of use and effectiveness of taught strategies • Provision of homework to test and build skills between sessions • Review of assessments to establish level of change/progress
How many sessions on average do young people use to achieve change? Level of change/progress can be dependent on: • resilience of individual • how long problem has been present • willingness to change • coping strategies used • support network available • early childhood experiences and attachment style • presence of sense of hope or ability to see options for change • willingness to explore issues underlying problems • engagement with therapy • willingness to use strategies taught during sessions • level of trust present Limits to service provision: • Medicare only provide 10 subsidised sessions per calendar year • Services, such as headspace and CAMHS, can typically offer more than this
How can a youth / case / support worker stay involved following a referral ? Be grounded and present when interacting with the young person Provide a safe, consistent and predictable relationship, including setting good boundaries Role model appropriate behaviours and emotional expression Talk to the young person about their problems and validate their experiences Be curious with the young person e.g., ask about what they have learned during their psychology sessions, what is going on for them at present, how you can help Remind the young person of their appointments and/or support them to attend Seek permission from the young person to exchange information with the Psychologist
What is the waiting list for service provision ? Can the client request a male or female worker? What is the cost? And what funding support avenues are possible (e.g., NDIS, FLO, Private Health) What other providers service the Northern Suburbs? Questions from the audience.....
Connected Self 345 Carrington Street ADELAIDE SA 5000 Ph: 8232 2438 Fax: 8232 3974 www.connectedself.com.au Vanessa Launer Clinical Psychologist Ph: 0468 814 324 vanessalauner@connectedself.com.au