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FAQ: Clients

What are your qualifications and experience ?

I am an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Founder of Sage Psychological Therapy

I have held Master of Social Work since 2012. Over the last 10 years of therapeutic practice I have specialised in providing Evidence Based Psychological Interventions, Inc. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Schema Therapy amongst other modalities.

I have worked in Specialized Clinical Mental Health Settings, providing psychological therapy to complex clients, as a senior Mental Health Clinician since 2017.

This has been with the WA Health Department as well as various NGO’s. I have also held a position as a Clinical Team Leader, at a clinical mental health service.

What is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker?

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)s, are a cohort of Social Workers that have chosen to specialise in the area of Psychological Therapy &Mental Health.

 

They are highly trained and experienced professionals, providing psychological therapies to people experiencing mental distress. While they gain their specialised mental health training, post qualification, they are trained in the majority of modalities that psychologist are.i.e. Assessment and formulation. DBT, CBT,ACT, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing ect.

 

MHSWers, undergo a stringent assessment process, including examination, from the Australian Association of Social Workers and gain recognition for their expertise in the area of Mental Health and Psychological Strategies/Interventions.

 

This accreditation allows MHSWer to hold a medicare provider number and work as a psychological private practitioner, in the same settings as psychologists.

Further information to be found on AASW website.

What’s the difference between an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and a Registered Psychologist?

The main difference is the professional and educational pathway that either professional takes, to gain a Medicare Provider Number, which makes them eligible to provide Psychological Therapies to clients.

  • Both professionals work with the same mental health presentations, assessment, formulations and treatments tools, including providing Focussed Psychological Therapy.
  • Both have Medicare Providers number and are recognised for Medicare rebates under the Better Access Schemes.


Clinical Psychologist on the other hand carry out clinical assessments for neuro diverse clients, with ADHD & Autism amongst other Clinical Assessment. This is not typically within a MHSWers professional scope.

What mental health concerns do you work with?

I work with

  • Anxiety, panic disorders, OCD
  • Depression, low mood, low motivation
  • Unhelpful coping strategies, self-harming, binge eating, substance misuse.
  • Feeling of emotional disconnection, numbness, stuckness
  • Relationship difficulties, conflict
  • Emotional distress and dysregulation
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Eating disorders, self-image, body image, self esteem
  • Trauma/PTSD
  • Life stage changes
  • Grief and Loss

Special Areas of Interest

  • Childhood Trauma& Attachment
  • Intimacy, Pleasure, Sex and Sexuality
  • Women’s issues
  • LGBTQI + Specific Concerns
  •  Gender Identity Concerns



How do I make an appointment to see you?

If you find yourself wanting to embark on a therapeutic journey with me, this is how to start the process:

  • Firstly book your initial complementary 20 minutes discovery call or send me an email outlining briefly what has brought you to therapy. I offer this option so that you can meet me before deciding if we are a good fit, to work together. You can book this through the main page of my website.
  • Following this, make a ‘double appointment’ with you GP, to request a Mental Health Treatment Plan. For further information about tips and tricks to obtaining one, click on the “What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan” section.
  • When you are approved for the MHTP – ask your GP to write you a referral letter addressed to me:

Aine Ni Mhealoid,

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker,

Sage Psychological Therapy,

44 Merchant Street, 

Margaret River WA 6285

  • You can request the GP to email the mental health treatment plan to contact@darkviolet-spider-543608.hostingersite.com – otherwise you can bring a copy to your first appointment.
  • When you have your mental health treatment plan, we can arrange your initial therapy session.

How do I contact you?

You can contact me via the Contact page.

What are your Fee’s and Rebates?

  • 50min Session are a total of $180.
  • If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you are entitled to $79.05 back through Medicare, which will be processed at the end of you session.
  • So you will be a total of $100.95 out of pocket for each session with a MHTP.

How do you charge your fee?

  • When you receive your registration form via email, it will ask you for your debit/credit card details.
  • All of these details are stored on a secure platform, provided by Halaxy.
  • You will be charged $180 at the end of your session and then the rebate of $79.05 will be reimbursed onto your card immediately.

I need to cancel/ rearrange my appointment, what should I do?

You can contact me via email (contact@darkviolet-spider-543608.hostingersite.com) or SMS (0451112389) up to 24hours before your appointment. If you find an unavoidable emergency has arisen less then 24hours before, please let me know and we can discuss alternative options for your session.

Why have I been charged a cancellation fee?

  • If you cancel your appointment less than 24hrs before, you will be charged $100.
  • If there is a legitimate emergency or Illness, please discuss this with me as this policy applies on a case per case basis.
  • If you do not attend and do not contact 24hrs prior, you will be charged $100. You will not be rebooked for the next session and will lose you place at the therapy practice. This is to accommodate for people who are on the waitlist and want to engage in therapy.

What should I expect in my first session?

Lots of people feel overwhelmed coming to their first appointment to speak about things that make them feel vulnerable. I am highly trained and experienced in supporting you to feel safe and relaxed in session. I will help you to gently open up about what has brought you to therapy.

We don’t have to talk about absolutely everything all at once, in less you want to. You will be in control of what you would like to talk about, and I will guide you through this process with lots of support.

How long will therapy take?

Every person is completely unique in the amount of time they spend coming to see me. You come to therapy as long as you are finding it helpful.

While the rebate system, allows you to access up to 20sessions in 12 months, some people decide after 3 -6 sessions that they feel better. Some people find after their first session, that I am not the right therapist for them, so choose to see someone else.

I will check in with you ongoing about how helpful you are finding our therapy sessions and we can plan as we go, the length of time you would like to continue seeing me.

How often do I see you?

I always recommend seeing each other every week for the first three weeks, this is to allow a consistent flow in getting to know each other initially, to build out therapeutic relationship.

Lots of people choose to attend every two weeks after this, but we can discuss your needs at the third session and see if this works for you. I check in about this every few sessions.

I have tried to contact you, when will I hear back?

I monitor emails, phone calls and texts from Tuesday – Friday, 8:30am- 12:30pm.

However, it can take up to 3 business days for me to respond, as I am often face to face with clients throughout the day. The quickest way to book an appointment to see me, is to use the BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL button.

If you need to cancel or change a therapy appointment, please contact me through my contact page.

I am on your waitlist, what should I do to get help now?

I understand that it can be frustrating to wait for your initial appointment. I will try my best to not operate a waitlist for longer than one month.

If you need to speak with some one immediately, you can also get free access support by calling

  • Life Line 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
  • Samaritans: 135 247 (8am-8pm AWST)
  • Samaritans Youthline WA: 1800 198 313
  • Beyondblue: 1300 224 636

I am in crisis now, what should I do?

  • Please be aware, this is not an emergency service. If you contact me, it may take up to 3 business days for a response. Emails, text and calls to Sage Psychological Therapy, are not monitored between Friday 12pm – Tuesday 8am
  • If you are in crisis, feeling suicidal or need immediate support for self-harming, please act immediately and present to your closest Hospital Emergency Department and ask to be assessed by the Psychiatric Liaison Nurse on duty.
  • In the event that you cannot get yourself physically to a hospital, you can call:

 

Mental Health Emergency Response Line on 1300 555 788 (Open 24/7)

Or

Emergency services on 000 - to request an ambulance.

 

You can also access support by calling:

  • Life Line 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
  • Samaritans: 135 247 (8am-8pm AWST)
  • Samaritans Youthline WA: 1800 198 313
  • Beyondblue: 1300 224 636