cadence psychology north sydney psychologists logo white
Book Appointment
cadence psychology north sydney psychologists logo white
Book Appointment

General FAQs & About Psychological Therapy

We believe that feeling informed and comfortable is the first step toward effective therapy. This page is dedicated to providing detailed, transparent answers to some of the most common questions about the therapeutic process, our profession, and our ethical standards.

  • What is the best type of psychological therapy for adults?

    There is no single "best" form of psychological therapy. However, the most prominent and common forms of treatment have all been tested under randomised-controlled trials to prove their effectiveness. These include Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Each therapy has the same aim of helping a client improve their well-being, with different approaches and terminology used that are likely to appeal to different types of people.

  • What is the difference between a Registered Psychologist and a Clinical Psychologist?

    In Australia, all psychologists who provide therapy are certified as Registered Psychologists by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). However, a subset of these psychologists are endorsed as Clinical Psychologists, meaning they have completed additional training, generally a Masters or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Evidence indicates that both clinical and non-clinical psychologists are able to provide effective treatment, provided they continue to engage in regular peer consultation and training.

  • Can every type of Psychologist provide therapy?

    Psychologists can be split into two groups: researchers and practitioners. Both have completed undergraduate studies in psychology. However, only psychologists who complete post-graduate clinical or counselling training are able to provide therapy under the title "Psychologist." There are also groups of psychologists, such as Neuropsychologists and Organisational Psychologists, who have completed post-graduate training in their specific fields but are not qualified to provide therapy.

  • Why do psychology sessions go for 50 minutes rather than an hour?

    Psychologists often see several clients consecutively. This means they allocate 50 minutes for psychological therapy and the remaining 10 minutes for essential administrative tasks, such as taking payment, booking additional sessions, writing notes, and writing reports to doctors.

  • Why don’t psychologists talk about themselves in session?

    Psychologists avoid disclosing personal information about themselves to maintain focus on the client’s needs and prevent boundary violations while operating within the “therapeutic relationship.” This involves a client and psychologist connecting to assist the client, rather than meeting the needs of the therapist. Some forms of therapy are open to self-disclosure if it serves the working relationship, but this is generally limited.

  • Will a psychologist diagnose me in session?

    All psychologists are trained in differential diagnosis. However, not all therapy models consider the medical model of mental health to be best practice. As such, some psychologists will provide a diagnosis, whereas others will prefer to discuss a "formulation" of the presenting problems. In Australia, psychologists are required to make a diagnosis in a letter to your referring doctor if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan in order to be eligible for session rebates.

  • Does a psychologist have to keep what I say private?

    Psychologists are not legally bound to maintain confidentiality. However, they abide by a code of ethics which requests that confidentiality be maintained between a client and therapist unless:
    (i) the court subpoenas the client’s file
    (ii) there is a significant risk of harm to the client or someone else
    (iii) the client provides consent to breach confidentiality

  • How do psychologists select a treatment?

    Psychologists complete an initial assessment with each client, during which they gather historical, emotional, and social information to create a formulation and treatment plan. A formulation is a snapshot of the client’s current functioning, which involves things such as the maintaining and precipitating factors. A therapist will then use this to collaborate with the client to agree on the best form of treatment within the styles of therapy the psychologist has trained.

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly.