Sensational Kids integrated child therapy
Sensational Kids Pty Ltd Australia 2007
Psychological evaluations can be informal assessments made during the initial interview with a client, or they can be formal procedures involving a structured interview with assessment procedures designed to identify or rule out several possible hypotheses regarding the psychological functioning of the individual. This latter procedure is usually part of a comprehensive psychological evaluation that includes the administration of psychological tests. A comprehensive psychological evaluation may take several hours, or even several days, depending on the problems being assessed, and the reason for the assessment.
Once psychological problems are identified, a treatment plan can be developed to resolve them. However, the diagnostic process continues during counselling. Psychologists will reassess problems, symptoms, and progress, and review other possible treatment plans.
Parenting Skills
Parenting is often considered the most difficult job, and the most important responsibility, you will ever have in your life. Unfortunately, you receive little or no formal training in parenting. There are no classes in school, and childbirth preparation focuses almost entirely on the birth process. After having a child, hospitals provide some basic instruction on the care and feeding of a newborn, but no one teaches you how to nurture, support, guide and educate your child to become a responsible adult. Most of us muddle along on our own. Psychologists have studied what works, and what doesn't work. Parenting skills training passes this knowledge onto parents.
Psychologists have done research on different parenting styles, the effects of discipline, and how children respond to various people and life events, such as divorce, stepparents, abuse, sibling conflict, poor academic success, bullying, living with additional needs or parental substance abuse. This knowledge has allowed psychologists to develop effective treatment interventions for children and families in crisis. It also provides a basis for teaching parents how to manage their children's behaviour effectively, and how to intervene with specific child and adolescent problems. Psychologists can help parents understand what children need from adults to foster their emotional, social and intellectual development.
Sensational Kids provides parenting skills training either within the framework of family therapy, or as part of individual counselling, to help parents manage specific behavioural problems or situations. Parenting skills training can also focus on general parent-child interactions. Often, the goal is to help parents avoid ineffective parenting responses, by learning effective ways of managing their children's behaviour. Parents can also be taught strategies for managing children with additional needs, such as those with ADD/ADHD or on the Autism Spectrum, children with learning difficulties, children adjusting to divorce, and children diagnosed with specific psychological or behavioural problems, including self esteem issues and poorly developed social skills.
Medicare Rebates for Psychologists
On 1 November 2006, the Australian Government introduced new Medicare items for psychological treatment by registered psychologists. This service provides considerable assistance to people living with mental heath problems, allowing them greater access to psychologists and providing more affordable mental healthcare.
Under the new Medicare scheme, registered psychologists, who are endorsed by Medicare Australia, such as those counselling at Sensational Kids, can provide treatment for mental health problems.
New Medicare services promote a team approach to mental health care, with general practitioners, psychiatrists and paediatricians encouraged to work with psychologists, and other allied mental health professionals as well as mental health nurses, to increase the availability of care.
What is meant by mental disorder under the new Medicare rebate?
Mental disorder is a term used to describe a range of clinically diagnosable disorders that significantly impact on a person's emotions, thoughts, social skills and decision-making. This includes patients with mental disorders arising from:
* Psychotic disorders
* Schizophrenia
* Bipolar disorder
* Phobic disorders
* Anxiety disorder
* Adjustment disorder
* Depression
* Sexual disorders
* Conduct disorder
* Bereavement disorders
* Post-traumatic stress disorder
* Eating disorders
* Panic disorder
* Alcohol use disorders
* Drug use disorders
* Sleep problems
* Attention deficit disorder
* Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
* Co-occurring anxiety and depression
If I have a mental health problem, how can a psychologist help me?
Psychologists specialise in providing therapies for mental health problems. These therapies are effective at treating common mental health conditions including anxiety and depression and most childhood problems.
Can I go directly to a psychologist to receive treatment through Medicare?
You must be referred by your GP, your psychiatrist or paediatrician. Your GP will need to complete a detailed mental health assessment and prepare a Mental Health Care Plan before referring you to a psychologist. You should book a longer session with your GP to enable time for this.
Can I access any/all psychologists?
Under the Medicare scheme you can only see a registered psychologist with a Medicare Provider Number who you have been referred to by your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician.
How many sessions with a psychologist am I entitled to?
Eligible patients can generally receive:
* Up to 12 individual services in a calendar year. Your referring doctor will assess your progress after the first six sessions.
* Up to 12 group therapy services in a calendar year where such services are available and seen as appropriate by your referring doctor and the psychologist.
Types of Therapy used:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is counselling based on modifying everyday thoughts and behaviours, with the aim of positively influencing emotions. This approach has become widely used to treat behavioural disorders. CBT is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion), and how we act (behaviour) all interact together. Specifically, our thoughts influence our feelings and our behaviour. Therefore, negative and unrealistic thoughts can cause us distress and result in problems.
The particular therapeutic techniques vary according to the particular kind of client or issue, but commonly include keeping a diary of significant events and associated feelings, thoughts and behaviours; questioning and testing assumptions or habits of thoughts that might be unhelpful and unrealistic; gradually facing activities which may have been avoided; and trying out new ways of behaving and reacting. Relaxation and distraction techniques are also commonly included. CBT is widely accepted as an evidence-based counselling technique for many disorders. It is sometimes used with groups of people as well as individuals. The use of CBT has been extended to children and adolescents with good results. It is often used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and symptoms related to trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Counselling psychology as a psychological specialty facilitates personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organisational concerns. Through the integration of theory, research, and practice, and with a sensitivity to multicultural issues, this specialty encompasses a broad range of practices that help people improve their well-being, alleviate distress and maladjustment, resolve crises, and increase their ability to live more highly functioning lives.
Counselling psychologists assume a client-centered or humanistic theoretical approach. In addition, use of Floortime™ techniques will be adopted where the therapist follows the child’s natural and emotional interests while challenging the child toward greater achievement. The therapist meets the child at the child’s developmental level and builds on the child’s strengths.
Finally, counselling psychology is unique in its attention both to normal developmental issues as well as the problems associated with physical, emotional, and mental health disorders.
What Is Counselling?
Counselling is a way of addressing problems by talking them through with someone who, whilst supportive, is not directly involved in the situation.
Our Psychologist, Renaty Layton, will:
* Listen carefully to what you have to say
* Enable you to express your feelings
* Help you explore and understand your difficulties
* Help you try and find ways of managing these more effectively
Although it may sometimes be appropriate to offer advice or guidance the emphasis is very much on enabling you to achieve change through teaching you and your child appropriate strategies.
Counselling Children & Families
Understanding children's behaviour is accomplished by viewing parents and children as a team. When a child is not functioning well, there is often some imbalance in the team's functioning. The emotional atmosphere that exists between parents and children can lead either to constructive, healthy living or a life filled with ongoing challenges and frustrations.
Psychologists possess specialised knowledge and skills that enable them to identify problem behaviours and formulate appropriate interventions. We work with children and families to develop individualised treatment plans appropriate to each child's specific needs. The psychologist focuses on helping children and young people develop coping skills to deal with their unique situation and advises parents on how best to support their child. Counselling will also assist in identifying the child’s strengths and capitalising on these.
Sensational Kids considers parental involvement to be a crucial component of every child's treatment. From the first session, parents are relied upon for information concerning their child's development, behaviour, relationships, and habits and they are closely consulted regarding the goals of treatment. We view parents as our partners in the treatment process and rely upon them to provide critical feedback regarding the effectiveness of interventions as they are developed and implemented. We are also available to support parents and advocate on their family’s behalf, with schools and other health professionals.
Counselling offers children and young people the opportunity to identify, discuss and understand problems and to develop necessary coping skills. Counselling also provides the opportunity to address parental concerns, educate parents regarding their child's unique needs, and assist them in meeting these needs in an appropriate, effective fashion.
Parents react in varied ways when faced with the idea that their child needs psychological treatment. Some parents tend to feel guilty and blame themselves for their child's problem. Other concerned parents may experience confusion or uncertainty regarding their child's need for treatment. A teacher, for instance, may describe the child as displaying emotional or behavioural problems in the classroom, while the child appears to behave normally at home. Parents who receive this type of feedback may have difficulty reconciling their own perception of their child with those of the teacher. Counselling will in fact provide parents with a clear understanding of the challenges being faced and provide strategies to overcome these challenges.
Psychological Assessment