Therapy Services Offered
At Cairns Trauma and Clinical Psychology, our team of psychologists and social workers caters to clients of all ages, including children, adolescents, and adults. They possess many skills in handling a wide range of mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, psychosis, eating disorders, grief and loss, childhood and life traumas, workplace/school stress, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and coping with challenging life transitions. Our treating team are well-versed in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), schema therapy, mindfulness and compassion-based therapy techniques, eye-movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), and internal family systems (IFS) therapies, among others.
Click on the buttons below to learn more about some of our therapy approaches.
Click on the buttons below to learn more about some of our therapy approaches.
What to Expect During your First Psychotherapy Session
Feeling a little nervous and apprehensive about seeing a psychologist or social worker for the first time is completely normal. At Cairns Trauma & Clinical Psychology, our team are skilled at making you feel safe and guided throughout your therapy process. Knowing what to expect before you arrive can also help ease your nerves.
Upon arrival at our clinic, our friendly receptionists will welcome you. We recommend arriving 10 minutes before your appointment to allow time for any necessary paperwork prior to seeing your psychologist. Your appointment will run for approximately 50 minutes.
Your psychologist or social worker will begin the session by introducing themselves and discussing confidentiality. While most people are aware that discussions during psychology appointments are private and confidential, there are limits to this confidentiality that you should know about. These include situations where you may be at risk of harming yourself or others or where your file notes are needed for legal reasons. If either of these issues arise during therapy, your psychologist or social worker will discuss them with you first.
During your first visit, your psychologist or social worker will focus on getting to know you and what led you to seek therapy. They may ask about your symptoms and their history, as well as your childhood and relationships. They will also be interested in your goals and expectations for therapy and what specific changes you would like to see in your life.
By the conclusion of the first session, your psychologist or social worker will provide a rationale for the evidence-based psychological treatment that is best suited to your unique situation. This may include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), schema therapy, eye-movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR), internal family systems (IFS), hypnoses, and/or mindfulness-based therapeutic approaches. Future sessions will involve working collaboratively on your goals and chipping away at the presenting problem(s) to improve your mood and coping. Your psychologist or social worker will make a recommendation about the frequency of your therapy sessions based on your individual circumstances, with many people attending weekly or fortnightly to start, gradually reducing the frequency of their sessions as they improve.
Feeling a little nervous and apprehensive about seeing a psychologist or social worker for the first time is completely normal. At Cairns Trauma & Clinical Psychology, our team are skilled at making you feel safe and guided throughout your therapy process. Knowing what to expect before you arrive can also help ease your nerves.
Upon arrival at our clinic, our friendly receptionists will welcome you. We recommend arriving 10 minutes before your appointment to allow time for any necessary paperwork prior to seeing your psychologist. Your appointment will run for approximately 50 minutes.
Your psychologist or social worker will begin the session by introducing themselves and discussing confidentiality. While most people are aware that discussions during psychology appointments are private and confidential, there are limits to this confidentiality that you should know about. These include situations where you may be at risk of harming yourself or others or where your file notes are needed for legal reasons. If either of these issues arise during therapy, your psychologist or social worker will discuss them with you first.
During your first visit, your psychologist or social worker will focus on getting to know you and what led you to seek therapy. They may ask about your symptoms and their history, as well as your childhood and relationships. They will also be interested in your goals and expectations for therapy and what specific changes you would like to see in your life.
By the conclusion of the first session, your psychologist or social worker will provide a rationale for the evidence-based psychological treatment that is best suited to your unique situation. This may include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), schema therapy, eye-movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR), internal family systems (IFS), hypnoses, and/or mindfulness-based therapeutic approaches. Future sessions will involve working collaboratively on your goals and chipping away at the presenting problem(s) to improve your mood and coping. Your psychologist or social worker will make a recommendation about the frequency of your therapy sessions based on your individual circumstances, with many people attending weekly or fortnightly to start, gradually reducing the frequency of their sessions as they improve.
