What to expect from therapy.
If you have never seen a psychologist before, the unknown can be the biggest barrier. Here is exactly how it works, start to finish.
It is completely normal to feel unsure.
Most people feel some apprehension before a first appointment. You might be wondering whether your concerns are significant enough to warrant therapy, whether you will know what to say, or whether it will feel awkward. All of that is ordinary, and none of it is a reason to hold off. Part of Jacob’s job is to make the process feel manageable from the very first conversation, and there is no expectation that you arrive with everything neatly articulated.
From booking to the work itself.
- Step one
Before your first session
Once you have booked, you will receive a confirmation email with the practice address, parking details, and a short intake form to complete beforehand. Completing it in advance means more of your first session can be spent talking rather than filling in paperwork.
If you are using a Mental Health Care Plan, please bring both your plan and your GP referral letter to the first appointment. These need to be provided before the session so that Medicare rebates can be processed correctly. If you do not have a plan and would prefer to pay privately, that is entirely fine and no referral is needed. Our fees and rebates page explains both pathways in detail.
- Step two
Your first session
The first appointment runs for approximately 50 minutes and is primarily about understanding. Jacob will ask about what has brought you in, what has been happening recently, and something of your background and history. There is no interrogation and no script. It is a conversation, and you set the pace of what you share.
Towards the end of the session, Jacob will usually offer some initial reflections on what he is hearing and suggest an approach that might suit. That might mean CBT for anxiety or low mood, EMDR for trauma-related difficulties, or a blend of approaches depending on the picture. You will leave with a clearer sense of what the work ahead might look like.
- Step three
How therapy progresses
After the first session, appointments settle into a rhythm that suits you, often weekly or fortnightly to begin with, spacing out as things improve. Each session builds on the last. Some approaches involve practising strategies between appointments, which is where a good deal of the progress actually happens.
There is no fixed number of sessions. Medicare rebates cover up to ten individual sessions per calendar year, with your GP typically referring for six initially and a further four after review. Some people find meaningful change within that span, while others choose to continue for longer. Jacob will review progress with you regularly so that the decision to continue, pause, or finish is always a considered one made together.
- Throughout
Confidentiality
What you discuss in session is confidential. As a registered psychologist, Jacob is bound by strict professional and legal obligations regarding your personal and health information. There are narrow, legally defined exceptions, principally where there is a serious and imminent risk to your safety or someone else’s, or where records are subpoenaed by a court. Jacob will explain these clearly at your first session so you know exactly where you stand. Our privacy policy sets out how your information is stored and handled.
Ready when you are.
If that sounds manageable, the next step is straightforward. You can book your first session online, or get in touch first if you would rather ask a question. If you have more practical queries, our frequently asked questions page covers the most common ones.