What should I expect from my first psychotherapy session?

At your first appointment, your psychologist will ask you questions about yourself. These may include questions about your background and current difficulties, as well as your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. You may be given questionnaires that measure your mood and/or difficulties.   Your psychologist will work with you to understand how your difficulties came about and/or are maintained. Your psychologist will also discuss with you the goals you would like to work on during your subsequent psychotherapy sessions.  

How long and frequent are psychotherapy sessions?

Typical psychotherapy sessions last between 45 minutes to 1 hour. They may occur on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. The total number of sessions required depends on your needs, e.g., the types of difficulties you face, your goals, the things going on in your life and how fast you make progress. Typically, patients attend between 8 to 12 sessions of psychotherapy before discharge.  

Is what I share confidential?

Yes. Information shared in our sessions are confidential. You do not have to talk about anything that you are not comfortable with sharing. While your psychologist will record information relevant to your care in your hospital notes, the only people who can rightfully access these notes are your doctors and your treating team. In some special circumstances, your psychologist may be duty-bound to break confidentiality. These circumstances will be explained to you by your psychologist at your first session.  

How do I prepare for my appointment?

To make the most of your session, prepare a list of the things you would like to discuss and work on in psychotherapy. You may bring a notebook to write down any useful information during sessions. More importantly, keep an open mind so that you can use the opportunity to learn more about yourself.  

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a doctor who has received specialised training in the assessment and treatment of mental illnesses. Psychiatrists treat mental illnesses primarily by prescribing medication. A psychologist is someone who has received specialised training in human behaviour, including emotions and how to regulate them through a wide variety of strategies and psychotherapeutic skills.  

How can I access psychotherapy?

If you think you may benefit from psychotherapy, do speak to your GP or doctor who can refer you on to a psychologist at our hospital.  

What is psychotherapy used to treat?

Psychotherapy can be useful in the treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

Psychological Disorders

• Adjustment Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression
• Eating Disorder
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder
• Insomnia
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Phobias
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Somatic Symptom Disorder

Other Psychological Issues

• Anger Management
• Grief and Bereavement
• Stress and Burnout

Health-Related Issues

• Adjusting to/Coping with physical health issues
• Chronic Pain
• Diabetes
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Sleep Disorders
• Weight Management

Who should consider psychotherapy?

People seek psychotherapy for a wide variety of issues, including the following:

• Emotional struggles that make it difficult to function from day to day. For example, they are unable to concentrate on assignments and their job performance suffers as a result.
• Actions that are harmful to themselves or to others. For instance, they drink too much alcohol and become aggressive.
• Prolonged or extreme difficulties in interpersonal relationships.