Where are you Located?
Centre for Clinical Therapy
119 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest
Stairs (1 flight) accessible.
How long are the sessions?
Sessions are usually 50 minutes in duration. When you come for your first visit (80 minutes), we will discuss the number of sessions you may need, and this depends on your situation. You pay at the start of each session.
How much will it cost?
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) recommended hourly fee for Clinical Psychologists in 2021-2022 is $267 per 50 minutes and $387 for up to 80 minutes initial assessment.
My fees are less, i.e., $260 per 50 minutes and $380 for your first 80-minute initial assessment.
I have a Mental Health Care Plan. Do you offer rebates?
Medicare Rebates
Medicare rebates are available for psychological treatment of eligible mental health conditions. You will be able to claim a proportion of your fees from Medicare if your doctor or psychiatrist assesses you to be eligible for psychological services under Medicare and gives you a referral or a “care plan”. If you have a Mental Health care plan or referral, Medicare will reimburse up to $129.55 per session for up to 20 sessions per calendar year. That means you are only $130.45 out of pocket for 50-minute sessions.
At the 6th session, I will write a review letter for your GP, and if further treatment is required, you will need to revisit your GP or Pediatrician for a review of your Mental Health Care Plan to receive the additional four sessions.
A referral is not necessary for a therapy session or if you are claiming through your private health fund. A referral is only required if you intend to claim a rebate from Medicare.
If you are referred by your GP or Pediatrician under a Mental Health Care Plan, Medicare will pay rebates for up to 10 sessions (20 during Covid-19), per calendar year.
Private Health Fund rebates?
Private health funds differ in their cover so please check with your health fund to determine if you are covered for clinical psychology services. I am registered with HCF.
Do you offer EMDR Therapy in Sydney?
Yes, I do. I am an EMDR Accredited Practitioner with the EMDR Association of Australia. For more information about EMDR therapy see EMDR therapy Sydney page or About Desne Doman.
What happens if I don’t turn up?
The total fee will be charged as a cancellation fee for missed appointments unless 24 hours prior notice is given during business hours Monday to Friday. You cannot claim a Medicare rebate for a cancellation.
Can I Get My Life Back?
Whether it’s the loss of a relationship, a recent move or a gradual shift into becoming someone we don’t like, I want to normalize that sense of hopelessness and frustration that we tend to feel. I love helping people explore who they want to be with a sense of purposefulness and confidence of their worth. Together, we honor past experiences and help integrate them into better relationships and happier living.
When will I see change?
Many people have depended on the “7 Quick Tips” ideology in hopes of finding change. This can be seen in the fitness industry, and even mental health. I am with the school of the thought that we often see an immediate change in both of these areas when we finally put some time in. However, real change comes with commitment, motivation, and some time. Let’s sort out together what kind of change you are looking for and how I can help.
How long will therapy take?
My average length of treatment in my practice is about 10 – 20 sessions. That being said, I have clients who only come in once and many who stay with me for a few years. I believe the wide variance of length is primarily correlated to the presenting problem. I am happy to talk with you about what you are hoping for with treatment length and if that would work within my scope of clinical practice.
What makes you different from other therapists?
I happen to know exactly whom I am committed too and able to help in my therapy practice. I love helping adolescents and adults find a renewed sense of love and belonging with their loved ones and with themselves. I love being able to watch all areas of their life improve when they address trauma, poor self-esteem, depression, and relationship distress. And, I love seeing how life unfolds in renewed, life-giving and purposeful ways. If this fits what you are looking for I invite you to get in touch with me.
How do I know if I need therapy?
Often people wonder if they “need” therapy, interestingly they don’t ask the same about exercising or eating healthy. I believe your emotional health merits the same priority as your physical health and that you usually don’t need to work out or go to therapy, though both are incredibly beneficial to your well-being. If you came across my website in search of something, then there is probably a part of you that is seeking and desiring help. Don’t ignore this inner voice; this decision could get you in the best “emotional shape” of your life.
Can this feeling go away?
I believe it can. Whether the feeling is overwhelm, sadness, anxiety, unworthiness or something else, I have seen terrible emotions and unhealthy beliefs dissipate when both you and I are motivated. We’ll discuss things like the history behind the feeling, triggers, possible medication management and coping options that will help you feel better. We can be a team to create new and more positive thoughts and emotions.
What will therapy look like for me?
Each session runs 50 minutes, weekly or fortnightly, depending on your needs. I begin and end on time to respect both of our schedules and put parameters around the counselling process. I offer concierge phone services for those who may be in need of more quick relief and support throughout the week. If you are interested, feel free to discuss this with me.
What types of clients do you work with?
I work with children, teens and adults in a safe, inviting and confidential setting in Crows Nest. Though I focus on trauma and helping people through transition, my training as a Couples Therapist qualifies me to work with anyone who needs improvement with relationships of any kind. I have seen the best progress working with highly motivated clients who are committed to the work involved in their own personal growth.
Is EMDR therapy right for me?
EMDR therapy is likely right for you if you have experienced trauma. For example, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, complex trauma, ongoing distress from a motor vehicle accident, violent crime, physical or sexual assault.
Does EMDR therapy work for other psychiatric disorders?
There is solid evidence that shows that traumatic events can contribute to the onset of severe mental disorders and can worsen their expected development. A 2017 systematic review, EMDR beyond PTSD: A Systematic Literature Review, concluded that EMDR therapy could be useful to treat trauma-associated symptoms in patients with co-morbid psychiatric disorders. Preliminary evidence also suggests that EMDR therapy might be useful to improve psychotic or affective symptoms and could be an add-on treatment in chronic pain conditions.
Is EMDR therapy effective with chronic pain?
A systematic review of controlled trials and observational studies demonstrated significant improvements in pain intensity, improvements in disability, improvements in depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Follow-up assessments showed maintained improvements. No adverse events were reported. The review suggests that EMDR may be a safe and promising treatment option in chronic pain conditions, the small number of high-quality studies leads to insufficient evidence for definite treatment recommendations.
Case Study: Jack, a highly decorated fireman, initially attended EMDR therapy in Sydney to alleviate flashbacks from an accident he attended where a young child died. He was healthy and fit but complained of a persistent sore back even though he regularly did yoga and exercised. We tracked back to a number of personal and work accidents he was involved in and processed these all in one session. At the next session, Jack reported that he was pain-free and no longer stiff. [Note: In no way does this short case study excerpt imply that you will experience complete pain relief if you use EMDR. Work with an experienced EMDR practitioner and clinical psychologist to find a range of treatment that is appropriate for you]
Does EMDR therapy work with children and adolescents?
In my Sydney EMDR practice, I have found that EMDR therapy is effective with children and adolescents. They say they prefer it because it does not involve endless talking.
A 2017 meta-analysis titled, Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in Children and Adolescent with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder concluded that despite the small number of publications, the obtained results suggest that EMDR therapy could be a promising psycho-therapeutic approach for the treatment of PTSD and comorbid symptoms in young individuals.
Is EMDR better than CBT for trauma?
I am trained in both methods and find they both work, but I prefer EMDR because it works faster for PTSD. A 2018 metanalysis suggested that EMDR is better than CBT in reducing post-traumatic symptoms and anxiety. However, there was no difference reported in reducing depression. Large population randomized trials with longer follow-up are recommended to build conclusive evidence. [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy versus Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in Patients with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder]
What will change if I do EMDR Therapy?
I think there is a great article by Jefferey Tejcek titled 35 Life Changes That Can Happen After Emdr Eye Movement Therapy Sessions.
He mentions…
- If the focus on your EMDR Therapy was quitting an addictive behaviour, it will stop your desire to use
- You’ll feel different about the things you once feared
- The problem that got you into EMDR Therapy will shrink
- You may have some intense and vivid dreams
- You will remember in detail people from your past
- Your body will “vibrate” post-session
- You will remember random, but specific things
etc…
I look forward to hearing from you.
Call me now for EMDR therapy in Sydney.
Kind regards,
Desne Doman
Clinical Psychologist MAPS