Question 1

How do we start the therapy process?

Accepted Answer

If you contact me by email I will respond to you within a week. If you call me and you leave me a message, I will return your call as soon as I am free. I do not answer calls while I am in session.
 
Once we make contact we will set our first appointment. In the first 2-3 sessions we will get to know each other and see if we are the right fit for each other. During this process I will also ask you questions about yourself, your life, relationships and the issue that brings you to therapy. Sometimes I use psychometric tests that provide me with more detailed information about you.
 
The assesment process it's important because it gives me a good picture of the situation and the best way to help you.

Question 2

How often and how long the sessions run?

Accepted Answer

It is recommended that you attend therapy once a week. It is better not to go too long between sessions, because it's harder to make progress. We lose the momentum! 
 
Individual therapy sessions are 60 mins. Couples or family sessions are recommended to be 90 mins so this gives us time to hear from everyone. However, we can also mutually agreed to do couple or family sessions for 60 mins. 
 
EMDR sessions will take 60 mins, however, if we finish the reprocessing of a memory and we are left with more time we might not start a new memory processing if we don't have enough time left. The therapeutic hour is still yours though, so we can use the rest of the time left to talk about the next session or how you are feeling.

Question 3

What are the session fees?

Accepted Answer

Individual sessions are $200+GST for 60 mins. 
For institutions or third party invoicing $225+GST for 60 mins.
If a session is longer, a part charges will occur in 15 minute blocks.
 
ACC clients: fees are paid direclty to me by ACC
 
Payments can be done in cash at the end of the session or via bank transfer. If you choose the bank transference option the session fee needs to be paid within 72 hours.  A 10% will be charged to invoices not paid on time. 
   
In addition to the time spent in the session, I spend time before each session preparing for consultations, time writing notes, emails, and therapy plans, reviewing relevant research, and seeking professional supervision. These are all covered by the therapy fee.

Question 4

How long will treatment take?

Accepted Answer

The length for treatment will necessarily vary from one client to another. The treament and the duration is matched appropriately to the nature and severity of the person's presenting difficulties. Acute difficulties usually require fewer treatment sessions than do chronic conditions. The length of treatment also varies with the type of treament provided. It is important to consider the following when determining the length of treatment:
 • Therapy successfully ends when the client has achieved the goals mutually agreed upon with the psychologist.
 • We can discuss the length of the treament in therapy.
 • Treatment length is often tentative and revised throughout the therapy process.
 • It is crucial for me as your psychologist that I get the opportunity to conduct some assessment sessions before sugesting a treatment plan.

Question 5

What if I need to cancel a session?

Accepted Answer

I request that you let me know 24 hours, during working days, prior to your session if you need to cancel it. This is important as it gives me enough time to reschedule my agenda and gives the opportunity for someone else to be seen. Please either call me and leave a message, txt me, or send me an email if you need to cancel your session.
 
For clients that pay me directly, if you miss your session without 24 notice you will have to pay the full amount of the session.

For ACC clients depending on your income you will need to pay a percentage of the session or the full amount, this will be discussed and agreed on your first session.

Question 6

What is EMDR?

Accepted Answer

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of psychotherapy that helps people heal from trauma or distressing life experiences. It has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treament of trauma. The first step is for the therapist and the client to agree if EMDR therapy is a good fit. Once the desicion has been made, they comence to work together and the client will be asked to focus on an specific event.
 
Attention will be given to a negative image, belief and body feeling related to this event, and then a positive belief that will indicate the issue was resolved. While the client focusses on the upsetting event, the therapist will begin sets of side-to-side eye movements, sounds or taps. The client will be guided to notice what comes to mind after each set. They might experience shifts in insight or changes in images, feelings, or beliefs regarding the event. The client has full control to stop the therapits at any point in the process if needed. The set of eye movements (sounds or taps) are repeated until the event becomes less disturbing.
 
The therapist in EMDR uses a stadarized protocol. EMDR therapy is not complete until work has been done on past memories contributing to the problem, the present triggers that bring disturbance and developed a set of skills that the client can use in the future. 
 
Why EMDR works:
 
-It imitates REM sleep, this helps the left and right hemispheres of your brain to
  communicate better.
-It stimutales parts of your brain designated to enhance information processing. 
-The dual attention stimulation helps you focus in your past memories and also your present
  surrounding. 
-The rhythmic side to seide movement helps you calm down while discussing difficult past
  memories and processing them.

Question 7

Are therapy sessions confidential?

Accepted Answer

"What is said in therapy, stays in therapy." Psychologists understand that for people to feel comfortable talking about private issues and revealing information, they need to see the therapist's office as a safe place where the client can talk about anything they wish, without the fear of that information leaving the room. At your first visit, I will give you written information, explaining your privacy rights and how your personal information will be handled. I will also explain to you the exceptions to confidentiality, which are: to protect you or the public from serious harm (example, attempting suicide); to report abuse or neglect to children, elderly or people with disabilities; and to respond to an order from the court.

Question 8

How to get there?

Accepted Answer

If you use public transport, my office is located very close to bus stations.
 
If you are driving, there is plenty of street free parking for more than an hour close to the office building. Parking spaces are more likely to be found on the side streets to the main road (Park Road). 
 
My office has easy access and an elevator. I am on level 3 at 129 Park Road. As soon as you come out of the elevator you will see my sign next to my office door. Usually my office door is open so just come in the waiting room, I will come and greet you at the time of your appointment.

Eugenia Rodriguez
Registered Senior Clinical Psychologist Accredited EMDR Clinician

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