Counselling Services

Life Resolutions psychologists are specialised in providing support across a wide range of counselling services. We offer sessions for individuals, couples, families and groups, as well as for organisations in the form of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Click here to view our services.

The following information provides a definition of psychologists, an overview of different psychological therapies and links to further information regarding specific counselling services.

What is a psychologist?

Psychology is a science in which psychologists study human behaviour and mental processes, conduct research and apply research findings. Psychologists work to help individual’s reduce distress, address thinking and behaviour, and alleviate psychological problems.

Psychologists work with individuals, families and groups to provide services relating to wellbeing, relationships, work and health, as well as acute and chronic life crises. They are trained in a range of different psychological therapies. Individuals play an important part in their own therapy by working with the psychologist to understand their feelings, thoughts and actions. Psychologists use non-drug treatments and do not prescribe medication. However, they may work with other medical practitioners such as GPs where medication will form part of the overall treatment.
 
There are different types of psychologists who vary in terms of the services they provide, and their level and type of postgraduate education and training. The types of psychologists include counselling psychologists, clinical psychologists, clinical neuropsychologists, organisational psychologists, forensic psychologists, educational psychologists and sports psychologists.

Becoming a registered psychologist requires 4 years of undergraduate study, followed by either two years of supervised clinical practice with a registered psychologist or a further two-year postgraduate qualification. In order to practice, all psychologists must be registered with the Psychologist Registration Board in their state or territory.

To find out more about psychology and counselling, visit the Australian Psychological Society website.

Types of psychological therapies

Psychologists use a wide range of theoretical frameworks and therapeutic methods, which will vary to meet the needs of each client. A brief description outlining the main types of therapies has been provided below:
 

• Psychoanalysis is a long-term therapy that attempts to explore a client’s unconscious conflicts to uncover the underlying reasons for their current issues.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) assists individuals by providing strategies to change negative thinking patterns and behaviours.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches individuals the psychological skills needed to deal with painful thoughts and feelings effectively.
• Solution Focused Therapy is a therapeutic approach which focuses on what clients want to achieve through therapy, rather than on the past problems which have caused them to seek help.
• Gestalt Therapy is a form of therapy that focuses on the here-and-now experience of what is being thought, felt and done during the counselling session, rather than what could be, or should be done. It promotes personal responsibility and self-awareness, and aims to identify past traumatic experiences that are affecting the client in the present.
• Systemic Approach looks at people not at an individual level, but as people in a relationship in terms of interactions and how people act and react together. The approach is often used for the family counselling.
• Hypnosis is a tool which is often used to enhance therapy. Hypnosis, or a relaxed state of mind, is used to communicate with a client’s subconscious in order to build new behaviours.

About our psychologists

All Life Resolutions psychologists are members of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the national professional body for psychologists, and abide by its Ethical Code and professional standards. Our psychologists are also registered with the Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria (PRBV) and abide by the Code of Behaviour set out by the Board.

Life Resolutions psychologists are highly experienced and have extensive training in many specialist areas and services. Some of our psychologists are clinical psychologists. Visit the Clinical Psychologist page for specific information about clinical psychologists.

Confidentiality

Each counselling session is private and confidential. The information gathered during your visits is for the purposes of assessment, diagnosis and treatment, which will help us provide you with the best possible support. As set out by the APS Code of Ethics, limitations to this confidentiality apply if there is an immediate or specified risk of harm to an identifiable person’s safety, or if a client’s file is subpoenaed by a court of law.

Counselling Services

With a network of practices across Melbourne and Sydney, we can match you with a psychologist who is specialised in your particular area of need. For more information about some of our typical counselling services, click on the following links: