Personalised, effective, and non-judgemental support.
What can we help with?
Many people think that you need to have a diagnosis of a mental illness to be able to see a psychologist. Actually, it turns out that a wide range of people find that seeing a psychologist can be helpful. It might be for help with a relationship breakdown, a life transition, grief over the loss of a loved one. You might be experiencing depression or anxiety, or any other of the many ways that our minds can cause us distress. Some of the things that we can support people with are listed below:
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Depression
Addiction
Relationship Issues
Grief
Behavioural Issues
Anger Management
Executive Dysfunction (e.g., ADHD)
Trauma (including childhood trauma)
Vicarious trauma (e.g., healthcare workers living and working in Mparntwe/Alice Springs)
If there is something not on this list that you would like to discuss, please contact us.
Please note that we do not provide emergency or crisis support. If you require immediate support, here are some options:
If you are feeling unsafe, or suicidal, call 000 or go to your local hospital.
If you are in the Northern Territory, you can call the 24/7 mental health line on 1800 682 288.
If you need to talk to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 13YARN (for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people) on 13 92 76.
Who We See
We currently see individuals ages 12 and up.
How does therapy work?
At Opia Psychology, our main offering is one-on-one therapy with a qualified, AHPRA-registered, clinical psychologist.
But what actually is therapy?
therapy
noun
a treatment that helps someone feel better, grow stronger, etc
People are often curious as to what therapy actually is. At first glance, it just looks like two people sitting across from each other, talking. And in many regards, that’s exactly what it is. But it’s also so much more than that. It’s a kind of talking that facilitates healing, new insights, and wisdom. It’s a kind of talking that can help people to reframe their stories, heal past wounds, and improve their relationships with themselves and others.
At Opia, we believe that people have an innate wisdom that allows them to see clearly, to heal, and to make decisions. However, sometimes we just need some guidance down this path.
What is a psychologist?
A psychologist is a mental health professional who has undergone a minimum six years of academic and clinical training in psychology. “Psychologist” is a protected term in Australia, meaning that people wanting to become psychologist have to pass rigorous training and examination, and be registered with AHPRA. AHPRA is Australia’s regulating body for health professionals, and keeps clinicians accountable to regulations and codes of conduct.
Are psychiatrists and counsellors different from psychologists?
Yes - these different professions specialise in different areas.
Psychologists are trained to assess mental health issues and provide psychological treatment. They do not prescribe medication.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, often using medication. They complete medical school and additional psychiatric training.
Counsellors typically have training in specific therapy modalities and focus on providing support and guidance, often dealing with specific issues such as relationships, grief, or stress. They do not diagnose mental health conditions or prescribe medications.
Our Approaches
We draw from a wide range of therapeutic approaches, all of which are backed by peer-reviewed evidence. These approaches include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
All of these fancy names and abbreviations are great, but the most important factor in therapy is the therapeutic relationship. This basically means the strength of the relationship between client and therapist. Research has shown that this factor can influence up to 87% of outcomes. Crazy, right?
At Opia, we firmly believe that people have the ability within themselves to heal, connect, and live well. Sometimes, people need some guidance along this path, and that is where we come in. We aim to empower people to eventually become their own therapist - to know when they aren’t doing ok, and to know what they need in order to get themselves back on the right track.
Who are we?
At the moment, Opia is just one person - me!
My name is George and I’m a clinical psychologist.
If you’d like to know more about me and my approach, click below.
Pricing
A standard 50 minute session is $225.
Longer, 85 minute EMDR processing sessions are $330.
If you receive a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you are entitled to a Medicare rebate of $141.85 per session for 10 sessions per calendar year, meaning you pay a gap fee of $83.15. The full session fee is payable at the time of your appointment and Medicare will reimburse your nominated bank account within 48 hours.
Alternatively, some private health care funds will also cover a portion of the fee, however this will depend on your individual fund and plan.
We also offer outreach services for clients living in Mparntwe/Alice Springs. Please get in touch to discuss pricing for this service.