Anxiety Treatment

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Psychologists Online across Australia for counselling, testing and groups - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth and Canberra

Individual Counselling Anxiety Groups

How can we help?

Psychology Melbourne provides comprehensive treatment services for adults, adolescents and children suffering from anxiety.

We start your treatment with an initial psychological assessment session to identify the type of anxiety disorder you have. Our experienced psychologists work with a wide variety of anxiety disorders, including Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), phobias, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Social Anxiety.

You will be sent a questionnaire to help identify which ones you may be experiencing. This will guide your psychologist in developing a treatment plan for your one-on-one counselling sessions to help you understand and assist with your recovery.

Your psychologist will recommend a series of one-on-one counselling sessions to help you understand and find ways to help you manage your issues.

To complete your therapy, you may then join one of our Anxiety groups where, with the support of others with similar challenges, you will learn to manage your anxiety outside the therapy room.

For more information, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

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What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a general term that is used for a variety of anxiety-related disorders that induce feelings of nervousness, worry or fear. The effects of anxiety are not just limited to the mind but can also cause physical symptoms.

We all experience anxiety from time to time and worry about our health, money, or loved ones but anxiety disorders are different: they persist and do not go away easily and can get worse over time. If symptoms persist for more than 7 days, it is time to seek help.

The most common different types of anxiety are:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder - Someone with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) feels anxious on most days and about lots of different things, for an extended period of time.
• Specific Phobias - A person with a specific phobia has intense fear about a particular situation or thing and will go to an extreme extent to avoid them. Common phobias are a fear of animals, heights, flying, and injections.
• Panic Disorder - Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear or heightened anxiety with associated physiological symptoms. People can feel they are dying or having a heart attack. Repeated panic attacks are attributed to Panic Attach Disorder.
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviours (compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress. (OCD has historically been recognized as an Anxiety disorder I the DSM but more recently has been placed in a category of its own)
• Separation anxiety disorder - This condition involves intense anxiety about being separated from people you feel close to. This can affect both children and adults.
• Social Anxiety - It is a type of anxiety involving the fear of being judged and evaluated negatively by other people, leading to feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, self-consciousness, embarrassment, humiliation, and depression.

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How does an Anxiety assessment work?

We begin with an Anxiety screening test called the PsychProfiler to identify what sort of anxiety you are experiencing. The PsychProfiler is an online assessment that screens for anxiety disorders in adults, including generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.

There are often overlaps between the various anxiety-related disorders and the screening test will assist your psychologist identify the right treatment for you. Your psychologist will go over the test results with you carefully and ask you to reflect on the causes of your anxiety, family history or traumatic childhood experiences.

Depending on the results of your screening tests, further testing may be required.

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What is the best Treatment?

Following testing, the two main treatments for anxiety disorders are psychological counselling and medication. A combination of the two is often recommended. However, your psychologist will work together with you to discuss this.

Psychological counselling includes one-on-one individual counselling with a dedicated psychologist to suit your needs. Group psychological counselling is led by a trained psychologist in a group of people with similar anxiety-related issues. These can both be done online.

One-on-one Counselling

During your sessions, your psychologist may provide exercises for you to do and recommend various resources and apps to help you manage your anxiety.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the most effective form of therapy for anxiety disorders and all our psychologists are trained in this approach. They will teach you skills to manage your symptoms and help you return to normal life.

CBT can include exposure therapy, which is effective for phobias caused by objects or situations that create anxiety. You will learn to build your confidence so that you can manage the situation and your anxiety better. Other therapies, such as Mindfulness training, Schema therapy, Systematic De-sensitisation, and biofeedback are also effective.

We can help match you to the right psychologist. Book a personal matching session or contact the Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

The Team of Anxiety Psychologists

Anxiety Groups

Our Anxiety groups are led by experienced psychologists with specialised training, who teach proven strategies for managing anxiety. You will work with 8 – 12 people, who all have anxiety-related issues for 6 sessions on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

Group work is extremely rewarding and provides benefits that individual therapy cannot. In a group you can learn to apply what you have learnt in individual sessions and gain extra support from the group. Seeing other people tackle problems and make positive changes can teach a full range of strategies for facing your own concerns outside the therapy room.

Regularly talking and listening to others also helps you feel heard and understood and puts your own problems in perspective. People often feel alone and the only ones struggling with anxiety. It can be a huge relief to hear others discuss what you are going through.

Group work gives you valuable access to experienced psychologists at a reduced cost compared to individual counselling. They are held online.

Medication

There are several types of psychiatric medication used to relieve symptoms of anxiety. This is not always straight forward as there may be other mental or physical health issues that can confound your diagnosis. Psychologists work with you initially to determine what sort of anxiety disorder you may have and if there are other mental health issues present.

Our psychologists will provide your GP (General Practitioner) with a report on your anxiety and any other mental health issues involved. Your GP will then be fully informed when prescribing medication. Many physical health issues have been found to be psychosomatic or to originate in mental issues.

Some antidepressants are used to treat anxiety disorders, including anti-anxiety medication. Your doctor may also prescribe other types of medication, such as sedatives, (benzodiazepines) or beta blockers, which block the release of the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline. These medications are for generally used as a short-term relief from anxiety symptoms and are not intended to be used long term.

Psychologists are not able to prescribe psychiatric medication and if you decide you need medication, you will need to speak to your GP. Our psychologists can discuss with you some of the benefits, risks, and possible side effects of medications to help you make your own decision.

Anti-depressants may be needed in the short-term, but for a permanent safer solution, therapeutic behavioural strategies last a lifetime.

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How much does it cost?

Psychology Melbourne’s fees for Anxiety Treatment is as follows:

1. Individual Counselling

We have a large team of male and female psychologists who provide in-person and online Anxiety counselling. They are available six days a week, for sessions both before and after regular working hours, as well as all day on Saturdays.

• Consultations with a clinical psychologist start from $270 and a Medicare rebate of $136.35 may apply for each session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $133.65 per session.
• Consultations with a registered psychologist start from $220 and a Medicare rebate of $92.90 may apply for every session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $127.10 per session.

Please note:

• The fees for consultations differ between in-person and online sessions. There is an additional fee of $10 for appointments scheduled before 9 am and after 5 pm weekdays, as well as, for appointments throughout the day on Saturdays.
• Medicare rebates are available for 10 1-hour group sessions per year if you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
• To access funded services from a third party, such as Workcover or NDIS, you must provide approved claim details 48 hours before your first session. If, for any reason, approval is not provided, you will be responsible for full payment, or appointments may be cancelled. A gap fee of $20 per session may apply.
• A reduced fee is considered on request for clients under financial hardship with a letter from your GP confirming your financial situation.
• Fees can be paid by EFTPOS, VISA, or MasterCard. Please note that we do not accept American Express or Diners Club.
• Bulk Billing is not available at our clinic.

For more information, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

Anxiety Groups

The cost of the Anxiety group for all 6 sessions is approximately $50 per session. Groups are held online at various times but usually in the evenings.

• Groups run by a clinical psychologist cost $510 and a Medicare rebate of $34.60 applies for every session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $302.40 or $50.40 per session.
• Groups run by a registered psychologist cost $450 and a Medicare rebate of $23.70 applies for every session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $307.80 or $51.30 per session.

Please note:

• Medicare rebates are available for 10 1-hour group sessions per year if you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
• Rebates only apply to each session you attend if you are situated 15 km or more from where the group is being held.
• Most of our groups are 15 km from Melbourne. Our Reception team can help you with this.
• After pay is available for the initial cost of the group and rebates are sent to your nominated account after each session.
• Some private health funds offer refunds for one-on-one counselling sessions. Please contact your private health provider to find out more about your policy.

For more information, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

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How to make an appointment

Counselling appointments

For individual counselling appointments you can book online HERE or call our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

Reception will find an appointment time that suits you best and will reserve 3 future appointments in the diary so that you can keep your place in your psychologist’s diary. Appointments after that will be made between you and your consultant.

We understand that changes to your appointments are sometimes necessary, but we urge you to notify us as soon as possible to avoid cancellation fees. You will be sent an SMS reminder four (4) days before your appointment.

For in-person appointments we have strict precautions in place at all our locations for your safety. If you are feeling unwell, have any symptoms of fever, or have tested positive for COVID-19, we ask you to use our online counselling services until you are well again.

Please bring your Mental Health Care Plan to your first session or email it to us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au. Alternatively, you can ask your GP to fax this through to us on 03 9957 8122.

Group appointments

We require prepayment of all groups prior to the start date. You can purchase the group on our website or call our Reception team for assistance on 1300 161 639 or email them info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

Once you have enrolled in the group, you will be sent several forms to complete before the group starts. If you have any questions about forms, please speak to our helpful Reception team. The forms are required to be completed 24 hours before the group starts.

You will need to join the online group 10 minutes before it starts to ensure there are no IT problems. Assistance on the night is only available for 10 minutes before and after the start time.

Alternatively, we can show you how to join on the day prior to the group starting.

If you have any IT problems, please check your audio and video are working properly as well as your Wi-Fi connection. Refresh your browser if you are still experiencing problems.

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