Psychologists in Brisbane
Book an AppointmentMaking the decision to see a psychologist can be an important step on your journey to improving your mental health and well-being. If you are experiencing emotional or cognitive difficulties, the team at Hardwick Psychological Services are here to help you get the most out of life.
Our approach is collaborative, warm, non-judgemental, and evidence-based.
Benefits of seeing a psychologist
There are many potential benefits of seeing a psychologist, including:
Improved Mental Health
Seeing a psychologist can help you manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.
Increased Self-Awareness
Therapy can help you gain insight into your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and cognitive abilities, which can lead to greater self-awareness and personal growth.
Improved Relationships
Working with a psychologist can help you improve your communication skills and strengthen your relationships with others.
Better Functioning at Work and School
Assessments and therapy can assist with understanding the reason you might be having challenges at work or school, and assist you to learn ways to cope, and even thrive.
Living More Meaningful Lives
Working with a psychologist can help you clarify what matters most to you and help you make decisions that move you towards more meaningful, fulfilling and authentic lives.
The role of a psychologist
Our team of Psychologists are mental health professionals who work with individuals and families (from 8+ y.o.) to help them overcome a wide range of emotional, cognitive and behavioural difficulties.
Our highly trained team employs evidence-based therapy techniques tailored to your needs. Our psychologists are trained to Masters or Doctoral level and many of our psychologists hold advanced qualifications in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology.
Meet the Team
Sarah Winkleman
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Mikayla Hancock
PSYCHOLOGIST
Rosie Butler
PSYCHOLOGIST
Sophia Robson
PSYCHOLOGIST
Lauren McIntosh
SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST - Clinical Psychologist
Stuart Wilkinson
PSYCHOLOGIST
Curtis Cavanagh
PSYCHOLOGIST
Janet Wright
PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Eleanor Crowther
PSYCHOLOGIST
Jac Tichbon
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Dr Katharine Baker
SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST - Clinical Neuropsychologist
Whitney Rose
SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST - Clinical Neuropsychologist
Lucy Kennedy
SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST
Rebekah Randall
SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST - Clinical Neuropsychologist
Caitlin Knight
ENDORSED PSYCHOLOGIST -Clinical Neuropsychologist
Wonny Kim
PSYCHOLOGIST
Dr Sascha Hardwick
DIRECTOR - Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Neuropsychologist
Dr Sarah Pollock
TEAM LEADER - Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Neuropsychologist
Support Staff
Anita
Office Manager
Andrea
Administration Officer
Meredith
Administration Officer
Kathleen
Administration Officer
Olivia
Administration Officer
Our North Brisbane Offices
Located 5km from the Brisbane CBD we have plenty of off-street parking, easy access to public transport and elevator access. The team prides itself on providing a welcoming and comfortable environment for all.
How to book a psychologist appointment
You can book an appointment online or contact our team to discuss via phone, email or fax. Our helpful team will then match you with the most appropriate psychologist to meet your needs.
To claim Medicare rebates it is recommended that you talk to your GP about whether you are eligible for a “Mental Health Care Plan”. A Mental Health Care Plan will allow you to claim rebates on up to 10 sessions per calendar year.
More information on costs and rebates can be found on our pricing page.
Types of Therapy
Our Psychologists will individually assess and treat each client with a program that is tailored to their needs. Our team draws on many evidence-based approaches to help individuals overcome their mental health challenges.
Our team draw from a number of different therapeutic approaches including the following:
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of therapy that helps individuals identify and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns and develop more helpful behavioural responses to situations. CBT is one of the most efficacious treatments according to treatment studies, and is helpful for many different conditions including anxiety and depression.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
The main goal of ACT is to help individuals develop psychological flexibility by learning how to accept difficult thoughts and feelings and take action towards a more meaningful life. This is achieved through a variety of techniques, including mindfulness, diffusion from difficult thoughts, value clarification, and valued action.
Schema Therapy
Schema therapy is a form of psychotherapy that is based on the idea that early experiences and patterns of behaviour can create deeply ingrained negative beliefs, called schemas, that may continue to affect an individual’s life well into adulthood. These schemas can lead to patterns of negative behaviour, emotional distress, and dysfunctional relationships. Schema therapy uses a number of techniques to help a person better understand and overcome their schemas to improve their self concept and relationships with others.
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a type of therapy that was originally developed to treat individuals who have experienced trauma or other distressing life events, but is now found to be helpful for many different types of emotional difficulties. EMDR therapy involves a series of guided eye movements or other types of rhythmic, bilateral stimulation that are intended to help process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact.
DBT
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of therapy that was developed to help people who struggle with intense emotions and interpersonal difficulties. It was originally designed to treat people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but it has since been used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. It helps people learn how to regulate their emotions, cope with stress, and improve their relationships with others.
Neuropsychological Assessment and Therapy
A neuropsychologist is someone who has received advanced training in understanding how the brain works and how it influences behaviour. A neuropsychological assessment is conducted to assess an individual’s cognitive functioning in areas such as intelligence, memory, attention, processing speed, learning, social functioning, language and executive function.
These tests can be helpful for many different types of neurological difficulties including the following:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. ADHD, ASD, and Learning Difficulties),
Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion - Dementia
- Stroke
- Other Neurological Conditions (e.g. tumours, epilepsy, MS)
- And Psychiatric Conditions (e.g. Schizophrenia, severe depression etc).
Neuropsychologists also provide treatment to people who have experienced cognitive challenges. Therapy can be aimed at assisting them to learn cognitive strategies to help them manage their symptoms and function better day-to-day.
Therapy can also be provided to help them cope with the impact of their condition on their lives. Support can be provided to the families or carers of those with a neurodevelopmental or neurological condition.
Qualifications of psychologists
In Australia, psychologists are highly trained mental health professionals who must meet strict educational and training requirements in order to use the term Psychologist.
Education:
Psychologists in Australia must have completed at least a four-year undergraduate degree in psychology, followed by post-graduate training and/or supervised practice. At Hardwick, our psychologists have all completed Masters, Doctorates or PhDs in psychology.
Registration:
All our practising psychologists are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, which is part of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). To be registered, psychologists must meet strict standards for education, training, and ethical conduct.
Continuing education:
Once registered, psychologists in Australia must complete ongoing continuing professional development to maintain their registration and keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date.
Areas of Advanced Practice:
Psychologists in Australia may choose to do additional training to achieve an endorsement in an advanced area practice, such as in clinical psychology, and neuropsychology.
Overall, the qualifications and requirements for psychologists in Australia are designed to ensure that they have the education, training, and expertise necessary to provide high-quality mental health care to individuals and communities.
Factors to consider when choosing a Psychologist in Brisbane
When it comes to seeking psychological help, finding the right psychologist can be difficult. At Hardwick Psychological Services our team works hard to match you with the best psychologist to meet your needs.
Some factors to consider when choosing a psychologist include:
- Qualifications and Experience: It is important to consider the qualifications and experience of the psychologist you are considering.
- Treatment Areas: When calling to book with a psychologist, it is important that you check that they have experience working with your specific presenting issue.
- Treatment approach: Different psychologists may use different approaches to therapy, such as CBT, ACT, and DBT. It is important to choose a psychologist whose treatment approach is validated as effective for your presenting issue, and aligns with your preferences and needs. If you are not sure about what therapy approach might be most helpful for you, it is worth discussing it with the psychologist at the first appointment.
- Availability and accessibility: Consider the availability and accessibility of the psychologist, including their office location, hours of operation, and ability to schedule consistent appointments.
- Personal fit: Ultimately, finding a psychologist who you feel comfortable and safe with is important for the success of therapy. It is important to choose a psychologist who you feel understands you, listens to you, and is non-judgmental.
Common reasons for seeing a psychologist
There are many reasons people choose to see a psychologist including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma
- Brain injury
- Addiction
- Relationship problems
- Grief and loss
- Eating disorders
- Personality disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Stress and burnout
- Anger management
- Low self-esteem
- Sleep problems
- Work or career-related issues
- Family conflicts
- Gender and sexual diversity
- Life transitions and adjustments.
- Phobias
- Panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Cognitive difficulties
- Identity issues
- Substance abuse and addiction
- Adjustment issues
- Perinatal Psychology
Additionally, seeking help from a psychologist does not always require having a specific diagnosis or condition. Many people choose to see a psychologist to improve their overall mental health and well-being, gain insight into themselves and their behaviours, develop better coping skills, and help with decision making.
What to expect in a session with a Brisbane Psychologist
If you are considering seeing a psychologist or other mental health professional, it’s important to have a basic understanding of what to expect from a psychological assessment or therapy session. Here are some general things you can expect
A safe and supportive environment
- Sessions are held in our private offices in Brisbane where you can expect your psychologist to create a safe and supportive environment where you can share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgement.
An initial assessment:
- At your first psychology session your psychologist will likely conduct an initial assessment to gather information about your mental health history, current concerns, and other factors that may be relevant to your treatment. You might also choose to have a more comprehensive assessment of your psychological or cognitive functioning and have a report that summarises the results.
Goal setting:
- Based on the information gathered during your initial assessment, you and your psychologist will work together to set goals for your treatment. These goals will help guide the focus and direction of your therapy sessions.
Evidence-based interventions:
- Your psychologist will use evidence-based interventions, to help you work through your challenges and work towards your treatment goals.
Active participation:
- our active participation is a critical component of the therapy process. You will be encouraged to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences openly, and to actively engage in the therapeutic process by completing homework assignments, and practising new skills outside of therapy.
Confidentiality:
- Your psychologist will adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines to protect your privacy and will discuss these with you.
Overall, the goal of a psychology session is to provide you with a safe and supportive space to work through your mental health challenges, gain insights into your thoughts and behaviours, and develop new skills and strategies to improve your overall well-being.
FAQ
How much does it cost to see a psychologist in Brisbane?
The cost of seeing a psychologist in Brisbane can vary depending on a number of factors, including the psychologist’s qualifications and experience and Medicare rebates and whether you have private health insurance. Neuropsychological assessment prices can vary depending on the type of assessment you need and the questions you need answered by the assessment. Please see our pricing page for information about costs and rebates, and please call our team if you wish to discuss further.
Do you need a referral to see a psychologist in Brisbane?
No, you do not need a referral to see a psychologist in Brisbane. However, if you wish to receive Medicare rebates for your sessions, you will need a referral from a GP via a “Mental Healthcare Plan” or psychiatrist. Private health insurance may also require a referral for some policies. There are also other funding bodies who can support access to psychological therapy and assessments. Please see our fees page.
How many psychology sessions do you get on a Medicare Mental Healthcare Plan?
Under the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative, eligible individuals can receive a rebate for up to 10 sessions per year with a psychologist.
Can my GP refer me to a psychologist?
Yes, your GP can refer you to a psychologist under the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. They may provide you with a Mental Health Treatment Plan, which will outline the number of sessions you are eligible for and allow you to access Medicare rebates for your sessions.You can pick your own psychologist.
What should I bring with me to the first session?
If you are attending for a psychological therapy session, it is helpful if you complete your online consent forms prior to attending. And bring with you any referral or support documents. If you are attending for a neuropsychological assessment, then please do the above and also bring any reports that might be helpful for the assessment process (e.g. medical records). If you are unsure, please contact our team for more information.