In today's fast-paced world, where stress, anxiety and depression seem to be at an all-time high, seeking professional help is a crucial step towards maintaining good mental health. Whether you're considering mental health counselling in Newcastle, NSW, or looking for specialised services like Employee Assistance Counselling or Victims of Crime counselling in the Newcastle region, it can be hard to know where to start when looking a Mental Health Professional.
Understanding Your Options
When it comes to mental health care, various professionals can offer support tailored to your needs. Each type of practitioner, whether a counsellor, psychotherapist, psychologist, or Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, brings a unique set of skills and approaches to the table.
With many different mental health professionals from different disciplines offering talk therapy, it can be hard to know what each profession does, the training undertaken, and how each mental health profession can help you when looking for mental health care counselling.
Counsellors: trained in counselling techniques, counsellors provide supportive listening and guidance for individuals facing emotional challenges. Counselling can focus on resolving a current issue or life challenge. Counsellors accredited by ACA hold a Certificate or Diploma in Counselling or undergraduate degree as well as meet minimum number of practice hours and supervision. Counsellors may be accredited by PACFA and hold a bachelor degree, along with minimum number of practice hours and supervision.
Psychotherapists: tend to explore past issues that might be contributing to present day problems and can often be a longer process looking at deep rooted concerns. Psychotherapists accredited by PACFA have an undergraduate degree in psychology or other health related area and a masters in psychotherapy.
Psychologists: with expertise in assessing, diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, psychologists use evidence-based techniques to help clients overcome issues and are Medicare Approved. Psychologists complete a 4 year university degree plus a post-graduate degree or 2 years supervised practice, a total of 6 years education and training.
Accredited Mental Health Social Workers: are trained in Focused Psychological Strategies, specialise in mental health counselling and offer treatment for a range of mental health concerns through evidence-based counselling interventions. Accredited Mental Health Social Workers are also Medicare Approved, meaning clients with a Mental Health Care Plan can receive a rebate on each counselling appointment. Accredited Mental Health Social Workers hold a Bachelor of Social Work and 2 years specialisation in mental health.
Regardless of the professional background of your mental health counsellor, many therapists go on to complete additional training in their areas of interest. Therefore, when choosing a mental health professional, look for someone who is registered with their national body and with the appropriate training and experience in relation to your mental health concern and goals.
Steps to consider when looking for a Mental Health Professional
Decide if you would like face to face counselling or open to telehealth counselling. If you would like in person counselling in Newcastle, NSW, look into local mental health professionals near by that are accessible to you.
Consider what you are seeking support for. Are you looking for an assessment and diagnosis? Are you looking for long term or short term therapy? What mental health concern are you seeking support with? This will further narrow down providers that specialise in your mental health concern, provide diagnosis or work from a particular therapeutic approach.
Look for a Mental Health Professional who is accredited with their national body. Counsellors can be governed by the ACA or PACFA, Psychotherapists are governed by PACFA, Psychologists are under AHPRA, and Accredited Mental Health Social Workers under AASW. Accreditation/Registration means the Mental Health Professional you choose is required to adhere to an ethical framework and stay up to date with professional development.
Connection is key
Finding a Mental Health Professional that you connect with is the priority. Feeling safe and supported is imperative to create change. Once you've narrowed down your options, reach out and start a conversation with a provider or two. If you aren't finding a connection with your current clinician, it is okay to change. Your current Mental Health Clinician can also help you connect with another professional. If you aren't feeling your needs are being met, ask your clinician what other counselling support services are available.
The first step is to start a conversation, whether it be via email or an initial phone call, these are ways you can get an initial feel for the mental health counsellor's waiting times, style and skillset. Seeking support is a sign of strength, and taking care of your mental health is as easy as an email.
If you are in Newcastle and in need of mental health counselling, why not start a conversation and email Kristen today.
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