Frequently Asked Questions, answered by May
What is a Psychologist?
There are many different kinds of psychologists working across all different contexts (like engineers). Generally, psychologists work with clients and services to improve people's functioning and well-being. In the clinic, they can do this by clarifying a person's diagnosis, assessing a person's capabilities, making recommendations, formulating a treatment plan, and administering psychotherapy.
People often get the terms psychologist and psychiatrist mixed up. A psychologist is a scientist-practitioner who applies evidenced based practice from a range of fields in human behaviour depending on their training. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with a specialisation in mental health. Both are health professionals.
There are many different kinds of psychologists working across all different contexts (like engineers). Generally, psychologists work with clients and services to improve people's functioning and well-being. In the clinic, they can do this by clarifying a person's diagnosis, assessing a person's capabilities, making recommendations, formulating a treatment plan, and administering psychotherapy.
People often get the terms psychologist and psychiatrist mixed up. A psychologist is a scientist-practitioner who applies evidenced based practice from a range of fields in human behaviour depending on their training. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with a specialisation in mental health. Both are health professionals.
Is what I discuss with my psychologist private?
Under the APS Code of Ethics in regards to respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples, psychologists are required to keep their clients' information private (see APS Code of Ethics, A.5). Psychologists only use your information in the provision of psychological services to you, and they take measures to safeguard the information that you give them. Psychologists need to seek your verbal or written consent to communicate your information to others. Psychologists may collect your information for other uses if you agree. Confidentiality protects your privacy and safety.
However, there are limits to this confidentiality. If a psychologist is working within an organisation, that organisation may have separate rules that limit the privacy of the information. For example, while Queensland does not require the mandatory reporting of child abuse from psychologists, psychologists working within organisations with children are often required by the organisation to report. Generally, if someone is at risk to themselves or others, psychologists will break confidentiality to save a life. Psychologists are also mandated to report child sexual abuse and some other crimes.
There is some misconception that what a psychologist says to a client is also confidential, and that clients are unable to discuss the contents of their session outside of therapy. While the content that you disclose to your psychologist is confidential, and a psychologist will not disclose this information without good reason, you are free to say what you like to others. However, keep in mind that what you discuss with your psychologist may be classified as 'sensitive information', which means that disclosure of the information may cause harm to you. Before disclosing information about your therapy sessions, I would urge you to consider the aim of disclosing the information.
Information told to a psychologist outside of a client-therapist relationship is not confidential.
Under the APS Code of Ethics in regards to respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples, psychologists are required to keep their clients' information private (see APS Code of Ethics, A.5). Psychologists only use your information in the provision of psychological services to you, and they take measures to safeguard the information that you give them. Psychologists need to seek your verbal or written consent to communicate your information to others. Psychologists may collect your information for other uses if you agree. Confidentiality protects your privacy and safety.
However, there are limits to this confidentiality. If a psychologist is working within an organisation, that organisation may have separate rules that limit the privacy of the information. For example, while Queensland does not require the mandatory reporting of child abuse from psychologists, psychologists working within organisations with children are often required by the organisation to report. Generally, if someone is at risk to themselves or others, psychologists will break confidentiality to save a life. Psychologists are also mandated to report child sexual abuse and some other crimes.
There is some misconception that what a psychologist says to a client is also confidential, and that clients are unable to discuss the contents of their session outside of therapy. While the content that you disclose to your psychologist is confidential, and a psychologist will not disclose this information without good reason, you are free to say what you like to others. However, keep in mind that what you discuss with your psychologist may be classified as 'sensitive information', which means that disclosure of the information may cause harm to you. Before disclosing information about your therapy sessions, I would urge you to consider the aim of disclosing the information.
Information told to a psychologist outside of a client-therapist relationship is not confidential.
My friend/family member is unwell, but they will not see someone. Can I force them to come and see you?
While it can be heartbreaking to see loved ones hurting, it can be difficult to motivate them to seek help. There are a number of reasons why people find it difficult to seek support. People may not know that their situation is problematic. Even if they do, feelings like resentment, shame, guilt and vulnerability can make someone less likely to seek assistance. Sometimes, clients who are concerned about a loved one may seek a psychologist to learn more about a mental health condition and practice skills that will help.
Adolescents who are of an age to provide informed consent can decide if they want to engage. If they do not, then sessions will be terminated. If a child is under the age of 13, his/her parents or guardians will likely be involved in the therapy as many behavioural strategies require parent and school support to achieve generalisation.
If someone is at imminent risk to themselves, please call 000 or get them to the nearest hospital if it is safe to do so. For information regarding involuntary interventions, please refer to the Mental Health Act of the Queensland Government, especially to the Principles That Apply to Persons with Mental Illness.
While it can be heartbreaking to see loved ones hurting, it can be difficult to motivate them to seek help. There are a number of reasons why people find it difficult to seek support. People may not know that their situation is problematic. Even if they do, feelings like resentment, shame, guilt and vulnerability can make someone less likely to seek assistance. Sometimes, clients who are concerned about a loved one may seek a psychologist to learn more about a mental health condition and practice skills that will help.
Adolescents who are of an age to provide informed consent can decide if they want to engage. If they do not, then sessions will be terminated. If a child is under the age of 13, his/her parents or guardians will likely be involved in the therapy as many behavioural strategies require parent and school support to achieve generalisation.
If someone is at imminent risk to themselves, please call 000 or get them to the nearest hospital if it is safe to do so. For information regarding involuntary interventions, please refer to the Mental Health Act of the Queensland Government, especially to the Principles That Apply to Persons with Mental Illness.
Can I say hello if I see you around?
Short answer, yes.
Long answer: Due to confidentiality, psychologists can't actually disclose who their clients are. This is to protect the client's safety and privacy. In a small coastal town like Hervey Bay, there is a chance that I will run into you at the supermarket, on the Esplanade, or other areas I frequent. However, I can't do anything that potentially indicates you as a client. This means, there are times when I may not be able to say 'hello', especially if I am with other people, because people may wonder how we know each other.
Clients are not bound by confidentiality and can do what they want. You are free to say hello, let me pat your dog, or pretend we don't know each other - it's all about what you feel comfortable with. Please keep in mind that I am terribly short sighted, so if I'm not wearing my long distance glasses, you have to be pretty much waving your hands in my face before I see you.
It is worth noting that psychologists are discouraged from having 'multiple relationships' (friendships) with their clients because it impairs their objectivity. This means that in the majority of cases, I will not be able to attend birthday parties, dinners, weddings, gaming groups at your house, et cetera. I will also not be able to accept gifts of significant personal or financial value.
Short answer, yes.
Long answer: Due to confidentiality, psychologists can't actually disclose who their clients are. This is to protect the client's safety and privacy. In a small coastal town like Hervey Bay, there is a chance that I will run into you at the supermarket, on the Esplanade, or other areas I frequent. However, I can't do anything that potentially indicates you as a client. This means, there are times when I may not be able to say 'hello', especially if I am with other people, because people may wonder how we know each other.
Clients are not bound by confidentiality and can do what they want. You are free to say hello, let me pat your dog, or pretend we don't know each other - it's all about what you feel comfortable with. Please keep in mind that I am terribly short sighted, so if I'm not wearing my long distance glasses, you have to be pretty much waving your hands in my face before I see you.
It is worth noting that psychologists are discouraged from having 'multiple relationships' (friendships) with their clients because it impairs their objectivity. This means that in the majority of cases, I will not be able to attend birthday parties, dinners, weddings, gaming groups at your house, et cetera. I will also not be able to accept gifts of significant personal or financial value.
Why am I asked to fill out a bunch of forms and measures before the first session?
The scientist-practitioner model of applied psychology requires psychologists to ask questions, pose hypotheses, and double check the information that is gathered. Often, a multi-modal and multi-informant method is required for a thorough understanding of arising issues. Even common behaviours such as smiling can have very different triggers, meanings, maintenance factors, and consequences depending on the person and situation.
You may find scales psychologists administer repetitive. This is because we are using 'manifest variables' (questions) to measure 'constructs' (concepts that we can not physically touch). Psychologists look at consistent responding across similar questions to determine whether we are measuring a single construct. If a person responds differently to similar questions, that can be a hint that the questions do not target the same construct. Many psychological scales and measures are tested for reliability and validity so that the measures measure what they purport to measure. Some measures have the ability to predict future behaviour or allow psychologists to think about a person's wider attributes.
Filling out a bunch of forms and measures before a session helps minimise the amount of time gathering information, which leaves more time for therapy and skills training. If filling out the forms becomes overwhelming, bring the forms back and your psychologist will go through them with you in session.
The scientist-practitioner model of applied psychology requires psychologists to ask questions, pose hypotheses, and double check the information that is gathered. Often, a multi-modal and multi-informant method is required for a thorough understanding of arising issues. Even common behaviours such as smiling can have very different triggers, meanings, maintenance factors, and consequences depending on the person and situation.
You may find scales psychologists administer repetitive. This is because we are using 'manifest variables' (questions) to measure 'constructs' (concepts that we can not physically touch). Psychologists look at consistent responding across similar questions to determine whether we are measuring a single construct. If a person responds differently to similar questions, that can be a hint that the questions do not target the same construct. Many psychological scales and measures are tested for reliability and validity so that the measures measure what they purport to measure. Some measures have the ability to predict future behaviour or allow psychologists to think about a person's wider attributes.
Filling out a bunch of forms and measures before a session helps minimise the amount of time gathering information, which leaves more time for therapy and skills training. If filling out the forms becomes overwhelming, bring the forms back and your psychologist will go through them with you in session.
Can you send my lawyer a copy of my casenotes?
No.
The staff at the Made it Clinic will communicate with third parties for the purposes of coordinating treatment. Sometimes, other people such as lawyers or insurance companies may have your permission to contact the clinic to obtain your information. We will not respond to these requests unless under subpoena. There are several reasons for this. The main reason is that information generated as part of treatment is not suitable for use outside this context. Information for legal purposes should be prepared by an independent assessor.
If you need to provide some information to a third party for legal cases, please ask the psychologist to write you a brief letter. The Made it Clinic does not have the capacity to complete medico-legal or forensic reports.
No.
The staff at the Made it Clinic will communicate with third parties for the purposes of coordinating treatment. Sometimes, other people such as lawyers or insurance companies may have your permission to contact the clinic to obtain your information. We will not respond to these requests unless under subpoena. There are several reasons for this. The main reason is that information generated as part of treatment is not suitable for use outside this context. Information for legal purposes should be prepared by an independent assessor.
If you need to provide some information to a third party for legal cases, please ask the psychologist to write you a brief letter. The Made it Clinic does not have the capacity to complete medico-legal or forensic reports.
Last Updated: 26/11/2023