F&Qs | Dr Brooke Stemm

Facts & Questions

What does a Clinical Psychologist do?

Clinical Psychologists have undertaken specialised training in the assessment, diagnosis, formulation and psychological treatment of mental health, behavioural and emotional disorders across the lifespan. A Clinical Psychologist will draw on evidence-based therapies to treat a range of mental health difficulties, sometimes diagnostic disorders, as well as non-diagnostic emotional, behavioural and interpersonal difficulties. Clinical Psychologists undertake a minimum of 8 years of training, with two to three of these years comprised of specialised training in the treatment and diagnosis of clinical disorders. Whilst Clinical Psychologists are highly trained in the areas of diagnosis and treatment, part of their work also involves supportive counselling.

Who needs to see a Psychologist?

People of all ages, cultures and backgrounds attend therapy. Often, people will attend therapy when an emotional state, behavioural pattern or thought pattern is causing them distress or is impacting their day-to-day functioning in some way. Some people who attend therapy will have a mental health diagnosis, but this is certainly not always the case.

What will my first session involve?

The first session is an assessment session. Dr Stemm will welcome you to therapy and will discuss with you what to expect from the therapy process. The first session will focus on collecting as much information about your concerns as possible, as well as other areas of your life like relationships, work, social life, and family. At the end of the first session, Dr Stemm will encourage you to start to think about what you would like to get out of therapy, and how we will know if therapy is working. This will enable you both to assess throughout the therapy process if things are improving for you. Usually, active "therapy" will not commence until session 2 once you have both determined treatment goals and the best treatment approach for you.

What kind of therapy will be used?

This will depend on your concerns, your treatment goals, and how you and Dr Stemm think the concerns will best be resolved. Dr Stemm draws from a range of treatment approaches which are all evidence-based, and she will discuss all treatment options with you. Most often, Dr Stemm will draw from one or several of the following therapy modalities: Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy; Schema Therapy; Acceptance-Commitment Therapy; Dialectical-Behavioural Therapy; and Compassion-Focussed Therapy. To read more about the therapy approaches used, click here.

For what reasons do people attend therapy?

People attend therapy for many reasons, and it is not always because they have a mental health diagnosis. Mood and anxiety issues are some common reasons, but others include: relationship problems; issues with self-esteem or confidence; grief and loss; adjustment to illness/injury; work stress; performance anxiety; perfectionism and unrelenting standards; interpersonal difficulties; and trauma. Some people even choose to see a therapist just for personal growth in very specific areas of their life. Thankfully, these days much of the stigma associated with seeing a therapist has reduced significantly, and many people are now more open and accepting of therapy.

How often will I need to attend?

This depends on a number of factors, including the presenting concerns, the treatment approach taken, and affordability for you. Generally, however, we suggest attending weekly or fortnightly for the first 6-8 sessions, and then in many cases, the frequency can be spread out to three or four weekly. In some cases, more regular appointments will be required for a longer period of time.

How long will I need to keep attending therapy?

Once again this will depend on the difficulties you are having, and the treatment approach taken. Research generally indicates that a minimum of 10-15 sessions of cognitive-behavioural therapy can assist with issues like depression and anxiety, however, this can vary significantly from client-to-client. Dr Stemm will discuss with you in session what the predicted frequency and duration of therapy will be, and this can be reviewed regularly throughout.

What if it isn't the right fit for me with the therapist or the type of therapy?

An important factor in determining the effectiveness of therapy is that of the therapy relationship. That is, how comfrotable the client feels with the therapist and how well aligned the therapist and client are with the goals, treatment approach and the way in which they work together. Dr Stemm is passionate about the importance of the therapy relationship and will talk to you about this in the first session. She always strives to develop a trusting, warm relationship with her clients. However, in the event that you feel Dr Stemm is not the right fit for you, or, you feel that therapy is not adequately targeting your concerns, please raise this with Dr Stemm so that it can hopefully be resolved, and you can continue to work effectively together. In the event that you feel unable to raise this in session and that Dr Stemm is not the right fit for you, she encourages you to not give up on therapy, and to remain open to trying a different therapist.