Common Counselling Therapies Your Clinical Psychologist May Use

Our Newcastle clinical psychologists are trained in using a range of evidence-based treatment modalities. These counselling treatments have each been developed through scientific research which our psychologists have studied closely and practised extensively in a variety of environments. When you attend your first appointment – either in person or online, your psychologist will first work with you to understand your experience, and then decide on a course of treatment, including which therapy they will use (or combination thereof) to assist you to obtain a sense of balance and wellbeing in your life.

This article explores some of the evidence-based treatment modalities our clinicians use in their counselling sessions.

Your psychologist might use: Cognitive behavioural therapy

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a practical talking therapy which focuses on solving current problems. Your therapist will work with you to recognise patterns of thinking (cognitions) and behaviours that cause and maintain difficulties. CBT can help to break patterns of unhelpful thinking, address behaviours that maintain problems, and help you to turn a corner into a more balanced frame of thinking.

CBT would be most useful to you if you are a person who experiences emotional, psychological and psychiatric issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, perfectionism and more.

Counselling Newcastle: Acceptance and commitment therapy

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is another type of therapy that focuses on accepting feelings, rather than avoiding or denying them, to maximise your potential to enjoy a meaningful and full life. Your counsellor will use techniques such as mindfulness and value-driven action to help you learn a level of psychological flexibility, the aim of which is to help you live with inevitable hardships and stress.

ACT might be an appropriate treatment for you if you are a person who suffers from anxiety, depression, OCD, addiction or substance use issues.

Enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy

Enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-E) has been developed specifically for the treatment of patients with eating disorders. CBT-E is highly individualised – your counsellor will create a specific version of the therapy to match the exact eating problem you are experiencing. The aim of CBT-E is to achieve long-term improvements in symptoms, by modifying and stabilising eating patterns, and addressing factors that maintain the eating disorder.

CBT-E may be used by your therapist if you are a person who is experiencing an eating disorder.

Your psychologist might use: Schema therapy

Schema therapy combines elements of approaches such as CBT, psychoanalysis, attachment theory and emotion-focused therapy to help ensure your emotional needs are met in a healthy way that doesn’t cause distress. Your counsellor will work with you to uncover and understand your schemas – unhelpful patterns you may have developed as a child if your emotional needs weren’t met – and assist you to start healing these. The aim of Schema therapy is to help you develop a strong, healthy adult mode and relationship with yourself that can help you heal and regulate your schemas.

Our area of service and how to contact us

We provide clinical psychology services to people over the age of 18 in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter area. Our office is located in Newcastle West (near the corner of Bellevue and Hunter Streets), and we can also provide online-based services.

Visit our Contact us page for more information about how to get in touch and a map of our location in Newcastle.