Therapy FAQ’s
I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?
Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the ability to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. You already have some strengths that you’ve used before, that for whatever reason isn’t working right now. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, we will help you identify what those strengths are and how to implement them again in what is happening now.
What’s the difference between talking to you or my best friend or family?
The difference is between someone who can do something and someone who has the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, if you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.
Why shouldn’t I just take medication?
Medication alone cannot solve all issues. What medication does is treat the symptoms. Our work together is designed to explore the root of the issue, dig deep into your behaviour and teach strategies that can help you accomplish your personal and/or relational goals.
Medication can be effective and is sometimes needed in conjunction with therapy.
How does it work? What do I have to do in sessions?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. We tailor our therapeutic approach to your specific needs
How long will it take?
Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time therapy can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek therapy in the first place.
I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?
We are so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication are crucial to your success. After all, we only see each other for a session a week. It’s the work you do outside of our sessions that will really help you see your personal growth and development.
My partner and I are having problems. Should we be in individual counselling or come together?
If you are concerned about your relationship, and you would both like to work with we, we would initially work with both of you together. After this work, if one of you would like to continue in individual sessions, I could work with only one of you. It is not helpful to move from individual into couple’s work with the same therapist because of potential trust issues. The other partner would be welcome to see another clinician at the practice.
Telehealth FAQ’s
Telehealth appointments can be just as beneficial as a traditional face to face appointments, especially when in-person appointments are not possible.
Our telehealth solution allows you to schedule an appointment directly online and have the entire therapy session take place digitally. To learn more about the platforms we use, check out these links:
Online Portal FAQ’s
To answer your questions about Bookings, Pay, Invoice Access & more:
Admin FAQ’s
Direct Debit Details
Account name: Riv Hub Pty Ltd
BSB: 082356
Account Number: 321581301
Reference – Please use either your invoice number OR Client Name AND Date of the session to allow us to match up payments.
NDIS FAQ’s
Understanding the NDIS
What is the NDIS?
The NDIS is Australia’s first national scheme for people with disability. It moves away from the previous system of providing block funding to agencies and community organisations, to give funding directly to people with a disability.
The NDIS provides services and support to people with disabilities. NDIS stands for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
National means all around Australia.
Disability can affect: a person’s senses – such as their sight or hearing, a person’s ability to move or use their body, the way a person thinks, learns or understands and/or the way a person feels, or their mental health.
Insurance is a service you pay for to protect yourself against problems in the future. For example, if you get a disability in the future, the insurance pays for the cost of your support and services.
Scheme is a type of government program.
What does the NDIS provide?
The NDIS covers the cost of support across a wide range of areas, from education, employment, community participation through to help with daily life, living arrangements, independence, aids and equipment, health and wellbeing. What is covered in your plan will depend on your individual situation and life goals.
Who works on the NDIS?
The NDIS is run by the National Disability Insurance (NDIA). The NDIA is a part of the Australian Government. It was set up according to the law. The law that applies is called the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013.
Partners in the Community are community organizations that we work with.
1. Local Area Coordinators (LACS) are people who work for our Partners in the Community. They help people with disability with planning meetings and can help find and use services and support.
2. Early Childhood Partners – Some of our partners support children with disability and their families. We have a program for children with disability under 7 years old. It’s called ECEI. This stands for Early Childhood Early Intervention. The Early Childhood Partners help us with this program. ECEI Coordinators are people who work for our Early Childhood Partners. You can find out more about this program on our website
3. Support Coordinators are people who help people with disability plan and use their Supports.
How do I access the NDIS?
You can call 1800 800 110 to make an Access Request or you can complete and submit the
Access Request form via email.
If you need help filling in the form or making the call, you can contact your Local Area
Coordinator, Early Childhood Early Intervention partner.
What will I need to provide in my application?
You will need to provide information about yourself to show you meet the eligibility requirements for the NDIS. You can also give permission for someone you trust to provide information on your
behalf. You will be asked to provide the following information:
● your name, age, where you live and whether you have permission to live in Australia permanently
● evidence of your age and residence
● details and evidence about your disability and how it impacts you each day • copies of letters or reports you already have from your treating health professional (i.e. General Practitioner (GP) or allied health professionals)
● whether you give permission for the NDIA to talk to other people about your disability, including your local doctor or a person providing support to you
● when you apply the NDIA will send you a letter asking for any further evidence, if required
● send your evidence to the NDIA via: email: enquiries@ndis.gov.au mail: GPO Box 700, Canberra, ACT 2601
● keep a copy of your evidence for your own records.
Once the NDIA has received your information, they will read it and may need to ask you for more information. Once this is done, they will inform you if you can use the NDIS. When participants start using the NDIS, they make a plan.
Planning
What is an NDIS plan?
A NDIS plan is a document that includes information about:
● you and your goals
● what supports you need
● the funding the NDIS will give you.
How do you make a plan?
Everyone needs to have a planning meeting before they get a plan. In a planning meeting you get to talk about:
● you and your goals
● the support you need to reach those goals.
● what you are doing now
● what you might want to do in the future.
How do I prepare before the Planning Meeting?
Make sure you know when your phone appointment is, and who it will be with.
Find a quiet place to have the call where you can focus. Planning meetings can take over an hour depending on your situation.
Make sure you have your phone with you, it is charged and you are in a space with good reception.
Have any reports or assessments with you. If possible, send them to your ECEI partner, LAC or NDIA Planner before the call.
If you want a friend, family member or someone to help you with the meeting, make sure they
are available and make sure that only one person talks at a time.
What do you need to bring with you to the meeting?
● proof of your identity, such as a driver’s licence or a passport
● a list of any aids or equipment you use
● your myGov login and password
● your bank account details,
Who will be at the meeting?
You can come to the planning meeting by yourself. Or you can bring someone with you, such as:
● a family member
● a friend
● an advocate – someone who speaks up for you if you can’t speak up for yourself.
● There will also be a person there who runs the planning meeting. There might be:
● an Early Childhood Early Intervention Coordinator – someone who supports children
with disability and their families We call them ECEI Coordinators.
● a Local Area Coordinator (LACs) – someone who helps people with disability find and
use services and supports.
● an NDIA Planner – someone who makes new plans. They will contact you and tell you
when the planning meeting is.
Tell us about your disability
We need to know about the disability you have. We also need to know how your disability affects your day-to-day life.
Who are the important people in your life and where you live
● who is important to you – your family, close friends or other people who support you
● where you live and who you live with and what you do each day
● if you have a job
● what kind of activities you like to do
● if you use any aids or equipment every day.
Your community – who are the important people in your life who support you, such as:
● your family
● your friends
● support workers
● someone else you work with.
● or supports you use, including:
● a doctor you normally see
● the school you go to
● transport you use.
● any aids or equipment you use.
● How often do you use these services and supports
Setting goals
Setting goals is an important part of creating your plan. They can be short-term goals that you can usually achieve in a year or long-term goals that take a bit longer to achieve. Ask yourself:
● what do you enjoy about your life right now
● what do you want to change
● is there something new you would like to try
Using you Plan
Starting your plan with a Support Coordinator
If you have an approved NDIS plan, it’s time to get started. You can get support to start your plan. When your NDIS plan is approved, a Support Coordinator will help you put it into action. This is called plan implementation and helps you connect with the supports in your NDIS plan, maintain them and help you to achieve your goals.
● A Support Coordinator will talk about what help you need to implement your plan and manage your supports. You will have a plan handover meeting. This may be in person or over the phone depending on your preference and the level of support you need to implement your plan.
● The Support Coordinator will help you understand your plan and help you choose and connect with service providers.
● The Support Coordinator will help you explore and link with community and mainstream services and help coordinate these as required.
● The Support Coordinator will talk with you and your family about any other options to be considered as the year progresses and will help with developing goals for your next plan.
● The Support Coordinator is your NDIS contact person to discuss any questions about your plan.
Getting ready to meet your Support Coordinator
● Some things to think about before your meeting are:
● Do you already work with a Support Coordinator?
● Would you like that to continue or would you like to work with a new provider?
● Your current supports.
● Do you have established relationships with providers that you would like to continue?
● Would you like to work with new service providers?
● Service providers in your area.
● Are there any providers that you already know about? You might like to ask family or friends about their experiences with providers. Using the internet to explore service providers that are available in your area is also a good option.
● What things are working well for you now?
● What are the areas of your life or services that you would like your Support Coordinator to focus on helping you with?
● The activities you are currently doing in your community.
● Would you like help to find social or community-based groups or activities to participate in?
● Would you like help to investigate education, training, or employment options?
● Have you thought about developing your self-advocacy skills? Your Support Coordinator can help you link with training or peer support groups in your area.
Getting started
A Support Coordinator is not a paid advocate or responsible for rostering and administration of individual supports. Your Support Coordinator will work with you to explain
● how a Support Coordinator works with you to implement and monitor your NDIS plan
● how to identify options for community, mainstream and funded NDIS supports
● how you could meet with, choose and establish service agreements with providers
● how to register for myGov website and link to NDIS Participant Portal myplace
● how to navigate and check you details on myplace
● If you are self-managing any element of your plan: how to make service bookings, monitor funding, submit payment requests and provide feedback.
All of these people can help you:
● understand your plan
● understand the services and supports you can use
● find providers who meet your needs
● learn how to book a service
● with any questions you have about your plan.
1300 809 856 | admin@rivhub.com.au